The Xbox One must check in with Microsoft's servers every twenty-four hours to function, so what of active duty service members seeking respite from work on an aircraft carrier? The Navy Times, an independent publication run by members of the military, dug into the issue and uncovered damning sentiment directed towards the system's online requirement.
Three standout issues have risen: soldiers stationed on bases in nations not supported by Microsoft cannot play games, aircraft crew will not have access to a reliable internet connection to verify their system, and every game must be "activated" in its country of origin. In these instances, the Xbox One effectively turns into a paper weight for our soldiers.
Here's a rundown of the Xbox One's 21 supported countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
When the Navy Times asked an Xbox spokesman to clarify the issue, they echoed the words of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment President Don Mattrick's and explained that the company will continue to support the Xbox 360 for non-connected consumers.
The privacy concerns that many players about the Kinect are also shared by the military. The system's video and voice capture device, the Kinect, always maintains a low level of functionality to listen for an activation cue to turn the system on. The Navy Times writes, "but that could spook commanders who might worry the always-connected device could also capture more than just idle chit-chat among troops."
Microsoft's bad press may very well be a symptom of the company's poor messaging, but the excitement which currently surrounds the PS4 contrasts sharply with players' hesitation to recommit to the Xbox brand.
Source: Navy Times (via GameSpot)
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