Ubisoft Montreal's CEO has offered some comments on recent rumors that the next Xbox will be "always online," requiring that users be connected to the Internet at all times to use the console.
CEO Yannis Mallat told The Guardian that he suspects that gamers are ready for shift if it does happen, considering that many of them are already constantly connected to the Internet.
"Well, that's a question you should put to Microsoft and Sony! I would say that a lot of people are already always online through other devices," Mallat said. "I would suspect that the audience is ready."
He further clarified though that if Microsoft were to go forward with always on, it would need to "provide clear benefits" for users and developers. These might include additional content such as apps, or better service options.
The issue was raised due to previous rumors that Microsoft's next Xbox (codenamed the 'Durango') may require users to be connected to the company's servers to use any of the console's functionality. This would not be limited to games, but would also require Internet connections for DVD movies and hard drive access.
According to reportedly leaked specs, the device would automatically quit out of the current game or application if an Internet connection was lost for more than three minutes.
Further interest was raised when Microsoft creative director Adam Orth stated that he didn't get the "drama around having an 'always on' console," stating that "Every device now is 'always on'. That's the world we live in."
He has since left his position in Microsoft, no doubt due in large part to the uproar he caused after the aforementioned Tweet (and some rather callous ones he continued to post). Microsoft has yet to officially comment on the always on speculation however.
If the Xbox 720 does end up having an always online requirement, it will be the first console ever to do so.