When Microsoft reveals their next-generation Xbox on May 21, the ongoing rumors about the system's always-online requirement will either be put to rest or wholeheartedly embraced by the company. This function has been a hot issue among gamers, who fear that a wavering internet signal could turn their shiny new console into a paperweight. In response, Sony spoke to GameInformer and revealed that the PlayStation 4 will work offline, and will not require a connection to function.
Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Worldwide Studios, asserted that the company did not even consider draconian always-online DRM strategies, citing the fact that many countries internationally do not have the internet infrastructure to support such a measure.
"Did we consider it? No, we didn't consider it...The main reason being that many countries don't have robust Internet connections. It makes sense for people to have Internet connections to play online games, but for offline games there are many countries that we saw [that] do not really have robust Internet."
Although recent reports suggest that Microsoft has backed away from the oft-rumored always online requirement, Sony has never given indications that it would follow this path. The devil is in the details, and the online connectivity requirements which define the next Xbox and PS4 may factor greatly into many gamers' purchasing decisions.
Both systems are expected to be released sometime around the holidays at the end of the year. Recently, Sony revealed that the PlayStation 4's Share button can be disabled by developers to avoid giving away parts of games. We shall see if this news if is the big difference maker between the two consoles when Microsoft reveals their console to the public later this month.
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