Microsoft Memo Dismisses Always-On Xbox Rumour

• Blu-ray playback, Live TV and Single player game
• Possible HDMI support
• Provide TV listings and similar information

The controversial rumour about the next generation Xbox gaming console requiring an always-on internet connection has finally been put to rest today as an internal memo sent to Microsoft employees w

• Blu-ray playback, Live TV and Single player game
• Possible HDMI support
• Provide TV listings and similar information

The controversial rumour about the next generation Xbox gaming console requiring an always-on internet connection has finally been put to rest today as an internal memo sent to Microsoft employees working on the console reportedly dismisses the “always-on” mandate.

According to the email, there are a number of scenarios that users are expected to work without an internet connection, and those should just work regardless of their current connection status. Those include but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV and playing a single player game.

Aside from the memo effectively dismissing the Always-on requirement, it also confirmed other rumoured features of the console including its use of Blu-ray optical media discs and its functionality to double as a cable set-top box that provides TV listings and similar information. Moreover, the memo implicitly confirms that the new console will sport an HDMI input, to allow cable boxes to be hooked up for live TV viewing.

Microsoft is scheduled to release information about the new Xbox console in two weeks, specifically on May 21 at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, California.

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