Xbox One will require day-one update

Microsoft's Marc Whitten says that the Xbox One will require a day-one update, but that was always the plan due to conflicts between manufacturing and software schedules.

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Following some controversy following its online requirement and DRM, Microsoft pulled a full 180 yesterday. Some form of internet connectivity will still be required, though, at least when you start your system for the first time.

Xbox One chief product officer Marc Whitten told IGN that a day-one update will be required, but that was always going to be the case. "That's frankly just a difference in manufacturing schedules versus software schedules," Whitten said. "We just wanted to be clear that that hasn't changed, that you have to go online to get the software update for day one, then you wouldn’t have to be connected after that."

If you don't have broadband, though, Whitten confirmed that other methods like smartphone tethering will work for the update. "Sure," he said. "Any way that you can get connectivity to the Live service would work to enable that to come down to the console."

Whitten also confirmed, unsurprisingly, that the Kinect will still be required, calling it a "critical part of the architecture." And though the console doesn't require an online check-in, Whitten says he believes that "most people, frankly, are going to continue to take advantage of the connected state and all that comes with it."

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  • reply
    June 20, 2013 7:30 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Xbox One will require day-one update.

    Microsoft's Marc Whitten says that the Xbox One will require a day-one update, but that was always the plan due to conflicts between manufacturing and software schedules.

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 7:34 AM

      [deleted]

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      June 20, 2013 7:48 AM

      They really made a mess with all this stuff. From their first press release to now has just been a big cluster. They should have just stayed quiet about all the DRM / online stuff until after E3. Then they could have consolidated their policies into a single, clear to read and easy to understand document with big bullet points laying it all out. The second part of that document could lay out all the benefits associated with their approach. Just make it well-define and clear and they should stick with their story. Right now they seem to have no idea WTF they are doing and they are even changing their minds mid-stride. It's very unprofessional.

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        June 20, 2013 8:11 AM

        I agree, embarrassing also. Ms needs to make up their damn minds.

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        June 20, 2013 8:26 AM

        And by the way (and more to the point) I don't see any big deal about this. Is anybody surprised about this? The software changes while the hardware is being manufactured... it's not a big deal as far as I see it.

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 7:53 AM

      [deleted]

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      June 20, 2013 7:54 AM

      man I wonder if my PS4 will require a 3hour update like my last PS3 did when I first bought it a launch? Xbox updates are always faster, like only 10minutes.

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        June 20, 2013 7:55 AM

        Hopefully the PS4 patch doesn't brick the console.

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          June 20, 2013 8:03 AM

          I would be happy if it bricked Spart4n's console.

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            June 20, 2013 3:57 PM

            has that guy been in all the new threads?

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        June 20, 2013 8:40 AM

        I hate popping in a new PS3 game and immediately having to do an update that takes damned near forever. Makes me not want to play.

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          June 20, 2013 11:14 AM

          Ever since setting up PS+ this hasn't been an issue. The console is just always up to date.

      • reply
        June 20, 2013 9:40 AM

        How's life as a Microsoft intern treating you?

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          June 20, 2013 9:47 AM

          His posts are getting more reasonable, let's encourage it

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            June 20, 2013 10:21 AM

            Yeah this is almost like part of a real conversation. Just a bit more and he'll talk like a human here.

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        June 20, 2013 9:51 AM

        This is probably the first post you made on this website that actually makes sense.

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        June 20, 2013 11:15 AM

        like you of all people will have a PS4

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        June 20, 2013 11:21 AM

        They addressed this and even included a low power arm soc to update the console while it's asleep. I suppose you could be unlucky and decide to play just as a patch appears.

      • reply
        June 20, 2013 4:37 PM

        So you ARE buying one.

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 7:54 AM

      Like the Woo, like the PS4 will. It's natural.

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        June 20, 2013 8:06 AM

        Exactly what system does not have a day one patch big deal.

        It's going to have more patches this concept is not new. From the sounds of it though the Xbox One may be the only system that has a day one patch and then you never have to patch it again that would be a first.

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          June 20, 2013 8:07 AM

          [deleted]

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          June 20, 2013 8:09 AM

          they have said as much. after the initial setup and connection you can leave it offline forever and still play titles and use the offline functionality.

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            June 20, 2013 8:16 AM

            They'd push some updates via game discs like they did with the 360. I mean, you could avoid those, but mostly there were games that eventually said "hey, you need the Fall 2012 dashboard update before I will play".

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              June 20, 2013 8:18 AM

              those were on disc though, right? that's fair to me.

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                June 20, 2013 8:41 AM

                Yea, the dash update would be on those discs.

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            June 20, 2013 8:17 AM

            You mean like the PS3 and 360, right?

            (BTW, retail games include patches for the Dashboard/OS. They're silently installed if needed for the game).

    • reply
      June 20, 2013 7:57 AM

      Breaking news: blue sky is blue.

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        June 20, 2013 8:32 AM

        What about the red, orange and yellow evening sky?

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      June 20, 2013 10:12 AM

      Nothing new, as far as I can remember for this gen, this is normal practice.

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      June 20, 2013 2:17 PM

      Just face the Kinect towards the wall.

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      June 20, 2013 3:52 PM

      This seems different than most other console launches. I dont remember having to update my PS3 or 360 on launch day, they just worked with the launch titles out of the box.

      I guess MS are launching incredibly close to the time when they actually expect to have the dashboard software completed, especially if they arent packing the launch games with the update. Which seems really risky.

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      June 20, 2013 4:22 PM

      Same as always...

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