Hmm, with many ISPs now switching to monthly bandwidth limits (in essence, rather than a flat rate, you pay more money based on how much bandwidth you use) I can't help wondering if some money exchange happened under the table.
Not that this doesn't help Microsoft. After all, if the console has to be connected to Microsoft's servers in order to be played, guess what? When the next Xbox comes out, Microsoft can simply say "Sorry, no more server support for our old console! If you wanna keep playing, buy the new one." They can effectively turn this console into an oversized paperweight and force gamers to upgrade.
Let's hope for Microsoft's sake that it's handled better than the SimCity fiasco.
Everyone's leaning towards the PS4 next console, and for obvious reasons. Microsoft expects too much from their fanboys, and even THEY know that it's BS to do that. As if Diablo 3's mess and SimCity weren't great examples of why always-online is the worst thing to happen in video game existence.
It's not optional.
If worst comes to worst, I am gonna go for a PC rather than any of these other consoles.