As a result of feedback from the Xbox community, we have changed certain policies for Xbox One reflected in this blog. Some of this information is no longer accurate — please check here for the latest. Q: Does Xbox One require an “always on” Internet connection?A: No, it does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet. We’re designing Xbox One to be your all-in-one entertainment system that is connected to the cloud and always ready. We are also designing it so you can play games and watch Blu-ray movies and live TV if you lose your connection. Q: How do consumers benefit by being connected to the cloud?A: The cloud makes every experience better and more accessible. Because Xbox One is powered by the cloud:Your games have more power available to create new gameplay, persistent worlds, and deeper experiences.Your system and games can update automatically, so you shouldn’t have to wait for downloads or updates.Your games and entertainment are stored and saved in the cloud, so you can access them anytime, from any Xbox One.*Start a game, movie, or TV show on one console and finish exactly where you left off on another.You can play multiplayer games with your friends, stream movies or TV shows right away, and enjoy the community and social features of Xbox Live.Xbox One can recognize you, log you in and tailor your home screen just for you. You can discover what your friends are playing, watching and listening to if they choose to share.These are just a few examples of how customers benefit from our platform being connected to the Internet. It brings the future of TV and games to our consumers—and it’s designed for today and the decade ahead. * Subject to content geographical restrictions. Q: When will
Xbox One launch and in what markets?A:
Xbox One will launch in markets around the world later this year. We’ll have more to share later. Q: Can I use my current gamertag on
Xbox One and will my Gamerscore and Achievements transfer?A: Yes. Your current
Xbox Live Gamertag will stay with you on
Xbox One if you choose to keep it, and your hard-earned Gamerscore and Achievements will indeed carry over from
Xbox 360. Q: Will
Xbox One be backward compatible with my existing games?A:
Xbox One hardware is not compatible with
Xbox 360 games. We designed
Xbox One to play an entirely new generation of games—games that are architected to take full advantage of state-of-the-art processors and the infinite power of the cloud. We care very much about the investment you have made in
Xbox 360 and will continue to support it with a pipeline of new games and new apps well into the future. Q: Will
Xbox One allow players to trade in, purchase and play pre-owned games?A: We are designing
Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later. Q: Will my current
Xbox Live Gold membership work with
Xbox One or will I have to buy a new one?A: You do not need to buy a new
Xbox Live Gold membership. Your current membership will work on both
Xbox 360 and
Xbox One. Q: Why require Kinect with every
Xbox One?A: The all new Kinect is now an essential and integrated part of the platform. By having it as a consistent part of every
Xbox One, game and entertainment creators can build experiences that assume the availability of voice, gesture and natural sensing, leading to unrivaled ease of use, premium experiences and interactivity for you. Q: Do I need to have a specific cable or satellite TV provider to watch live TV on
Xbox?A: Our goal is to enable live TV through
Xbox One in every way that it is delivered throughout the world, whether that’s television service providers, over the air or over the Internet, or HDMI-in via a set top box (as is the case with many providers in the US). The delivery of TV is complex and we are working through the many technologies and policies around the world to make live TV available where
Xbox One is available. Q:
Xbox One is a more powerful product compared to
Xbox 360, but does it also use more power?A: By providing multiple power states in
Xbox One, we’ve balanced energy efficiency with functionality. We’ve taken a completely different approach to how
Xbox One consumes power. It only uses the power it needs at that particular moment for the task at hand.