Update: Microsoft responds to Adam Orth's comments that customers were just going to have to deal with an always-online next-gen Xbox.

Update: Microsoft has commented on Adam Orth's comments. In a statement issued to GameSpot, a Microsoft spokesperson said "we apologize for the inappropriate comments made by an employee on Twitter yesterday. This person is not a spokesperson for Microsoft, and his personal views do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products or how we would communicate directly with our loyal consumers. We are very sorry if this offended anyone, however we have not made any announcements about our product roadmap, and have no further comment on this matter."

Original Story: Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth has argued against the "drama" surrounding the concept of games consoles requiring an always-on Internet connection.

Speaking on his personal Twitter account (now private), Orth argued "sorry, I don't get the drama around having an 'always on' console. Every device now is 'always on'. That's the world we live in. #dealwithit".

Orth joined Microsoft in 2012 as a creative director on a currently unannounced project. He's previously worked on God of War 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, and on the Medal of Honor series at EA.

"Did you learn nothing from Diablo III or SimCity? You know some people's Internet goes out right? Deal with it is a sh***y reason," replied BioWare gameplay designer Manveer Heir.

"Electricity goes out too," said Orth in response.

"The mobile reception in the area I live in is spotty and unreliable. I will not buy a mobile phone," Orth said as a joke.

While Orth later apologised for his comments, the debate arrives off the back of another prominent report that says Microsoft's next-gen Xbox will require a permanent connection to the Internet to load games, and that all games will be suspended if the console stays offline for more than three minutes.

"Unless something has changed recently, Durango consumer units must have an active Internet connection to be used," said the source about the next Xbox.

During the announcement of the PlayStation 4, Sony were quick to assert that their next PlayStation would not feature an always-online requirement.

Both Sony and Microsoft have explored ways to use a connected Internet connection to block pre-owned games in the past.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot