Just because the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have been revealed to not have online checks at a system level, doesn’t mean that developers and publishers won’t make games that require players to be connected at all times. We’ve heard about a number of games that will require players to be online to play, and they include some of the biggest titles of E3 2013. Bungie’s Destiny, Titanfall, The Division, and The Crew will all make sure that players are connected to the internet when playing due to the new connected open-worlds that developers are striving for.
According to a recent interview with Ubisoft, the open world in the next-generation is different than those that we traditionally know. The next-generation open world is one that is always connected. These open worlds are going to sound like traditional MMOs in many ways, but aren’t going to have the traditional characteristics of them. They are going to play and feel like the the shooters and third person action games that we’ve grown accustomed to in the current generation.
It’s a non-stopping world, which is like life. You’re getting closer to life.”
“Next-gen provides a seamless, get in and get out experience,” says Ubisoft. “You can have an experience on your own or with friends. It’s a non-stopping world, which is like life. You’re getting closer to life.”
Ubisoft’s The Division was the game of the show for many, and it too will follow this model. “The Division will be always online, because this is how the game is designed. It’s a world that’s always on and always living. The fact you’re always-online is a must. It’s the same for The Crew. You can join your friends or not, but something is happening in this world all the time.”
While still don’t have all the details about these games, we’ll get our first taste of the next-generation with Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed 4. Both games have been touted as social experiences that will take advantage of next-generation hardware to deliver this open world, connected experience. Though it’s nice to know that Sony and Microsoft aren’t going to force us to keep our consoles always online, it looks like game publishers are certainly pushing in that direction with the way their games are built for the Xbox One and PS4.
