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Don Mattrick, President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft responded to the negativity surrounding Xbox One’s online requirements. Speaking to GameTrailers in an interview just prior to their E3 presentation Mattrick explained,

“When we designed the box we paid attention to what it means to connect to the internet. The average internet connection is working the majority of the day. People are imagining that it isn’t, but I don’t feel that’s the world we live in”.

The fallout comes from recent news that while the new console will not required a persistent internet connection, the Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Gamers can play offline for up to 24 hours on their primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library, but offline gaming will not be possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection.

“We appreciate the passion,” Mattrick said. “It’s important that people share their ideas, but people are imagining outcomes that we believe are worse than what it’s going to be like in the real world.”

For those who are unable to take their console online, Mattrick recommends sticking with the Xbox 360.

“If you have zero access to the internet then that [Xbox 360] is an offline device,” he said. “Seriously, when I read the blogs and thought about who would be the most impacted it was a person who said, ‘hey, I’m on a nuclear sub.’ I don’t even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub, but I’ve got to imagine it won’t be easy to get an internet connection. I can empathize… I would be disappointed.”

Sources: Game Trailers via Game Industry International, Xbox Wire