In a bit of a double whammy of bad news, the Xbox One day one patch will be required to do basically anything with the console and even then, if you’re in the UK, you won’t be able to use the TV features – a core part of the system – until next year.
Speaking to Engadget, Microsoft’s senior director of product management Albert Penello said “Functionally, you will be able to do very little without taking the day one update,” before explaining exactly what you could do when asked. “Nothing. You need the Day One update.”
Nothing. You can’t do anything with your Xbox One unless you’ve got an internet connection handy once you’ve bought it. You see, the console contains a rather dated version of the operating system, and the console has been worked on until the very last minute.
So, that means you can’t even come home with your new console, plug it in and start gaming without connecting it to your router and going through the update process. “You’re gonna need to take this update. It’s not gonna be really an optional thing” further explained Penello.
The PS4 will feature a similar day one update, which adds a host of features, though you’ll still be able to play games and do other things without that.
Meanwhile, TechRadar are reporting that the Xbox One TV Guide won’t be available at the UK launch, and it’ll take until next year before you can use Kinect functionality to control your television channels.
The reason for that is because they’re still working out deals with providers, in order to make the best integration possible. “We’re testing all the boxes. You can imagine how many there are in the UK” said Xbox senior project manager Terry Farrell.
You can still use the HDMI pass through to hook up your box with your Xbox One, but you won’t be able to utilise the Xbox Guide functionality until some time in 2014.