As reported on Engadget.
By Daniel Cooper
Did you think the Xbox 360 was being kept around just for the budget market? It turns out Microsoft’s got another sort of customer in mind for the revamped last-gen hardware: the crews of nuclear submarines. Xbox chief Don Mattrick, in response to the backlash over the Xbox One requiring an internet connection, said that “fortunately, we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360.” As an example, he referred to a crew member on a nuclear submarine, who would be better off with the 360, as it’s an “offline device.” The full quotes are after the break, along with the video — oh, and Sony’s message to submarine crews too.
MATTRICK: “Some of the advantages that you get, of having, a box that is designed to use an online state, so, that, uh, to me is the future-proof choice, and I think people, could’ve arguably gone the other way if we didn’t do it and fortunately we have a product for people who aren’t able to get some form of connectivity, it’s called Xbox 360.”
KEIGHLEY: “Right, so stick with 360, that’s your message if you don’t [inaudible] like it?”
MATTRICK: “Well, if you have zero access to the internet, that is an offline device, I mean, seriously, when I read the blogs, and thought about who’s really the most impacted, there was a person who said ‘hey, I’m on a nuclear sub,’ and I don’t even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub but I’ve gotta imagine it’s not easy to get an internet connection.”
KEIGHLEY: “[inaudible] playing call of duty multiplayer”
MATTRICK: “Hey, I can empathize, if I was on a nuclear sub, I’d be disappointed.”