Microsoft apologizes for dev's "always-on" comments

Yesterday, Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Orth took to Twitter in response to outcry over reports that the next Xbox would require a constant online connection.

"Sorry, I don't get the drama around having an 'always on' console," he tweeted. "Every device is now 'always on.' That's the world we live in. #dealwithit"

He followed that up by apparently mocking people who would make purchasing decisions based on an always-online connection, saying, "The mobile reception in the area I live in is spotty and unreliable. I will not buy a mobile phone," and, "Sometimes the electricity goes out. I will not purchase a vacuum cleaner."

Message boards and blogs jumped on the comments, and Orth then set his profile to protected, preventing the general public from being able to read his tweets. That apparently wasn't enough to tamp down anger over the incident, as Microsoft today released an official statement on the matter through the blog of Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb.

"We apologize for the inappropriate comments made by an employee on Twitter yesterday," the company said. "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."

The apology apparently hasn't done much to address customer concerns. Minutes after posting, the comments section on that statement already sported dozens of posts from people wondering why the company hasn't shot down the reports of an "always online" requirement for the next Xbox.