Sony PS4

We’ve been hearing all sorts of rumours about the Xbox, and they’ve not all been good. One pesky report that won’t go away: the Xbox 720 will require an internet connection at all times to play, much like EA’s most recent SimCity. That’s caused quite a bit of controversy, but Sony fans can at least allay their fears: Microsoft’s rival has confirmed the Sony PS4 will not require an always-on internet connection.

Speaking to Game Informer, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida made it clear that the Sony PS4 would not require a broadband connection to play. “Did we consider it? No, we didn’t consider it,” he told the magazine, for the reason that “many countries don’t have robust internet connections.”

That’s good news for gamers globally: broadband speeds are born far from equal, and EA’s recent catastrophic SimCity launch (too many players and not enough servers) is proof that a mandatory internet connection isn’t a smart idea even in 2013. Will Microsoft make the same move? We’ll find out at its big Xbox unveil in two weeks’ time.