Sunset Overdrive: not online-only, but uses Xbox One cloud, says Insomniac

Sunset Overdrive developer Insomniac Games is bringing its open-world shooter exclusively to Xbox One, as the console's cloud computing was attractive when considering the game's constant flow of updates. Studio CEO Ted Price has added that while the cloud will play a big role, the title can be played entirely offline if players choose.

Speaking with Game Informer, Price said, "Some of the hardcore data collection, correlation, and translation that we expect to do is difficult and takes a lot of horsepower, and that is one aspect of the cloud that is attractive to us.

"Our intent is that you will be able to play the single-player without an online connection," he went on. "The game will be updated with content we expect that all players will want. You won't be able to access that without an online connect."

Price added that the cloud shouldn't be used as some gimmicky buzz-word just to help sell a game, and added that it can be a valuable asset when applied correctly.

"When people say 'cloud' it's one of those broad terms that mean many things," he continued. "How we use the cloud depends on the genre, depends on the audience, and it depends on the state of the hardware behind the cloud.

"We're learning that new opportunities and ideas are popping up every month when we discover how we can take aspects of the game offline [to the cloud]. We are going to be relying on heavy backend services to churn through the data we get from players to understand what they're telling us and what they're doing in the game."

In the end, Price concluded that cloud tech can exist at the benefit of everyone - developers and gamers alike, "The potential of the cloud for console developers is pretty large. Over the next five or six years, it's one of those technologies that will change in meaning as we see more games come out and take innovative approach to the more and more offline processing that's available."

"It is proven that cloud services can improve products and services in other areas, so it's cool that games are starting to take advantage of it. Looking at the world's approach to this now-massive amount of hardware we have that can be taken advantage of, these are things are going to change faster and faster. Not just for games, but for every industry. It's ultimately good for all of us who consume entertainment."

What do you make of Xbox One's use of cloud tech? Are you excited for Sunset Overdrive? Let us know below.

Thanks OXM.