Some 60 million American adults don't use the Internet on their computers or phones, says a New York Times report today. That's 20% of the country. Insane!
The Times cites economic difficulties, lack of interest, and lack of computer skills as reasons for this statistic. Some can't afford to get plugged in, and others just don't care to.
This stat is of course very relevant to one of the year's biggest gaming discussions: the Xbox One's DRM problems. Back in May, Microsoft said you'd need an Internet connection to use their next-gen console, and although the company has reversed course since then, it's becoming clear that the big players in gaming want things to go digital.
But just how much of the population is even equipped for that sort of revolution? Any of these 60 million people can buy an Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii U and do just fine without an Internet connection—and in many cases, games are crucial forms of entertainment for lower-income families—but in 10 years, will that still be possible? Should it still be possible? Or should game consoles be just as Internet-dependent as smartphones and tablets?
It's certainly a conversation we'll be having for a long time to come.