Tech publication Ars Technica has reportedly obtained an internal memo sent to full-time Microsoft employees involved in the next generation Xbox project, codenamed Durango, that appears to debunk the notion that the device will require an Internet connection to function.

"Durango is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today's Internet," the memo reads. "There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should 'just work' regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."

Ars notes that it's not entirely clear whether this means that no online connectivity is required at all, like the Xbox 360, or whether there will still be a Steam-style one time authentication when first installing a game, which has also been a previously rumoured scenario.

Microsoft's new Xbox console is expected to be unveiled at a special event being held on May 21st 2013.