Microsoft has moved to clarify several next-gen related issues ahead of E3, after the confusion following their Xbox One reveal last month.
One of the major concerns in the wake of the console unveiling was related to the proposed always-on functionality, with some gamers unsure exactly what this would entail, and how it would affect them.
Microsoft has now revealed their hand, posting a more in-depth explanation:
While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection.
With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library. Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies.
So that pretty much answers that then; your console must be connected online once a day, or every hour if you take your profile to a friend's house. No connection equals no gaming, but you can watch TV and movies.
It is worth noting the line: "Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection." This could mean some games, for example Forza Motorsport 5, require an always-on connection, however this has yet to be clarified and we'll have to wait and see how this will work on a case-by-case basis.
Microsoft has also moved to clarify their position on Kinect & Privacy, and how trade-ins will work on Xbox One.