According to the Microsoft's senior director of project management, Albert Penello, gamers will "need the Day One update" if they're going to do anything with their new Xbox One consoles.
Penello told Engadget: "Functionally, you will be able to do very little without taking the day one update." When asked what players would be able to do without it, he said: "Nothing. You need the Day One update."
"A lot of the apps come with the day one update because they wouldn't have even been done," Penello continued. "You're gonna need to take this update. It's not gonna be really an optional thing."
Microsoft has come under fire because of the online requirements of the Xbox One, and they were forced to reverse several of their policies and requirements. The console was originally intended to be always-on until the famous u-turn on that policy and DRM.