Following earlier rumours, Microsoft have confirmed tonight that they’re reversing their policies on the Xbox One’s DRM – the battle just got interesting.
Although the Xbox site buckled under the pressure of lots of simultaneous hits (worrying for a company that previously pushed always online so hard) the following info has been published:
“Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One,” says the blog on the Xbox Wire, written by Don Mattrick, “my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.”
“You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.”
“So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:”
“An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.”
- Info: you don’t need an internet connection to play offline. You will need to connect once to set up the console. That’s it.
“Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.”
- Info: you can trade, rent and sell Xbox One games with no fuss.
“In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions.”
- Info: no region lock, downloadable games can be played offline.
“These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.”
“We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.”
“Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.”
And that’s that – the Xbox One is suddenly a much more appealing console.
Thoughts?
Origami Killer
Whilst this is a good, bold, decision the whole debacle is really embarrassing. Their PR and general feedback has been confusing, misguiding and downright arrogant. Still, at least their more in touch with consumers now, or for however long this lasts.
Their console is still £70 or so more expensive than the PS4 though, price is still the most important factor when buying a new console in my mind.
Paranoimia
“the Xbox One is suddenly a much more appealing console”
Not for me. Two Xbox systems largely unused, won’t be buying another.
Tuffcub
“I don’t think, I mean we’re really not going to change anything we’ve done with Xbox One” – Major Nelson, three days ago. Lols.
double-o-dave
He’s not fit to bear that name. Did you see Horatio Nelson surrender at the first sign of defeat?
blarty
I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t privy to those discussions, to be fair.
Wardy-77-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RtSGFryKwo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUsgv2QHkT2ljEixyulzOnUQ
Cybotika
Hi
I do not believe MS has really changed they do this all the while, they could of easily shifted the DRM stuff too disc checks or server/cloud bound and made out they were doing you all a favour because they care for you so much
Kennykazey
Microsoft chickening out and not setting “the new standard”? Good.
blarty
It’s what they needed to do, and they did it, with a degree of expediency too, so fair enough. Whether the damage that’s be done will so easily be reversed is another matter.
crow-proxy
So what happens to that cloud gaming? It still makes the system always online and if you try going offline that just makes the games/Xbone all the more crappy?
quinkill
it’s too late for that microsoft, so the arrogance continues. they think they can win back some support with this?
Eldave0
*looks smug*…. so glad I picked the X1! :D
skibadee
look smug lol they only did it because Sony had won before it started, it costs more has less power not sure why you feel smug you might feel like a mug later.
Eldave0
Both consoles are essentially identical now, aside from an £80 price difference (for a camera I was going to buy for my family if it was a seperate peripheral anyway).
When it comes to choosing a console it now basically boils down to the games, which is just as it should be. In that regard the X1 lineup looks much stronger than PS4’s (obviously that is just my opinion).
skibadee
there not identical you will see that when there in the wild.
Eldave0
You’re right. Generally X1 games are running at 60fps whereas the PS4 is struggling to reach 30 on a number of titles.
In all seriousness, similar architecture = similar performance.
Cybotika
I do not believe MS has really changed they do this all the while, they could of easily shifted the DRM stuff too disc checks or server/cloud bound and made out they were doing you all a favour because they care for you so much and Eldave0 no I am not a PS fanboy I have both sys this gen and I believe I may get both again. I for one will not be a day one purchase until the dust settled
Eldave0
“I for one will not be a day one purchase until the dust settled”
Don’t blame you. Were I not itching to start a new console generation I would personally do the same and wait for some price drops. Unfortunately I am sick to the back teeth of this gen and am very much looking forward to some new hardware.
germ1984
This, without a shadow of a doubt, the most messed up console reveal/launch of all time, and Microsoft are a joke of a company that’s on full damage control now.
There can’t be more than a handful of informed core gamers, plus some ardent MS fanboys, who are still going to get the Xbox One so it’s going to be down to the casual market to make this console anything less than a failure. Hopefully the price tag will put them off too.
skibadee
my trust with MS is at 0% thank god for the PS4 other wise MS way would be here to stay.
athoughtahead
I wouldn’t say that, Sony has a very good reputation of not putting the money where their mouth is, so to speak about this properly, you have to remember they’re both companies. I haven’t fully forgotten when my information was left out in the open with the great PSN hack or that Sony has terrible software development… it’s all over the internet about them bricking a bunch of PS3s with a firmware update(including some friends of mine). If I put my full opinion in the ring, it’s that Microsoft has more profit, experience and more iron-clad around the clock bug testing than Sony.