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Microsoft Kills Xbox One Phone-Home DRM
One of the biggest criticisms of Microsoft's recently-announced Xbox One console was that it would require an internet connection once every 24 hours in order to keep playing games. Enough people complained about the DRM, and Microsoft listened. Today, they announced that they're removing the phone-home requirement. "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." They've also scrapped the game trading and resale system they'd built, which allowed publishers to set their own rules with regard to used game sales. "There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360." Unfortunately, that also means users won't be able to take advantage of the good parts of the original system, such as trading and gifting games without needing the disc, or sharing games with remote family members. "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." Also noteworthy: they've dropped region-locks as well.
"I don't think your reputation can be salvaged at this point... most people have already decided on the PS4, and will be leary of signing up since you're just a firmware update away from returning to putting 'em over a barrel."
This made me lol. It's as if you actually believe Sony can't and wouldn't do exactly the same.
Are you really that naive? really?
Or, just buy a PS4.
Sony doesn't deserve money, either.
You think it's going to create confidence among customers and potential customers to see that Microsoft seems to be running around changing major policies like a chicken with its head cut off?
I don't see how that equates to, "Microsoft's not so bad".
To me, it equals, "Nothing Microsoft says can be trusted because they've changed their announced DRM policy like four times since the XBONE was announced.
What's to stop them from reversing course again after all the holiday sales, saying, "From now on, all games will require continual connection to the internet" and push out an update that changes everything?
It really just seems like Microsoft will say anything to keep the P.R. positive, but will probably just go ahead and do whatever.
There never was any danger of me buying an xbox anyway (or any Playstation), so I don't really care, but this kind of stuff just makes me more certain to stay away from consoles and not trust Microsoft as far as I can throw an old Pentium I machine.
You are welcome on my lawn.
Nope, thanks to the whiners, they've killed the ability to play without the disc in the drive, to access your games library from anywhere and to share with your family.