Total reversal by Microsoft for DRM policies

[mrtemptatio]

There are rumors that Microsoft is changing their mind on their DRM restrictions.
What this means is:

1. Dropping Region Locks
2. No restrictions when selling and lending games to friends
3. No online requirement
4. No hourly check in to the internet
5. Any games will work offline and online

Do you guys think this will change anything? Or has Microsoft already lost too many of their loyal customers?

 

[Haze]

Well it's official! They have changed their policies: Breaking: Microsoft Reverses Xbox One Online Requirements and Used Game Restrictions - ComingSoon.net

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

[Joker99352]

I'm not really surprised. In fact, I was expecting this. It almost makes me wonder if they had it all planned to begin with and were just testing the waters. I hear a lot of people complaining that there won't be family share, but I don't see any problem with the old-fashioned way to trading/sharing games.

 

[andyred]

I was just reading the article on this and although I agree with what Microsoft are doing I'm just shocked that they have actually listened to their consumers and done something about the problem they created.
Heck they could of just carried on with their DRM console but at least they were brave enough to accept the humiliation and back track their efforts and say they were wrong with their original concept.

Fair play to you Microsoft!

 

[DrRipley]

I'm surprised, since I really thought they were going to ride their decision until their eventual and expected loss. I don't know much about what this means for PS4 sales, but if I had to guess, it would still be bad for MS since their system will still be ultimately $100 more for a less powerful machine, their online market would have to be revamped with only a few months left due to this last minute change, and they would still require a connection to verify the system for the first time. I believe this will make a small dent on PS4, but I really think they are really in for an uphill battle because of the tarnish in their name that their recent decisions have made for them.

 

[Haze]

I'm surprised, since I really thought they were going to ride their decision until their eventual and expected loss. I don't know much about what this means for PS4 sales, but if I had to guess, it would still be bad for MS since their system will still be ultimately $100 more for a less powerful machine, their online market would have to be revamped with only a few months left due to this last minute change, and they would still require a connection to verify the system for the first time. I believe this will make a small dent on PS4, but I really think they are really in for an uphill battle because of the tarnish in their name that their recent decisions have made for them.

Just out of curiosity, how much more powerful is the PS4?

 

[lindbergh]

Boo to you Microsoft! You waited for Sony to kick your arses first before you drop all of those restrictions that made your customers go berserk! If you have put yourselves in the customers shoes in the first place, you wouldn't have had to swallow your words. You now look extremely silly.

 

[ozadin]

Boo to you Microsoft! You waited for Sony to kick your arses first before you drop all of those restrictions that made your customers go berserk! If you have put yourselves in the customers shoes in the first place, you wouldn't have had to swallow your words. You now look extremely silly.

That's true. They realized how dumb they were to make up the policies in the first place, so they remove it, and now everyone thinks that they're the greatest. What about Sony for not even thinking about these policies in the first place? Hopefully, the PS4 still passes the Xbox One in terms of sales.

 

[Clark Wayne]

Even though they have had a total reversal of their policies, the fact that Microsoft even wanted to implement those types of features in their system shows what there true intentions are. Although this will help them, I think the always online and used games debacle has really left a bad taste in many gamers mouth so I wouldn't be surprised if some people still switch over from Microsoft to Sony. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the always online and used games issue comes up again in the near future.