Consumers Win: Microsoft Changes It’s Xbox One DRM Policies and Daily Internet Connection Requirement
Ever since Microsoft announced its DRM policies and the mandatory internet connection happening once daily, it’s been under constant attack by consumers. In a spectacular show of consumerism at it’s very best, people voted with their dollar as well as their loud online voice. Well, message received.
Xbox One will no longer require DRM or any mandatory internet connection, aside from when you first boot up the system for a Day One patch. After that you’ll be free to enjoy your games offline, sell them to whoever, or loan them to a friend, just as it has always been this generation. While the shift is certainly good news for any potential buyers there are a couple of losses for this one.
First off the family game sharing is off the table. You’ll no longer be able to add ten people to share any games registered with your account. In addition, you’ll have to have your disc with you if you want to play on any other console. Previously with the old policies you’d be able to play your games on any console with no disc, as long as you could log into your account.
Oh well, Microsoft giveth and Microsoft taketh away. Both of these seem like a small price to pay for more consumer friendly product. Here is Don Mattrick from earlier today, in his own words, to share the good news:
Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.
For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.
Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, 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.
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.
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.
In the end whether you want to buy a PS4 or a Xbox One and no matter who you think won E3, today the customer won. That’s a nice change of pace now isn’t it?
Charles
June 19, 2013 @ 6:42 pm
There are still some areas where they will still need to clarify though. All of these changes mentioned were for disc based games. Does this mean that games bought digitally will still be subjected to those restrictive DRMs?
But all in all, they are making improvements. Too bad this comes after E3..
Daniel Flatt
June 19, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
I agree that Microsoft is still behind in big ways. My biggest concerns with the system have always been based on Microsoft’s draconian publishing policy and patching/update system for XBLA. Of course there is also the fact that PS4 is a full hundred cheaper and doesn’t require a camera add on.
However, I think that this is a big stride for Microsoft and honestly I’m impressed. Clearly it was driven by sales, but company or individual it takes a lot more to say “You know what I screwed up. Here’s what I’ll do to fix it.”
They could have adamantly stuck to their guns and still would have sold consoles, but I’m glad they listened to the consumer.
As far as digital DRM I’d imagine it would be the same as it is now. If I buy a game digitally on PSN or XBLA I can’t trade that game in or do anything with it now. The internet connection though doesn’t seem it will be required, you can play your games offline just like you can now. Basically, nothing is really changing from this generation of gaming.
Craig Reynolds
June 20, 2013 @ 12:48 am
I’m torn as to how I feel about this. Part of me gives Microsoft a big thumbs up, as it would seem they’ve FINALLY realised that what they’re proposing has alienated many of their current consumers. That said, it may be too little too late; it grates me that Spencer, Mattrick and Co. spent weeks insisting on their policies, telling the market that they would not budge, they would not waver, customers will buy their product regardless… only to buckle completely and go back on everything.
Yes, to a degree it is commendable that Microsoft is trying to make amends (or, more accurately, trying to be more competitive), but given they spent weeks dismissing their consumers and agitating them with their arrogance, how much good this decision will do is hard to gauge. You only have to consult Twitter, Facebook and gaming forums to see how many Xboxers will be PlayStation players next generation…
bleachorange
June 20, 2013 @ 3:34 pm
Something tells me it was the pre-orders that did it. I have a gut feeling Microsoft wasn’t getting nearly as many prer-orders as they expected. That, combined with all the negative PR seems to have shifted them from their stance much earlier than I thought (I was thinking mid-July or into August before they changed policy). It’s actually a surprisingly swift decision for a giant corporation.
synopsis
June 25, 2013 @ 6:50 pm
I completely agree with this. When i read the title the first thought i had was they were way under their expectations in preorders verses “listening to their consumers”.. etc.. At the end of the day its a plus, but i wouldn’t exactly call it customer service.
Robert Strick
June 25, 2013 @ 8:22 pm
Glad to see you visiting the site again! Totally agree with your points.
Daniel Flatt
June 26, 2013 @ 5:55 pm
Welcome back synopsis, that’s exactly what I thought. They heard that piggy bank draining.
Kelsey Miller
June 20, 2013 @ 4:53 pm
Well, Mattrick had me sold when he said the Xbox One would be great because it is a “digital” console. (I’m still looking for an analog one…)
As an Xbox-er who was considering switching to the PS4, all I can say is I’m still on the fence…