Microsoft not budging on $499 price
Earlier today, Microsoft announced that they would not be implementing many of their restrictive DRMs on their next gen console, the Xbox One. However, it seems like they will not lower the price of the Xbox One.
Speaking to CNET, Microsoft chief product officer Marc Whitten has said that they would not lower the $499 price of the Xbox One even though rival Sony PlayStation 4 is set to release for $399. This is due to the fact that Microsoft believes that they are “over-delivering” value with the Xbox One with features such as their Kinect and voice commands.
While we are applaud Microsoft’s efforts to in supporting a DRM free console, it would appear that gamers who purchase game discs will not be getting some of the benefits of an always online machine. Previously with the DRM, gamers who installed a physical game onto their own Xbox One would also be able to access their games from any console as long as they were signed in to their account. With the changes to Microsoft’s DRM policies, this feature would be limited only to digital purchases. Furthermore, Microsoft will also be removing the feature for gamers to share their disc based games with up to 10 other family members even if they didn’t have the game disc.
These past few weeks have proved trying for Microsoft after they were heavily critique for their always online console. Gamers have slammed Microsoft about the Xbox One since the reveal and Whitten has expressed that the decision to move away from such DRMs is due to fan feedback.
“E3 was the first time our complete program was out there to get complete feedback. We heard that people valued the flexibility of physical discs.”