Microsoft Drops Xbox One DRM Restrictions

[Fractured Silhouette]

It is now confirmed that Microsoft has reversed its highly contentious Xbox One DRM policies, dropping the requirement for a 24-hour internet check-in and restrictions on used game trade-ins.

UPDATE: In a message that just went live on Xbox.com, Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business President Don Mattrick confirmed that the Xbox One will do away with internet check-ins and allow unlimited game trading, sharing and reselling. Region locks are out, and downloaded games will be playable even while offline, although they cannot be shared or resold.

"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," Mattrick said. "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."

"We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity," he continued. "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."

It's a huge change in direction, especially in light of Microsoft's apparently unshakeable commitment to a connected future just a week ago at E3. Further details and fine print will likely come into the picture over the coming weeks and months but for now, this is nothing short of a breathtaking turnaround.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125204-Microsoft-Drops-Xbox-One-DRM-Restrictions-UPDATED

Try the "new" XBox 180 today! It's like a complete turn-around in gaming! Also powered by two-faced duplicity processors!

Well it's happened, MS shit their pants and realized how stupid they actually were, not sure if it's too late at this point. I think they probably did this because they realized they didn't stand much of a chance against the PS4 in both sales and flexibility.

[Plane And Simple]

Finally...

I found another source:

http://i.imgur.com/ejlBHiH.jpg

After enduring some pretty scathing backlash from gamers, Microsoft on Wednesday reversed course and announced that the Xbox One will not require an Internet connection to play games.

Microsoft will also not impose any limitations on using and sharing games; "it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360."

"After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again," Xbox chief Don Mattrick said in a statement. "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."



No more always online requirement
The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
Region locks have been dropped


Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420712,00.asp
Source: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/microsoft-to-pull-complete-reversal-on-xbox-one-dr/1100-4673/

Update: http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa

[Cygnus]

They finally, finally, FINALLY heard the people, this might mean for me getting an Xbox One, or a WiiU, depends on how my cost-benefit analysis turns out. Seriously, they now leveled the console war a little bit, but they let Sony take advantage.

[Plane And Simple]

Sony took advantage since day 1. Even though the PS4 is winning, me being an xbox player, and DRM being removed, I'd get the One.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

Finally, they listened to the gamers.

But still, I like the PS4 better.

[Rayquaza]

About time a company listened to what the consumers want, and not the game companies.

[Human]

I'm still going to switch to Sony...

[Cygnus]

Moral of the story? If the videogame industry does something you don't like keep bitching until they listen. It worked with Bioware and now with Microsoft.

[Sugaree]

It looks like Microsoft did a...360.

[Cygnus]

It looks like Microsoft did a...360.

Its actually more of a 180 but sure.

[HockeyLovesMe]

i got a xbox and a ps3 and not sure wat im going to get now i was going to get a ps3 but mabey not now

[DerBear]

To be fair though they are only removing it because of sales. They aren't listening to the fans they are listening to the sales.

When the PS4 took them over in pre orders for amazon UK and US they felt threatened.

[TheMatrix]

Moral of the story? If the videogame industry does something you don't like keep bitching until they listen. It worked with Bioware and now with Microsoft.
It works with any industry. Go back a few decades and you get boycotts of the Coca-cola company, for example, and boycotts of water companies privatising water today.

To be fair though they are only removing it because of sales. They aren't listening to the fans they are listening to the sales.
In capitalists states such as these with huge multi-billion dollar corporations, that's typically all they listen to. Squeeze every last penny -- or in this case, several million dollars -- out of them as you can.

[Camazotz]

Its actually more of a 180 but sure.

No, a 180 would mean it's completely different. If it's 360, then it's exactly where it was before, which is the joke because there's not much different.

[Roddy15]

This isn't Microsoft listening to fans moaning, I have to agree with Adam Kovic (from machinima) that Microsoft will push for these ideas later in the Xbox One's life when people are more willing to do it but offer the non-online version too.

Microsoft only back tracked because they want maximum profit, they saw the sales and realised they could possibly fix them by not going ahead with their original plans. I personally thought the ideas would make it the first steam sort of games console, the only problem I had with it was the 24 hour check in because in rural Ireland we can go without internet for more than 24 hours. I could live with the other ideas and sharing your game library with 10 "family" was something I would have enjoyed using.

I would much rather have them back track on the whole TV stuff because it's pointless for anyone outside of the US currently...

[DerBear]

I'll add to what I said above. I personally think Microsoft got worried after the PS4 got more pre-orders off of Amazon than the Xbox One.