Most everyone in the gaming press expected some sort of change to happen, not sure that anyone out there expect such a drastic change to come from Microsoft.
*UPDATE* The Xbox Wire is up and here is the “Official” official statement.
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.
After the first press conference where Microsoft revealed the new console, they have been getting some heat. DRM, “Always On” and their treatment of sharing left a sour taste in the mouths of a LOT of gamers out there. After Sony had their E3 press event and revealed their own stance on the same policies only hieghtened the hatred or distrust of Microsoft and their platform.
According to news that first broke on Giant Bomb.com via Patrick “Scoops” Klepek, this is the skinny of what is being changed. Officially Microsoft has said that they are changing their stance, but the site is being hammered and no statement can be seen, at this time. However, here is what Scoops was able to uncover;
The tug-of-war between Microsoft and Sony just got more interesting. Multiple sources inform me Microsoft will announce what amounts to a complete reversal on its DRM policies for Xbox One today. What does this mean?
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 It is unclear what caused this huge change in policy right after E3, a week where Microsoft executives spent days explaining, justifying, and talking about its policies to the press. I suspect Microsoft’s official announcement will say something to the effect of “we’ve been closely listening to consumer feedback.”
This is absolutely insane news. While it doesn’t exactly put MS back on the same level as Sony, given the price difference and the fact that they tried to pull this stunt in the first place, it does put them in a bit of a better light. The choice is now in the consumers hands. Do they look at MS and see them as evil for having to flip flop due to the backlash? Or do they look at them as being a listener and changing due to the whim of their customers? One thing is for sure, the console wars just heated up quite a bit.
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