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.
Original Post: Microsoft got hammered badly at E3 for its restrictive Xbox One policies, which mandate a connection to the internet at least once every 24 hours and impose strict conditions on how you can share and trade your games. But now Giant Bomb has reported a strong rumor that it will drop most of those requirements in the face of massive and sustained blowback from fans.
If the rumor is true, Microsoft will do away with the always-online requirement, game discs will work as they do in the Xbox 360, downloaded games will function even if the system is offline, games will be fully tradeable and region locking will be eliminated. It’s quite a turnaround after the company put so much effort into defending the console but there’s no question that it was taking a hammering at the hands of Sony and the PlayStation 4.
It’s just a rumor at this point and Microsoft has not yet commented. We’ll update when we find out more.
Source: Giant Bomb
