Microsoft Drops Xbox One DRM Restrictions - UPDATED

[JokerboyJordan]

Everyone of the higher ups at Microsoft's gaming division should be fired.

Mattrick, Nelson, PR guys, everyone.

Fucking assholes, the lot of them.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

I'm sure the EULA states they can turn these requirements back on at any time. The architecture is surely built into the console already and I doubt they'd be going back to remove it. This is probably nothing more than an On/Off switch.

Exactly, I'm not going to trust them. Their true nature has been shown and I want no part in that... A shame since I love my 360.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Possibly nice, all we have to do now is to get them to kill always on Kinect.

 

[hatok]

Okay, Jim Sterling. Can we now take a look at how shitty the PS4 and the Xbox One (really the whole next gen of consoles) are now that they're on equal footing?

But that's the thing, they're not on equal footing, it's just less uneven than before
The 180 still requires online when you first log on with a new game
It's still 100 dollars more expensive
Kinect is still required
The PS4 is still markedly more powerful
There is a greater variety of exclusives on the PS4
The PS4 still has drastically superior indy support
PS+ is a far superior service compared tio Live, and it cheaper (Especially if Amazon is correct when it says that Xbox Lie will go up to 100 bucks for the 180)
And the PS4 can be used on non-HDMi TVs
Plus other little things, like being able to use Netflix on sony systems WITHOUT a PS+ subscription, unlike Micrsoft

 

[frizzlebyte]

All this tells me is that these features were neither essential nor difficult to remove.

Again, features that are forced unto consumers for no good reason beyond the manufacturer's benefit.

I'm not happy. They will keep trying this. They are now trying to save face so the Xbone sells somewhat, and, mark my words, once the system is adopted they'll gradually reintroduce the limitations.

Heck, that's their strategy with Windows 8 and the Windows Store! As has been in the past with all their products.


It'll be interesting to see, at the end of this next generation, how many of the things being decried now as unfair have eventually been introduced and assimilated as normal.

Sad times ahead.

Amen, brother. Also, if you read the press release, the Xbone still needs to be connected at least once: "After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One". They're not even backpedaling that far away from it.

My bet is they'll replicate what Sony did with the PS3 Other OS removal and reinstate the DRM three years in, citing piracy of games as a crippling problem they have to curb to remain viable. The only reason they've 'removed' the DRM now is to get the console to sell, because they were obviously banking that Sony would do the same as them.

Captcha: know your rights.
Amen to you too, captcha.

I was going to say something similar to the above two posts, but now I don't have to. At any rate, it is huge that this is confirmed. But I still don't want Kinect, so yeah. Still not a purchase.

 

[lacktheknack]

So much strangled stumbling attempted hate in this thread.

Microsoft DID SOMETHING RIGHT, in a quantity that took EVERYONE by surprise (yes, including you). Can we not just have a one-thread fiesta before we go right back to "no, screw you" or "now get rid of the Kinect"?

No?

Sadface.

 

[hatok]

So much strangled stumbling attempted hate in this thread.

Microsoft DID SOMETHING RIGHT, in a quantity that took EVERYONE by surprise (yes, including you). Can we not just have a one-thread siesta before we go right back to "no, screw you" or "now get rid of the Kinect"?

No?

Sadface.

They did something right, but only to escape a problem they created. That's not praiseworthy

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

So...the supposed "need" for the cloud to make all these new awesome xbox one games possible is somehow...lifted now? How? What made it happen?



Are they gonna shelf all those games now cause people don't want the cloud?



Hmm...something tells me these games didn't really need that thing at all in the first place!

 

[lacktheknack]

So much strangled stumbling attempted hate in this thread.

Microsoft DID SOMETHING RIGHT, in a quantity that took EVERYONE by surprise (yes, including you). Can we not just have a one-thread siesta before we go right back to "no, screw you" or "now get rid of the Kinect"?

No?

Sadface.

They did something right, but only to escape a problem they created. That's not praiseworthy

I didn't say "praise Microsoft", I said "one-thread siesta".

Because, you know, consumers have displayed that they have some power for once. That's worth being really excited about.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Okay, Jim Sterling. Can we now take a look at how shitty the PS4 and the Xbox One (really the whole next gen of consoles) are now that they're on equal footing?

But that's the thing, they're not on equal footing, it's just less uneven than before
The 180 still requires online when you first log on with a new game
It's still 100 dollars more expensive
Kinect is still required
The PS4 is still markedly more powerful
There is a greater variety of exclusives on the PS4
The PS4 still has drastically superior indy support
PS+ is a far superior service compared tio Live, and it cheaper (Especially if Amazon is correct when it says that Xbox Lie will go up to 100 bucks for the 180)
And the PS4 can be used on non-HDMi TVs
Plus other little things, like being able to use Netflix on sony systems WITHOUT a PS+ subscription, unlike Micrsoft

For the last time, all of the Amazon prices on the as-of-yet unpriced consoles are PLACEHOLDERS.

 

[lacktheknack]

So much strangled stumbling attempted hate in this thread.

Microsoft DID SOMETHING RIGHT, in a quantity that took EVERYONE by surprise (yes, including you). Can we not just have a one-thread siesta before we go right back to "no, screw you" or "now get rid of the Kinect"?

No?

Sadface.

I would give them props... if they did this at ALL for the benefit of their customers.

But they didn't. They did it because Sony pre-orders were reportedly 11-to-1 over XBone preorders, and because the social media outcry reached a crescendo.

See my above post. I'm not saying we should throw ourselves into the arms of Microsoft (they haven't earned it), but still, CONSUMER VICTORY! WOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Colt47]

They still got to get rid of the Kinect requirement and knock 100 bucks off the price tag to make it competitive with the PS4. Also, they are still obsessed with Windows Glass technology that depends on an $800 peripheral.

 

[MPerce]

Whoa. That's a hell of a turnaround.

Still not gonna get it because I have no room for a Kinect, but at least this thing's not the Bane of Gaming anymore.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

For the last time, all of the Amazon prices on the as-of-yet unpriced consoles are PLACEHOLDERS.

Did you watch/read E3 news? The prices were announced, and what stores etc are using from what I understand, are those prices.

 

[Anti-Robot Man]

I guess the digital gaming is delayed for another 10 years then... Shame.
Welcome back 60$ games. It may even go higher, I heard the prices of the plastic are going up.

Except that digital versions will still be available the same day as physical copies for those who still want to waste their money (if you want to buy overpriced digital copies Games on Demand already gives you that option on XBL). Or you buy a pc and never have to sully yourself with a corporeal copy again, and actually get them for a decent discount.


Unrelated point: if Microsoft can disable this system with a simple patch, then hackers would've broken it in no time at all anyway.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

Say it loud and there's music playing! Say it soft and it's almost like praying...

You've made the right decision, Microsoft. I'm not settling up with an Xbone just yet, but I'm more intrigued now than I was.

 

[RicoADF]

Well, this would be welcome news, were it to be confirmed, and if I trusted Microsoft at all to keep its word, which I don't. In all likelihood (I don't know much about these things), the Xbox One's hardware is finalized, and this will just be a shift in the firmware. If Microsoft can pull this requirement, there's no reason that they can't add it again via firmware update once they've got a solid user base - they've already demonstrated enough sheer stupidity and disregard for their consumers that I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled a move like that.

Still, if it happens, it will be a good move - but it shouldn't buy back all their lost goodwill.

Most countries have laws that would allow the customer to return their console if that were to happen, so M$ would loose their customer base overnight. Not to mention the public backlash, it'd make the XBone reveal look good.

OT: I'm intregued, I'll let the fans be the testers to see how it works, but if it does work then I might get every console next generation like this one.

 

[Azure Knight-Zeo]

While it's good that MS did this, but I'm still not planning on getting one. Me and the 360 had a rocky relationship, I'm not a fan of many of MS' first party ips, and I have a feeling a lot of early games will require the Kinect 2 for gimmicks. Still, if they announce that you don't need Xbox Gold to play online then maybe- phf yeah right...

 

[Daveman]

In fairness, well done Xbone... we may yet have some competition in the games market now. That's good because it drives the price down generally. To a certain extent the damage may be done, but my mates and I, who are at uni and simply lack the type of constant online you want, may now consider the Xbone at least.

So you may yet claw back some sales.

 

[nightwolf667]

You spin me right round, baby, right round. Like a hurricane when we go...*cough*

Anyway, so the Xbone has pulled a 180, but I'm still concerned that it'll manage a full 360 and we'll end back up right where we started in a few months. Basically, they say: oh we're going back...until after launch. These were aspects Microsoft wanted to include originally and seemed for the most part very loyal to, the capacity for them will probably still be built into the software, so what's to say they don't go back on their word once the purchases have been made, units are moved, and their stock goes back up?

I don't know. But I'm either buying a PS4 for their awesome looking exclusives or just sticking with my PC, depends on my wallet at the moment. Their treatment of their customer base has frankly been abominable and while this might seem like a capitulation, I look upon it with suspicion. So, ta-ta Microsoft, better luck next round.