News - Microsoft backtracks: unpopular Xbox One DRM policies torn up

[HEXUS]

But admits to no mistake on pricing, the company has no plans to lower the $499 price tag.

Read more.

[KrisWragg]

Still going to get a PS4 over the Xbox One as its got much better hardware and I don't care for the Kinect. Then again mostly I'm going to stick to PC gaming like I have done for the last few years and only use the console for the odd game that isn't released for PC.

[fatguy666]

Really surprised that they actually listened to people, still not buying it tho

[crossy]

The main thrust of the changes are that; you won’t need to be online to play offline Xbox One games, no 24 hour check in will be required and you will be able to “trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today” with your Xbox 360 system.

Yay!

Gamers will now need to keep the disc in the tray to play it, like with Xbox 360 consoles.

Boo!
Although presumably this doesn't apply to downloaded games which, I'm guessing, will still need some degree of net connection?

However it will still be significantly more expensive than Sony’s PS4 at launch. CNet reports that following the DRM policy reversals Microsoft still believes its new console will be worth the extra outlay as it “will offer features not found elsewhere, such as its Kinect motion-sensing, voice-detecting controller”.

Hmm, call me cynical, but wasn't the deal that the XBone isn't usable without it's Kinect. And yes, I can see the justification for the price premium over the PS4. Although I'm still concerned that the Kinect features will still require acres of space and hence won't work in the typical Brit Barratt hamster cage bedroom.

With this announcement I've gone from XBone-hostile to neutral, what would be needed for me to seriously consider a pre-order would be some means to continue to use my old XB360 titles - whether that was an online-based library of ported games or (better still) some kind of emulator. If I'm to buy an XBone then it's got to be as a replacement for my existing XBox, not an additional box.

[raven1001]

PS4 is cheaper, better specs and better exclusives, the Xbone is done. M$ have already shown their true colours in how they are willing to screw over the consumer.I will not support this **** corporation and the ignorant and arrogant idiots that run it... cough ..Don Mattrick

[Biscuit]

Oh Microsoft, you're so funny.

[Percy1983]

I am not convinced the ps4 has better specs looking at the games so far the xbox seems stronger, the reason I say this is Microsoft haven't released a full spec, to which how much does the esram add to the mix?

[Kanoe]

They should rename the new console as the XBox 180 as they have done so many U turns already!

[kalniel]

I am not convinced the ps4 has better specs looking at the games so far the xbox seems stronger, the reason I say this is Microsoft haven't released a full spec, to which how much does the esram add to the mix?

We're not sure - it's partly to offset the fact slower ram is being used, so I think in the real world there won't be much difference. Someone (anandtech?) did a fairly good technical breakdown based on what we know, and it looks like for most intents and purposes they'll be the same - the PS4 has a slightly better 'graphics card', while the Xbone has dedicated hardware acceleration for IO/cloud stuff.

[jnutt]

I'll probably get one (XBone) now and I'm sure there a lot of peeps out there who feel the same.

[The Hand]

This didn't take long. They needed some positive PR and this is a step in the right direction. More U-turns around the corner?

[3dcandy]

They should rename the new console as the XBox 180 as they have done so many U turns already!

Plural u-turns so Xbox 720

[gagaga]

PS4 is cheaper, better specs and better exclusives, the Xbone is done. M$ have already shown their true colours in how they are willing to screw over the consumer.I will not support this **** corporation and the ignorant and arrogant idiots that run it... cough ..Don Mattrick

And Sony have been a shining example of good behaviour to consumers with the removal of Linux mode, root kits and spyware on music CDs, CD copy protection, MP3 player software that deletes your originals as it copies to the device, non-standard formats for compressed music ... and on and on.

I'm disappointed with this change. I've now got to dig out the bloody discs to put in the console each time I play, or wait an age for the download version to arrive (which now can't be traded back in....).

[warejon9]

Call me cynical, but if they hadn't got such a huge number of complaints, I think they would have left it, and either destroyed the Xbox/maid a lot of underhand/cheeky money.

[davesom555]

I was probably going to buy one anyway - so it's good that they backtracked.

However they never should have made a "Ballmerism" in the first place. "We are making this like so. You should buy it, it's good! No really!".

[Infinite]

If Microsoft didnt confuse the s*** out of everyone in the first place (including themselves) with all the 10 person "Family" Sharing and 30-day "Friend" loan system I actually think they had the better policies in the long run. No one Q_Q about the DRM that Steam has so as as long as Microsoft were clever with how they presented and announced their policies it would have been taken up better. They just shafted themselves by bundling the always on "spying" Kinect (that almost no one cares about), 24 hour check in, region locking, and costing £80 more than the PS4.

Story of the day: Microsoft yet again gets trolled hard by the Internet and media.