Microsoft Drops Used Games Restrictions and Always Online

[CyReN]

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

 

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

 

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.

 

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.

 

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

 

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.

 

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

 

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

 

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

 

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

 

Update:

 

Xbox One Family Plan & Digital Library Cut | Region Locked Reversed.

 

There’s a few things we won’t be able to deliver as a result of this change,” Marc Whitten, v.p. of Xbox Live told Kotaku, “One of the things we were very exicted about was ‘wherever we go my games are always with me.’ Now, of course, your physical games won’t show up that way. The content you bought digitally will. But you’ll have to bring your discs with you to have your games with you. Similarly, the sharing library [is something] we won’t be able to deliver at launch.”

[belucheez]

Will wait for the official announcement, but I'll be very happy if this is true.

[Sam]

Wow, if they actually do this, it's Rest in Pieces Playstation.

 

Btw, what exactly does, "

• All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360" mean?

 

Is that a reference to backwards compatibility or something else? I'm confused.

[CyReN]

Wow, if they actually do this, it's Rest in Pieces Playstation.

 

Btw, what exactly does, "

• All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360" mean?

 

Is that a reference to backwards compatibility or something else? I'm confused.

 

Meaning you can play it, give it to friends, etc (like you would on a 360)

[Proven]

I love people on Twitter who act like this isn't a big deal for the mass consumer. 

[rodereve]

Wow really? Microsoft listened? This is why I didnt care about the huge public outlash, I was hoping they'd respond be taking off restrictions

[KangarooJack]

Wow I hope this is really true. I wasn't expecting Microsoft to go back on things so soon, but this is fantastic news if this actually comes to fruition. XBO has much MUCH better games, better controller, and more features while PS3's only advantage would be the price point. Wow. Just wow if this is true. Please keep us posted

[Sam]

Meaning you can play it, give it to friends, etc (like you would on a 360)

Oh, right, okay. Thanks. I'll be surprised if they do go back on all of this, though. I watched an interview last week with Major Nelson and he said they aren't going to change anything about the new console because it's "the future". We'll see I guess, it would put the Xbox One ahead of the PS4 in my opinion by a large amount. 

[Proven]

all I see on twitter SONY DOESN'T DISALLOW SELF PUBLISHING!!! 

 

Me: I don't think the general Call of Duty fan is going to be thinking when they buy their next console "gee, the Xbox One doesn't allow self publishing" they will be thinking "WOW OMG TITANFALL COD EXCLUSIVE DLC AND NO DRM!!!". 

[RandyROFLSTOMP]

They took a page out of 343's playbook. Release something that is horrible then fix some things so it's mediocrity seems like unreal awesomeness. Well done, MS, well done.

[Blackeyed Blond]

If true then the only thing PS4 has over XB1 is price. And I'm more than willing to spend the extra money.

[Sam]

If true then the only thing PS4 has over XB1 is price. And I'm more than willing to spend the extra money.

Now all they have to do is remove the mandatory Kinect and sell it separately. :P

[Whiz]

Suddenly, the only thing PS4 can really compete at is price. If this is really happening, then well done Microsoft.
 

They will have to make sure everyone knows about this though.

[ThreeShotPistol]

Well I really hope this is all true. It looks like a list made up by everybody who felt disenfranchised up to this point as to what they heard about the Xbox One.

 

It's like line-by-line everything the gaming community was displeased with so I guess I'm really anxious to hear confirmation by MS.

[Forde]

Confirmed, watching TGS podcast right now, and it just came up on Xbox.com saying that it has changed it's DRM strategy.

 

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

[RandyROFLSTOMP]

Now all they have to do is remove the mandatory Kinect and sell it separately. :P

I doubt they'll budge on that. All or none. No dev is going to want to develop games for a device that 1/3 of the population has. By making it mandatory they are assuring devs that there will be a market for kinnect games.

 

That's the theory I'm guessing but it doesn't matter if they force me to buy it or not. I don't have enough room where I game to use a kinnect so I won't ever buy a kinnect game.

[Proven]

Confirmed, watching TGS podcast right now, and it just came up on Xbox.com saying that it has changed it's DRM strategy.

 

 

link.

[FLuFFy]

If this really happens, I will definitely buy the Xbox One.

[reiku78]

Lets hope this is true

[talbert]

I certainly hope this is true. I will buy one regardless but I'd really like to be able to play Halo 4 once this console comes out, without having to hold onto my 360.

[rodereve]

If true then the only thing PS4 has over XB1 is price. And I'm more than willing to spend the extra money.

 

Well not exactly, PS4 doesnt come with its camera thing so they both come out around the same price all for the overall package lol.

[Infinity]

 

Today is was first reported by GiantBomb that Microsoft would announce the dropping of the DRM. Below are some details about what would be coming:

 

Microsoft is set to announce it will remove DRM restrictions on Xbox One games and the need for you to have the new Xbox "always online".

Sources tell us that Microsoft is set to announce the changes later today, with games developers being informed first.

It seems Microsoft has listened and is set to change its mind on both DRM on Xbox One games and the always online requirement.

• 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
• Authentication is no longer necessary
• 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: NeoGAF

 

 

 

This is going to be huge. Like enormous if it pulls out to be true.

[rodereve]

Confirmed, watching TGS podcast right now, and it just came up on Xbox.com saying that it has changed it's DRM strategy.

link it lol

 

edit: http://www.twitch.tv/totalbiscuit

[RandyROFLSTOMP]

Well not exactly, PS4 doesnt come with its camera thing so they both come out around the same price all for the overall package lol.

That's if you want the camera and if they charge $100 for a web cam.

[blinkz]

The forced kinect is a bit lame but as far as people who think it spies on you, most of us have cellphones, facebook pages, web cams, use google, etc.. If someone really wanted to spy on us they could easily do it without kinect.

 

That being said still I think removing it could lower the price point below the ps4 and make ms look like they came to their senses.