Microsoft Is Removing Xbox One DRM

[Sonic 294]

I guess this kind of puts thing back onto a more level playing filed. Microsoft is back tracking here and basically removing Xbox One DRM they previous announced. In other words they got scared and feared poor sales if they went ahead with it.....

 

http://kotaku.com/microsoft-is-removing-xbox-one-drm-514390310

Microsoft Is Removing Xbox One DRM

This could be the biggest backtrack in gaming history: Microsoft will reverse course on their DRM policies for Xbox One, dropping their 24-hour Internet check-in requirement and all restrictions on used games.

Here's Microsoft president of interactive entertainment Don Mattrick with the news:

 

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.

 

 

 

[Nmenth 290]

"We got caught with our fingers in your piggy bank, and your anger and disappointment was shocking to us as we were certain we could get away with it. Since we respect your feelings and acknowledge you have an odd attachment to that porceline pig, we have decided to cancel our current plans to rob it as it seems more profitable to rob the guy next door instead for as long as you are still alert."

[Luk3us 63]

Too little too late, the damage is already done in my humble opinion. Though I have to laugh when they say feedback from the community, more like they saw all those dollar signs going out the window.

 

 

But it just proves if you bitch enough, you'll get your way... That is both a good and bad thing.

[Gben 20]

Aah microsoft, you don't boil a live frog by dramatic changes, you turn the temperature up slowly...

[Nmenth 290]

That video wouldn't help Microsoft though. They obviously had to use a stunt frog in it because they were raising the temperature way too fast. For that experiment to work correctly, it has to be more like 1 degree per minute.

[Plok 321]

Though I have to laugh when they say feedback from the community,

I think that word is meaningless today.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Am I the only one who doesn't like this? Why is it that gamers are spoiled brats? As if DRM was inherently a negative thing, which it's actually not if you understand what it actually means. Microsoft was trying to go in a new direction to be more like Steam with the Xbox One and it had some functionality that would have been awesome. Like, sharing your entire digital ****ing game library with ten people... or... having more RIGHTS to your DIGITAL content. And now, thanks to the whining, circlejerking masses, we're losing out. Now the Xbox One is another hunk of plastic with no redeeming quality. Nice job guys. You held digital rights back by five years. Brilliant.

 

Idiots.

[Plok 321]

Will you please stop marking everyone who doesn't completely agree with something new being put up their mouths as whiners?

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Nobody likes the truth, do they?

[Plok 321]

Apparently, Doctor Destiny is the only person on the Internet who knows the truth. I mean, seriously...

[Doctor Destiny 41]

I'm not the only one but the majority of people who pitched a fit... yeah, they didn't do any research at all. Blind rage for no reason.

[Plok 321]

People who condemn these DRM ****s are the ones who are used to the golden ages of gaming throughout the 90s and majority of the 00s when such things didn't exist and everything worked out fine. Now one company starts a fad like that and others follow for no damn reason. I spit on today's gaming industry for mindless money grabbing and, among the majority of others, desire a return to the time when things were more... normal.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

There is no going back to the way it was. In fact, that time is basically dead and standing in the way is slowing the progression we could actually make. Physical media still has its place but digital media is on the rise and we have to accept that. Microsoft was changing the DRM to work in our favor and everyone pooped their Pampers and they had to get rid of the progress they made.

[PurpleGaga27 39]

Too little too late, the damage is already done in my humble opinion. Though I have to laugh when they say feedback from the community, more like they saw all those dollar signs going out the window.

 

 

But it just proves if you bitch enough, you'll get your way... That is both a good and bad thing.

 

I am really hoping for PC gaming companies to follow Microsoft's change one day, remove the DRM from their games permanently.

[Plok 321]

There is no going back to the way it was.

And just what was wrong in the way it was?

 

In fact, that time is basically dead and standing in the way is slowing the progression we could actually make. Physical media still has its place but digital media is on the rise and we have to accept that. Microsoft was changing the DRM to work in our favor and everyone pooped their Pampers and they had to get rid of the progress they made.

Just how the hell are constant Internet connection, inability to trade games in because they have the OAG syndrome and ridiculously high prices for all that called an advancement? Where do you want to go from there, maybe some sort of system that checks if you're playing the game for 24 hours or not and does something stupid if you don't comply?

[Nmenth 290]

Save your time, Plokite_Wolf, he is far too stubborn and convinced that his own opinions are the only ones that actually count to ever be persuaded otherwise. He also has the inability to let something go even if there is no point in continuing. Go ahead and prove me wrong, DD, don't respond.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

And just what was wrong in the way it was?

 

Just how the hell are constant Internet connection, inability to trade games in because they have the OAG syndrome and ridiculously high prices for all that called an advancement? Where do you want to go from there, maybe some sort of system that checks if you're playing the game for 24 hours or not and does something stupid if you don't comply?

Nothing was wrong for its time but we are moving into a digital world and we must embrace the change or gaming as we know it will die a horrible death... or we'll have people like you bitching and moaning until you're blue in the face while clamoring for the good ol' days. I have a fond remembrance of those days, but if I am to continue enjoying video games and see them grow into an art as they should be, I cannot bitch and moan for stagnation. You have to face reality and advance with it while applauding the companies who try to advance the medium itself or advance how we buy and sell our goods be they digital or physical.

 

There was no constant Internet connection required. In fact, the online check was only necessary if you were playing a digital copy of your game rather than your physical media, which did still exist. In fact, even under the new system, trade ins were still possible but discouraged slightly through the digital marketplace that Microsoft had planned on building, which would have been like Steam. Actually, come to think of it, I'm rather against the used game market as it stands right now with conglomerates like Gamestop eating profits left and right while pushing used games whenever possible. All while giving nothing back to developers and publishers and demanding exclusive promotional content. At least with Microsoft's new system, you would have been able to sell your digital goods, which you can't right now and give back to the people who make the games off of "used" sales. And, get this, you could share your entire digital library with ten people of your choosing so you could basically play the same copy of the same game at the same time with one of your friends. How awesome would that have been? Talk about an easy way to generate new purchases for people on the fence about a game. You cannot seriously say that giving me genuine ownership over my digital goods while being able to share my digital goods entirely with ten people is a bad thing.

 

Next time, do a little research instead of listening to the Internet anti-Microsoft circlejerk.

 

Another discussion for another time, however, but the used game market hurts the game industry more than people will admit.

 

Save your time, Plokite_Wolf, he is far too stubborn and convinced that his own opinions are the only ones that actually count to ever be persuaded otherwise. He also has the inability to let something go even if there is no point in continuing. Go ahead and prove me wrong, DD, don't respond.

I do not let misinformation stand. That is not how I operate.

[Plok 321]

Nothing was wrong for its time but we are moving into a digital world and we must embrace the change or gaming as we know it will die a horrible death... or we'll have people like you bitching and moaning until you're blue in the face while clamoring for the good ol' days. I have a fond remembrance of those days, but if I am to continue enjoying video games and see them grow into an art as they should be, I cannot bitch and moan for stagnation. You have to face reality and advance with it while applauding the companies who try to advance the medium itself or advance how we buy and sell our goods be they digital or physical.

For one thing, games stopped being art long ago, you know this. I'd rather see the industry dead than in the form it has achieved.

 

There was no constant Internet connection required. In fact, the online check was only necessary if you were playing a digital copy of your game rather than your physical media, which did still exist. In fact, even under the new system, trade ins were still possible but discouraged slightly through the digital marketplace that Microsoft had planned on building, which would have been like Steam.

Then why the regional lock, making most of the world's countries unable to access this marketplace?

 

Actually, come to think of it, I'm rather against the used game market as it stands right now with conglomerates like Gamestop eating profits left and right while pushing used games whenever possible. All while giving nothing back to developers and publishers and demanding exclusive promotional content.

Who said anything about Gamestop? They're only one American company, while the used game market exists worldwide.

 

At least with Microsoft's new system, you would have been able to sell your digital goods, which you can't right now and give back to the people who make the games off of "used" sales.

Who would want to sell his digital goods? And so what if someone sells something to the used market?

 

And, get this, you could share your entire digital library with ten people of your choosing so you could basically play the same copy of the same game at the same time with one of your friends. How awesome would that have been? Talk about an easy way to generate new purchases for people on the fence about a game. You cannot seriously say that giving me genuine ownership over my digital goods while being able to share my digital goods entirely with ten people is a bad thing.

Link to a trustworthy source or I'll confirm my speculation that you made this all up.

 

Another discussion for another time, however, but the used game market hurts the game industry more than people will admit.

Maybe, but not as DRM. Actually, aside from the rash players who don't know what they're buying, it's mostly the devs' fault that their games need to be resold, as that is mostly the case of failed expectations. Make better stuff, reselling won't be an issue.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

 

For one thing, games stopped being art long ago, you know this. I'd rather see the industry dead than in the form it has achieved.

Games aren't art? So nothing is good about Bioshock? Persona 4? Journey? Spec Ops The Line? God of War 1? So none of these games have any artistic merit? None at all? If you're going to be full of ****, try harder. This is one of the most patently ridiculous statements I've seen from you. I expect this from zocom7, not you. I know you're more intelligent than that.

 

 

Then why the regional lock, making most of the world's countries unable to access this marketplace?

I didn't say it was perfect but a step forward. However, I didn't see any region locking in the press releases. And I read quite a few and discussed it on Skype for many hours. None of us actually talking about it saw that anywhere and I don't see why Microsoft would do that when Steam doesn't since they were trying to directly compete, which is a good thing.

 

 

Who said anything about Gamestop? They're only one American company, while the used game market exists worldwide.

I said companies LIKE Gamestop. They're just endemic and ubiquitous in North America so I have more experience with them than most other companies. However, the used game market is a detriment to the gaming industry. The sucky part is that based on analyst figures... if we were to eliminate the retail used games market, games would have to get at least 30 percent cheaper for companies to stay in business. That's better for consumers than used games. Sorry but that's that the way it is.

 

 

Who would want to sell his digital goods? And so what if someone sells something to the used market?

It's a matter of rights. If I purchase something digitally, I should have the same rights to get rid of it that I do with any physical media. I could go on and on about the harm of the used game market but that's another discussion.

 

 

Link to a trustworthy source or I'll confirm my speculation that you made this all up.

That was all in the E3 press conference and in Microsoft's replies to concerns and bitching from the uneducated masses.

 

 

Maybe, but not as DRM. Actually, aside from the rash players who don't know what they're buying, it's mostly the devs' fault that their games need to be resold, as that is mostly the case of failed expectations. Make better stuff, reselling won't be an issue.

That's really not the case except in the case of shovelware. Games are not a cheap investment so reselling your old games to purchase new ones is a common practice. And that's generally why games are resold, not because the game is actually bad.

[Plok 321]

Games aren't art? So nothing is good about Bioshock? Persona 4? Journey? Spec Ops The Line? God of War 1? So none of these games have any artistic merit? None at all? If you're going to be full of ****, try harder. This is one of the most patently ridiculous statements I've seen from you. I expect this from zocom7, not you. I know you're more intelligent than that.

Games used to be art. Today, I find very few games able to fit in that description. All we get are reboots (whoever had that idea the first is to be ridden the right to publish anything for life), half-baked sequels and spin-offs. Rarely do modern developers create something original, not counting the indies as I'm not very familiar with them.

I didn't say it was perfect but a step forward. However, I didn't see any region locking in the press releases. And I read quite a few and discussed it on Skype for many hours. None of us actually talking about it saw that anywhere and I don't see why Microsoft would do that when Steam doesn't since they were trying to directly compete, which is a good thing.

Here's an article from June 12th, at the end of E3, which you've managed to evade somehow: http://www.ibtimes.com/xbox-one-region-locked-microsoft-game-console-will-not-work-outside-21-launch-countries-1304945

[Doctor Destiny 41]

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/06/microsoft-defends-the-xbox-ones-licensing-used-game-policies/?rel=12971

Here's something detailing how the Xbox One was going to work before Microsoft caved.

 

 

Games used to be art. Today, I find very few games able to fit in that description. All we get are reboots (whoever had that idea the first is to be ridden the right to publish anything for life), half-baked sequels and spin-offs. Rarely do modern developers create something original, not counting the indies as I'm not very familiar with them.

Wow, I've never seen such a shallow look at games in general. You're no better than the people who think games are just children's toys or games are evil. Games are still art and if you disagree, stop playing games. You're not helping. You're just hurting the medium.

[Nmenth 290]

I disagree with most of what DD has to say here (though will not bother debating it), however I must defend the art of games. Even if the company wants to milk a franchise and shovel out pointless remakes, reboots, etc., I think the developers themselves still think of their work as art. When management isn't breathing down their backs and corporate heads aren't trying to alchemize human resources into gold, the developers probably enjoy what they do and put as much of their artistic talent into their work as they can.

[Plok 321]

Well, if you call creating copypasted, overhyped, graphics-heavy and uninnovative games every year and making players buy it just because they're nice-looking an art form, then I have no choice but to revoke my statement

Wow, I've never seen such a shallow look at games in general. You're no better than the people who think games are just children's toys or games are evil.

Am I? People who have the same or somewhat similar viewpoint to what I have usually buy the games they love from sites like GoG or eBay/Amazon because they still believe that at least a good portion of the games that were released thus far (in this case, old ones) are, in fact, art. If the newer ones were even remotely close to the old ones in that aspect, there wouldn't be a need to return to the old ones that much.

 

Even if the company wants to milk a franchise and shovel out pointless remakes, reboots, etc., I think the developers themselves still think of their work as art.

Their subjective opinion concerns me not. Everyone will see their own work as something spectacular (unless it's really really really bad).

 

the developers probably enjoy what they do and put as much of their artistic talent into their work as they can.

Talent alone does not necessarily generate good results

stop playing games.

Never.

You're not helping. You're just hurting the medium.

[Nmenth 290]

Their subjective opinion concerns me not. Everyone will see their own work as something spectacular (unless it's really really really bad).

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't art. There are a lot of forms of art I dislike, but I don't deny they are art.

 

 

Talent alone does not necessarily generate good results

Of course not. Note my heavy-handed reference to management and corporate heads interfering. While I won't say developers can't make a game bad on their own, I'm certain the majority of bad games result from a higher rung of the hierarchal ladder.

[Doctor Destiny 41]

Well, if you call creating copypasted, overhyped, graphics-heavy and uninnovative games every year and making players buy it just because they're nice-looking an art form, then I have no choice but to revoke my statement

There is more to creating games than simply innovation. While innovation is good, it is not a necessary component to creating a masterwork or at least one that's capable of making you think or reflect on the experience. You're looking at surface elements and that has to stop. Simply looking at the surface while ignoring everything else is why our definitions of game genres fail and why people still don't take games seriously as an art. You're ignoring all of the games that come out that provide a resonant experience and bring one to reflect upon their time spent immersed in the world. If you believe that Bioshock Infinity, Journey, Ni no Kuni, The Last of Us, The Walking Dead, Borderlands 2 and scores of other games have no merit, you're a charlatan. And by that I mean you do not appreciate the medium because it's "modern."

 

 

Am I? People who have the same or somewhat similar viewpoint to what I have usually buy the games they love from sites like GoG or eBay/Amazon because they still believe that at least a good portion of the games that were released thus far (in this case, old ones) are, in fact, art. If the newer ones were even remotely close to the old ones in that aspect, there wouldn't be a need to return to the old ones that much.

There is always a place for classic games. I salute GOG for maintaining the treasure trove of games that they do. We need to remember gaming's roots and we need to keep the games around for future generations. Not because they're inherently better, which they're not, but because it's a chronicle of gaming history and it should be how we build our language. GOG, Amazon, ebay and those services are a great tool for keeping the classics available from which we can learn and better our coming experiences.

 

And again, you're looking at this from an entirely shallow, narrow minded lens. Simply selling a game or trading it in towards new purchases does not mean the game was bad, but that the owner wanted to experience something new. Replaying old games is great but you cannot play the same things over and over. It will eventually become redundant and the search for new experiences will naturally surface. I'm all for keeping the classics around but clearing out the library once and again is probably a good idea.

 

 

Never.

Then stop being a fool. You're nothing more than a dirty hipster. And hipsters should go die in fires because they're useless burdens to society.

 

 

If you don't have a response, don't make yourself look any more foolish with thinly veiled attempts at poor sarcasm. If you're not going to formulate a proper response, stop trying.

 

 

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't art. There are a lot of forms of art I dislike, but I don't deny they are art.

That's how I see it. I may not like certain forms of art but that does not negate their artistic quality.