Before I get into what this means, let’s refresh our memories a bit here.
This is the same company that said we had to live with the fact that there was a new paradigm and no amount of complaining by the public would make it change course…
And here we are. Today’s announcement that the XBONE has removed nearly every single DRM function from their system. There is but a fraction of a degree between what they’ve done and a true 180. To summarize:
- No need to be always online
- You DO need to be online to register the game initially
- No check-ins every 24 hours
- Discs work similar to the 360, in that they need to be in the console to play
- Downloaded games work offline or off
- You can rent, trade, exchange games as you do today
- Works in all regions (AUS games in US)
What are you exchanging for this? The ability to play games wholely from the cloud, meaning you didn’t need a disc in the console.
So after taking what by most accounts is the most massive pounding in gaming history, completing denying reality, telling gamers to basically smeg-off, flipping the bird to the used game industry (GameFly & Gamestop), losing a VP for trying to push always online and still selling games for the same price as the PS4 they decided to turn tail.
Can you imagine being inside the Microsoft offices the past few weeks? It must have been like a madhouse of scrambling from a PR side, trying to spin the “future” of gaming. Even Major Nelson had a hell of a time trying to pitch it.
Still, this is good for Microsoft. With ~4 months to go, they’ve removed a massive barrier to sales. Sure, you still have a camera that’s always one. Sure you still need to have internet access to initially launch a game. Sure, it’s still $100 more than the PS4.
At least the playing field is a bit more equal.
Leo's Life 