Microsoft has released a statement saying that they have changed their DRM policies on the Xbox One, due to the vast “feedback from the Xbox community”. Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft took to Xbox.com to spell out all the changes that are coming to the Xbox One at launch, after the feedback they have received from E3 last week.
“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.”
What does this mean for us?
• 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
• An Internet connection is only required when setting up the console the first time
• All downloaded games will work even when offline
• No additional restrictions on trading games or borrowing from friends
• The Xbox One is now region free
With these drastic Xbox One DRM policies, Microsoft will actually be cutting some of the cooler features announced from the console. Marc Whitten, VP of Xbox Live told Kotaku “One of the things we were very excited 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.”
He also went on to say that these DRM changes will require a day one patch when the Xbox One is released in November 2013.
So now that Microsoft has flipped their views due to “feedback from the Xbox community” who will win this year’s console war?