Microsoft do complete U-TURN!

BigTx1

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.

BigTx1

news.xbox.com/2013/06/update

Takeaway_Addict

Its frickin amazing! I am back with Microsoft!

ifstar

The family list is a pretty big loss. I think that was their best selling point. That said, I expect to see the cancellation emails for the PS4 flying in now.

DCFC79

Link here to the stuff magazine site

http://www.stuff.tv/microsoft/xbox-one-microsoft-officially-backtracks-drm/news

Retrogamer

This is good news.
I wasn't sure how i was going to live with myself playing Gran Turismo instead of Forza

buglawton

...I have heard directly from [strike]many of you[/strike] Sony, read your comments and listened to your feedback.

Chickabiddybex

I've run their statement through Google Tanslate:

Detected language: bulls***
Translation:
OOPS
SORRY
CRAP
UM
OH GOD
NEVER MIND
FORGET I SAID ANYTHING

RichardD1970

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

I've run their statement through Google Tanslate:

Detected language: bulls***
Translation:
OOPS
SORRY
CRAP
UM
OH GOD
NEVER MIND
FORGET I SAID ANYTHING

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well that makes things a bit more interesting. Will be interesting to see how much damage has been done and if people will be willing to trust them now.

bluenoseam

I will still not be purchasing the console, the fact the community had to kick off to get them to think this stuff was anything other than absolutely terrible says a lot. The fact is that the technology & desire remain there in Microsoft's hands which they can use at a moments notice - and frankly I do not trust them to go ahead & utilise it at some point.

That and the fact that there were other major factors as to why I wasn't buying it, namely enforced Kinect & the fact I could spend a week in Majorca for less!

Gordon_Hose

Nothing stopping them implementing it all again after they've got your money either.

this about turn has made it look like they haven't a clue what they're doing.