Microsoft are removing XBOX ONE DRM

[Evastio]

Well, I'm glad that they're taking the first step in appeasing the fans. Microsoft always struck me as bull headed and I thought they would've carried through with this at least one month after launch.

Either way, I wasn't planning on getting an XBox One. The only exclusive that really has my attention is the new Killer Instinct. I'm glad to see them using the franchises they got from buying Rare (I mean, it's a shame to spend millions of dollars buying Rare and not use their franchises). Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts was the last time they used Rare's franchises to my knowledge, which was quite a while ago.

[Polnareff]

US Armed Forces angry over Xbox One lockout, Microsoft?s uncaring response | ExtremeTech

[Shauna]

The damage is done though I feel.

Maybe in the short term, but people don't have long memories about these things. If XBone ends up having fun games then fans will be quick to forgive.

This was really the only logical move for MS.

Agreed on all counts. Sure MS is getting all the ridicule right now, and for good reason too, but if they can turn this around and come out with a boatload of great games next year then I imagine a great many of these hecklers will be very quick to forgive.

(Not saying they will do this, of course, but I'm not discounting the possibility.)

Aye, if they pull out all the stops and ship out some amazing exclusives, then the Xbone has a chance to make it through.

I should state that I'm pretty sure I know why this was done.

A couple days ago, some deployed military personnel found out about all the restrictions, and they pretty much let MS have it, and complained about the region lock, and the fact that deployed troops in Afghanistan, Japan, and other places wouldn't be able to use the One to play games. After all that backlash, an MS rep said they'd look into possibly changing some of those policies just for the troops.

Eh. One of the many reasons, I'd think. The Xbone was getting slated from all corners, they needed to get back some positive reputation or else they were gonna get stomped on when it came to release. Amazon had a poll up and 97% of people said they were gonna get a PS4 over the XB1. They needed to turn this hate train around, and this was the only way to do it.

[DMKA]

Sure MS is getting all the ridicule right now, and for good reason too, but if they can turn this around and come out with a boatload of great games next year then I imagine a great many of these hecklers will be very quick to forgive.

Oh but of course.

Remember how much hate the PS3 received upon it's announcement, it's release, and for it's first couple years on the market? Then their lineup of worthwhile titles started building, the price dropped, and everyone pretty much moved on from hating it and it caught it up to the competition.

I assume the Xbox One will follow a similar fate. That is, assuming they do build a good library and target gamers.

As it stands now, however, I still won't consider buying one.

[Polnareff]

I should state that I'm pretty sure I know why this was done.

A couple days ago, some deployed military personnel found out about all the restrictions, and they pretty much let MS have it, and complained about the region lock, and the fact that deployed troops in Afghanistan, Japan, and other places wouldn't be able to use the One to play games. After all that backlash, an MS rep said they'd look into possibly changing some of those policies just for the troops.

Eh. One of the many reasons, I'd think. The Xbone was getting slated from all corners, they needed to get back some positive reputation or else they were gonna get stomped on when it came to release. Amazon had a poll up and 97% of people said they were gonna get a PS4 over the XB1. They needed to turn this hate train around, and this was the only way to do it.

IMO, this military thing was the last straw. MS is mostly as American as you can get, and to have the military tell you you're screwing up had to be a huge low blow to them.

I mean, look at the link I posted, and one of the military personnel they interviewed was talking about how region lock will keep them from playing certain games. It was interesting he mentioned that because the original Xbox and 360 were both region-locked.

Before this post came up, nobody was complaining about the region lock on the Xbone or had even noticed it. All the hate was focused on the DRM and Kinect playing big brother. But now, 9 hours after this was posted, MS suddenly decides that the Xbox One will not be region-locked on top of not having DRM. I don't think this is a coincidence at all.

[Croyles]

It's the right decision, all things considered, but can't undo the damage of making the terrible decisions in the first place.

Doesn't change required Kinect, lower system specs, three OSs for TV bs that wastes system resources, and being $100 more expensive, in a time when neither console has a very interesting lineup of exclusives. Not to mention, it doesn't change the fact that they've already showed their true colors as far as how they feel about their customers, and if not for the fact that there's a strong competing product being received better, would they have backpedaled like this.

Let me know when you get those fixed Microsoft. In the meantime the PC, PS4 and Wii U have my attention.

Signed,

An Xbox 360 Owner

Well said my friend. Now the XBox 180 has gone from complete no-no to a big maybe. In a year or two, if it has really good exclusives that I want, and Microsoft doesn't decide to do another 180, I will probably get one.

Co-signed,
Another 360 Owner

P.S I recommend watching how Giantbomb (along with 1 other news channel) got the news first, and what it might mean etc. Very interesting to me.
Giant Bomb Xbox One DRM Policy Update Reaction - YouTube

[Quindiana Jones]

I love that the military is a big fan of the Xbox, the console most famously known for being very FPS-friendly. xD

I think the major issue with the Xbone is and was not the DRM bulltrout, the wanky Kinect, the overpricing, the fact that it's desperately trying to be a jack of all trades whilst sacrificing the one thing it needs to be good etc. The main and most concerning problem is Microsoft's attitude. The fact that they could consider implementing and then try defending multiple anti-consumer policies is smurfing insane, and a quick 180 doesn't change that at all. PS4 or PC are the only sensible options for gaming in the next generation (Picard preferred the WiiU, though).

[Raistlin]

I can only hope Microsoft was in the process of implementing their old policies into now-defunct hardware, so that it faces some measurable financial cost for its stupidity. As is, their quick backpedal (and the XBone should forever be called the Xbox 180) likely means their sales on release will probably not be impacted by the original anti-consumer policies. People are stupid, and have very short attention spans.

Not that I was ever planning on getting an Xbox 180 in the first place, even before all this nonsense started. I likely won't even get a PS4 until a while after release (I just don't play enough new games to justify it, and a new laptop is a higher priority).

[Goldenboko]

It's the right decision, all things considered, but can't undo the damage of making the terrible decisions in the first place.

Doesn't change required Kinect, lower system specs, three OSs for TV bs that wastes system resources, and being $100 more expensive, in a time when neither console has a very interesting lineup of exclusives. Not to mention, it doesn't change the fact that they've already showed their true colors as far as how they feel about their customers, and if not for the fact that there's a strong competing product being received better, would they have backpedaled like this.

Let me know when you get those fixed Microsoft. In the meantime the PC, PS4 and Wii U have my attention.

Signed,

An Xbox 360 Owner

The pathetic thing his how my facebook feed is lighting up with praise for Microsoft.

[Quindiana Jones]

I also support the move from Xbone to Xbox 180.

[Loony BoB]

Xbone will always be the noun for me, but Xbox 180 is definitely going to be the verb.

This is a good move by Microsoft. Still don't have a reason to by the console, though. And yeah, the military was definitely the straw that broke the camel's back - It isn't America that MS consider their "assured purchase zone". It's 'murricah (smurf YEAH). There's a difference, and you best believe that the military are the backbone of 'murricah (smurf YEAH).

[Shauna]

CliffyB weighs in:

News: 'Sony forced Microsoft's hand, not the internet whining', says Bleszinski - ComputerAndVideoGames.com

[NeoCracker]

So Basically...

-Consumers had nothing to do with decisions, it was all Sony.

-It's Sony's fault publishers are going to start pushing Micro-Transactions and DLC more now.

-Used game market is evil.

Miss anything?

(SPOILER)Yeah, I think this guy is kind of dumb.

[Aulayna]

Gizmodo are looking at it from the other side of the fence again:

http://gizmodo.com/the-xbox-one-just-got-way-worse-and-its-our-fault-514411905

[NeoCracker]

I'm only on point 4, and pretty much everything he has said thus far has been horribly, horribly wrong.