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UPDATE: MICROSOFT HAS LISTED THE CHANGES FOUND BELOW. ORIGINAL LINK HERE.

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.

Original Story

In a completely AMAZING reversal, Microsoft has completely reversed its DRM policies, making them similar to the ones announced during Sony's successful E3 2013 Press Conference.

Rumors first started circulating on Giantbomb that 'sources' within Microsoft had leaked the announcement and now its been confirmed by Microsoft here.

"As a result of feedback from the Xbox community, we have changed certain policies for Xbox One," also stating that previous statements concerning Xbox One are "No longer accurate" 

So what does this mean exactly? Earlier reports from Giantbomb listed a complete reversal of the DRM policies. To put this into succinct form...

  • No more always online requirement

  • 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 initially setting up the console

  • All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline

  • No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs

  • Region locks have been dropped

This type of turn-around by a major company is rarely seen, and you can bet your bottom dollar that consumer pressure and Sony refusing to play along pushed them to make this decision. This is fantastic news for gaming as a whole and all of you who spoke out about these horrible DRM policies should be very, very, proud. 

Comments

  • Jeremy Flower Avatar
    Jeremy Flower
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I guess those thousands (literally, thousands) of ASCII middle-fingers on their Facebook page got through.

  • Jager Avatar
    Jager
    11 years, 5 months ago

    This is for you, Microsoft.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H47ow4_Cmk0

  • Andrew Teruya Avatar
    Andrew Teruya
    11 years, 5 months ago

    BOOM

  • Andrew Teruya Avatar
    Andrew Teruya
    11 years, 5 months ago

    http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update

  • PrideSwine Avatar
    PrideSwine
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Microsoft already shit the bed. Even if they change the sheets I still don't want to sleep there.

  • dumon Avatar
    dumon
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Worst video game PR I can think of - the damage is beyond done. Good on them for changing, I guess.

  • Toast Avatar
    Toast
    11 years, 5 months ago

    While this is great and all, the fact that Microsoft had to do a complete 180 on it still doesn't persuade in buying their new console anytime soon. I still want to know if there's region-locks before I ever have an inkling of buying it.

  • Kdbattletoad Avatar
    Kdbattletoad
    11 years, 5 months ago

    That's some great news. I might buy one now when the price is reduce.

  • Chrissaviour Avatar
    Chrissaviour
    11 years, 5 months ago

    MS already left a bad taste in my mouth for having these DRM policies in the first place. It is good that they decided to change, but I still won't buy a Xbox One in the foreseeable future.

  • Avatar
    Binary79
    11 years, 5 months ago

    What a complete load.
    If it took this long for them to change then they are just jerking the consumers around.

    Too little to late Microsoft

    …………………./´¯/)
    ………………..,/¯../
    ………………./…./
    …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
    ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯\
    ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
    ………\……………..’…../
    ……….”…\………. _.·´
    …………\…………..(
    …………..\………….\…

  • Avatar
    Yodaral
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Still more interested in the PS4, though my PS+ subscription and Vita ownership play a big role in that interest. It's a great thing that MS went back on their anti-consumer policies, but it doesn't change the fact that they really really wanted to push forward with it like arrogant pricks. Competition is always important for the industry, but I won't lie. A small part of me wanted to see the Xbone vanish up it's own ass in a spectacular display of self destruction.

  • exyakly Avatar
    exyakly
    11 years, 5 months ago

    This was surprising. Playing catchup now.

  • Andrew Teruya Avatar
    Andrew Teruya
    11 years, 5 months ago

    BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INFINITE COMPUTING POWER OF THE CLOUD?!

  • ShodanMAN Avatar
    ShodanMAN
    11 years, 5 months ago

    This is great news, however I've got a feeling that the "sharing your games library" with 10 people will be removed. With this news we will now just have a more powerful 360 and PS3. Instead of having great new ways of sharing games.

  • Sammonoske Avatar
    Sammonoske
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I knew this was going to happen, but it's not like this will get me to buy an X1 anyways.

  • ChaiThai Avatar
    ChaiThai
    11 years, 5 months ago

    It's moments like these where I wish I could see the faces of those responsible for the DRM in the first place.

  • crossoutlaw Avatar
    crossoutlaw
    11 years, 5 months ago

    This isnt going to change a dam thing, damage is done.

    However it does ease the people who are getting a xb1 or on the fence between the two. I mean lets face it the best part of sony's conference was their burn on MS, but in terms of actual new announcements only that Order game seemed interesting.

    MS however had a great announcement on games that people care about. The DLC for both CoD and BF, titanfall, sunset overdrive.....hell ppl are still drooling over Killer Instict....this news will make the competitive fighting gamers like those are EVO go to xbox with confidence now. Miltary or in a sub? guess what they got a xb1 now.

    Also MS does have twitch and minecraft....How many ppl are now 100% on board to buy the box to broadcast now?

    Its anyones game now which is a good thing because it needs to be competitive. I dont think MS is wrong because their policies is the future like nolan said, but its just that ppl arent ready for it yet...but be fearful for the next gen in 10 years

  • CyborgMaid Avatar
    CyborgMaid
    11 years, 5 months ago

    This changes nothing Xbox. You might dress up as a nun, but we already know you are a filthy slut. Never forgive, never forget.

  • ShodanMAN Avatar
    ShodanMAN
    11 years, 5 months ago

    No backbone... Microsoft: you had an innovative strategy for sharing games with 10 people on your friends list, that had never been done before and playing your whole game library on any other console.If you explained the benefits better you would have been fine. Now you just look weak.

  • Avatar
    Golem100
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Massive damage control was about the only thing they could have done yet it only underlines how badly wrong Microsoft's strategy was and just how much they had misjudged the market

    The fact that there is also much talk about how at least some of the E3 xbox one games were running on high end PCs, while it's been confirmed that at least some of Sony's were running on PS4 Devkits, merely raises questions about just how ready Microsoft are technically and how much of a gap there could be in performance between PS4 and xbox one.

    I will still be choosing sony but regardless, this is still a good thing for those who will choose xbox one as there will still be some and competition between the two has proved to be beneficial to consumers.

  • Donathan Avatar
    Donathan
    11 years, 5 months ago

    We worked together pushing toward the same goal what we wanted happened, they listened. This has been a reoccurring theme and I hope everyone is taking notes.

  • Moblyn Avatar
    Moblyn
    11 years, 5 months ago

    All the PR damage for nothing. Most of the former Xbox fans will probably come back after this though. The war is back on.

  • Avatar
    supeople69
    11 years, 5 months ago

    TOO LITTLE TOO LATE MS. Awesome 2 see that people that r still interested in the xbone will not b as BONED as they were before the change, BUT U SHOULDVE THOUGHT OF THIS EARLIER MS.

  • Avatar
    Kevin schnaubelt
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Aahhh. What a relief. The universe is back in order. Irrational xbox hate is back!

  • ShodanMAN Avatar
    ShodanMAN
    11 years, 5 months ago

    We will also loose the ability to play games after taking the disc out.

  • Darth_Spudius Avatar
    Darth_Spudius
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Am I the only one who was looking forward to that drm? Weeding out the "peasants" who can't afford to game.

  • Avatar
    Rorix
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Yeah, fuck off Microsoft. You've already shown yourself willing and able to sell your consumer base down the river to line your pockets with silver. I remain unwavering in my decision to never buy an Xbox product from now on.

  • Avatar
    Zocano
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Still planning on buying an XBONE, this just makes the backlash from other people less grounded. I'm willing (or was willing) to swallow a bad pill to support Capy Games and Remedy and at least now I won't have people at my throat for it.

    But yah, it's good (and slightly hilarious) that Microsoft made a 180 like this.

  • Avatar
    jenna1013
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Sadly I feel me and the rest of the gamers gonna miss how I think this powerful system would have been if they had better PR and a backbone... PLUS lower the price to like $429.99 sumthin like that at least.

  • Avatar
    Statix
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Now, if Microsoft reduces the price of the Xbox One by ~$50, and vastly upgrades its specs, I'd actually consider buying one.

  • theottomatic91 Avatar
    theottomatic91
    11 years, 5 months ago

    Goof to hear MS finally listened to the gamer's for once I will consider getting an xbone eventually but not for a while.

  • Avatar
    Wasse
    11 years, 5 months ago

    I listetened to an interview with Angry Joe and Major Nelson when Joe brought up that it would be simple to disable the 24 hour check-in and Nelson got snippy and made it believe it wouldn't be simple. I honestly chuckled when I heard about this change because it took them less then a week to SIMPLY revert it back.

  • Accolade Avatar
    Accolade
    11 years, 5 months ago

    They won't be able to widely reshape their image with those not on top of video game media. The casuals have made their decision.

  • Avatar
    Sledge101
    11 years, 5 months ago

    It's little too late now.

  • Avatar
    reef
    11 years, 5 months ago

    will the x1 work if kinect breaks as my last kinect broke with a update and wanted 90 notes to fix