Microsoft Pulls Complete Reversal on Xbox One DRM Policies

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patrickklepek

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Edited By patrickklepek

UPDATED:Microsoft has confirmed these policy changes are happening.

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The tug-of-war between Microsoft and Sony just got more interesting. Multiple sources inform me Microsoft will announce what amounts to a complete reversal on its DRM policies for Xbox One today.

What does this mean?

  • 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

It is unclear what caused this huge change in policy right after E3, a week where Microsoft executives spent days explaining, justifying, and talking about its policies to the press. I suspect Microsoft’s official announcement will say something to the effect of “we've been closely listening to consumer feedback.”

Based on what I’m being told, that’s definitely true.

I've reached out to Microsoft for comment.

Microsoft has taken an enormous amount of heat regarding DRM policies with its new console. Sony became consumer heroes at E3, announcing PlayStation 4 would not treat used games differently, and the status quo would reign. The company released this video, twisting the knife:

Of course, Xbox One is still $499 and PlayStation 4 is still $399. But today moves the needle.

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Stimpack

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#1  Edited By Stimpack

Hahahaha. Wow. What? I'll wait and see.

Also, I'm sorry, but this just makes them look like incompetent fools. They've planned this whole elaborate DRM business and it has blown up in their faces. All the while they're preaching about how wonderful their plan is and how worthless their customers are. This isn't about improving customer relations. This isn't a favor. This is about money.

*edit* To all of those jumping on me about the "money" comment. There are ways to make money without screwing people. I suppose you think locking Netflix behind a paywall is great business because it forces people to pay! My point is that Microsoft isn't doing this to garner trust, they're doing this because they have to. Not only that, but this makes them look unstable.

Honestly, if you think that Microsoft is respectable and they're doing great things... more power to you. Sadly, I wholeheartedly disagree.

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cabelhigh

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WHAT!?

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Crono11

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#3  Edited By Crono11

Wow I can't believe they're back peddling on this.

Interested to see if it changes peoples minds on the Xbox One. I know that I'm going to still move toward the PS4.

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WilltheMagicAsian

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So does this mean discs will be required for installed games?

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frankxiv

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this gave me what i can only describe as "a chuckle"

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Vincenzo

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Wow. Smart move!!!

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frankepooz

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Its over, sony is finished xD

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chubigans

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#8  Edited By chubigans

I'm sure there will still be region locks. Still, crazy news if true.

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ApertureSilence

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#9  Edited By ApertureSilence

LOLWUUUUUUUUUUUT?!?!

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betterboulder

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Somehow that would piss me off even more

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MooseyMcMan

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THIS IS INSANE!

And WAR, son!

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Mister_V

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Holy shit

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Slique

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#13  Edited By Slique

Holy shit balls.

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deactivated-58513b27f2513

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What a twist!

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Spitznock

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Good on them. (This guy's still getting a PS4 though.)

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alistercat

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I'd say the damage is already done, but it will go a long way to appeasing people who pay attention and it will leak downward from there.

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Ihsahn

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This is hilarious if true

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deactivated-63c9a5152a56a

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DAMN SON

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bkbroiler

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#19  Edited By bkbroiler

Scoops scoopin' it

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MOAB

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word

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chilibean_3

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Whoa. That would be kind of crazy. This really is a battle, isn't it?

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lokilaufey

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@crono11: They have to if they want to actually be in a proper competition with Sony.

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posh

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so crazy

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Krakn3Dfx

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What? No. Really? No. What?

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DevourerOfTime

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I think my plan to wait for about two years from now to get a new console is already starting to pay off.

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Spaceyoghurt

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#27  Edited By Spaceyoghurt

Hehe, sick if it's true.

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phuzzybunny

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#28  Edited By phuzzybunny

Definitely didn't expect this if it is true but good on them if it is. Now just dump the bundled Kinect and I'm in first year.

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NoCookiesForYou

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WAIT WHAT? Sooo crazy if true.

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CarRacer

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These guys are PR idiots.

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Curufinwe

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Now they should call it the Xbox 180.

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KarlPilkington

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WTF!

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Saga

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#33  Edited By Saga

I just canceled my PS4 pre-order and pre-ordered the Xbox One!!

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GAFman

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#34  Edited By GAFman

"You're welcome" - GAF

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JRock3x8

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#35  Edited By JRock3x8

that's HUGE

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Kerned

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Well that didn't take long. Still not buying one.

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Rayeth

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#37  Edited By Rayeth

Scoops is scoopin' even though he's about to move cross country.

I hope this pans out, but we'll see.

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Hailinel

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I'll believe it when I see it, but given how hard Microsoft was pushing for all of that DRM in the first place, simply pulling a 180 doesn't exactly exonerate them in the court of public opinion.

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jas0n

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#39  Edited By jas0n

I hope that despite the reversal, buying a physical copy also means you get the digital licence to download it whenever you want. I can't see how that works with the reversal of policies though :(

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Efesell

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#40  Edited By Efesell  Online

Fuckin crazy if true.

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MOAB

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#41  Edited By MOAB

@curufinwe said:

Now they should call it the Xbox 180.

oh shi-

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thornbush

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#42  Edited By thornbush

Holy shit! really?

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kalnet101

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#43  Edited By kalnet101

This is gonna be good.

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Toug

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HOT SCOOPS.

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shinboy630

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#45  Edited By shinboy630

Jdh will be most pleased

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wrighteous86

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#46  Edited By wrighteous86

From a PR perspective, it's too little too late. They've lost a lot of dedicated customers for even attempting it.

Still, this is a good thing, but with the lower price of the PS4, I'm still probably gonna get one of those first (but neither until the first price drop).

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MLeeLunsford

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#47  Edited By MLeeLunsford

of course they reversed it. They couldn't stick to their guns after the horrible beat-down at E3. It's sad that it took that to do it though. I doubt they listened to "fans" as much as listened to the cheers Sony got.

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GreigWatt

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#48  Edited By GreigWatt

Interesting....

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GuardianKnux

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#49  Edited By GuardianKnux

Fantastic. I bet they'd have to have a notice on some games boxes that say something like "requires online connect to play" when it comes to games that use the cloud.

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Tondo

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#50  Edited By Tondo

Holy shit if true ! Already pre-ordered the console, even with all the DRM stuff in but I wont complain if they decide to remove them!

Competition is good as they say.. but lets wait for the official word first.