XBox One, PS4, DRM, and You

[joker454]

This is a good thing, if true - regardless of the views of the view folks here who think this is the inevitable future. Digital maybe, those polices, were definitely not.

I don't think it's a good thing. I want a shared digital library and that was *finally* on the way to becoming a reality thanks to Microsoft. But now that may be history because of people crying about an internet connection, because after all god forbid a device in 2013 makes use of the internet. If Steam keeps going and does implement digital content sharing then I guess I won't care, I can abandon consoles forever and leave them to those that have no internet and want to mail discs to each other. But my fear now is if Microsoft backs down, then so will Steam, keeping the digital world in an archaic status quo. This situation for me totally sucks, I hate it. We were moving forward now we may be moving backward. Your mileage may vary, but to me I fail to see this is as anything other than a loss, it quite frankly sucks and what makes it worse is if may come to be due to others speaking on my behalf without having any clue of what I really want.

I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed and hope Steam implements digital sharing.

 

[Rangers]

Future proof policies they said.

Surely pre-order numbers had an effect on them.

xb1 is #1 on amazon bestsellers right now...

that said there are multiple ps4 sku's in the top 10, and i definitely feel like ps4 is preordering better. another indication is that the xb1 launch edition seems still available, not so ps4.

but regardless, xb1's not selling badly it would seem. and i wonder how much more if it was 399 like the competitor?

i bet ms could have rode out the drm backlash. whats hurting them is 499. 499 is psychological barrier to me. It says "huge purchase" where 399 says "disposable purchase", even if it's only 25% difference.

i felt they definitely had the better games at e3, they have the two biggest games BF4 and COD now Xbox branded, and there was no discernible graphical deficit to ps4 either (which was a huge thing). they came out riding high, except two things shot them down, drm and price.

i've been griping and moaning but honestly i guess i support dropping the 24 hr check too. it just sucks we lose no disc swapping and library sharing.

the thing is all the other drm issues are hard to grasp for average joe "it blocks used games" was the FUD spread everywhere but actually of course completely untrue. but the 24 hr check is concrete.

it's a legacy of having discs. best summation was by IGN's Ryan McAffrey on twitter, consumers hold a disc in their hands and say "I own this".

 

[MfA]

That backpedaling rumour is bizarre ... if it's true then I guess I extremely underestimate the impact of online gaming media on console launches, or Microsoft overestimates it.

 

[patsu]

At this rate, perhaps MS should backpaddle.

I'm still expecting MS to back paddle. I am not against DRM in general, but in this case, I think their DRM targets the wrong people.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Future proof policies they said.

Surely pre-order numbers had an effect on them.

I don't think it was this. Admittedly, we don't know what volumes are/were available for pre-order but for the past few generations, demand generally outstrips supply for any new console at launch.

Selling out at launch isn't the challenge, it's the ensuring demand continues afterwards.

 

[BeyondTed]

Xbox DRM Gone?

It sounds like the Xbox One DRM is now gone:

http://kotaku.com/microsoft-is-removing-xbox-one-drm-514390310


Not live here yet, but there is a revision comment:

http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa



Interesting.

 

[Rangers]

I don't think it was this. Admittedly, we don't know what volumes are/were available for pre-order but for the past few generations, demand generally outstrips supply for any new console at launch.

Selling out at launch isn't the challenge, it's the ensuring demand continues afterwards.

probably things like that stupid facebook poll...

 

[Tap In]

dammit so much for my dream of a digital future and digital sharing and digital rentals .... complaining about old fashioned discs ruined the dream.

 

[Deleted member 7537]

xb1 is #1 on amazon bestsellers right now...

that said there are multiple ps4 sku's in the top 10, and i definitely feel like ps4 is preordering better. another indication is that the xb1 launch edition seems still available, not so ps4.

but regardless, xb1's not selling badly it would seem. and i wonder how much more if it was 399 like the competitor?

i bet ms could have rode out the drm backlash. whats hurting them is 499. 499 is psychological barrier to me. It says "huge purchase" where 399 says "disposable purchase", even if it's only 25% difference.

i felt they definitely had the better games at e3, they have the two biggest games BF4 and COD now Xbox branded, and there was no discernible graphical deficit to ps4 either (which was a huge thing). they came out riding high, except two things shot them down, drm and price.

If they were selling OK they wouldn't have changed their policies.

ITS OFFICIAL. No always online, no used games restrictions.

Anyway, still 100$ is a hell of difference for a less powerful box.

 

[Rangers]

It sounds like the Xbox One DRM is now gone:

http://kotaku.com/microsoft-is-removing-xbox-one-drm-514390310


Not live here yet, but there is a revision comment:

http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa



Interesting.

wow, the capitulation is total.

at least i think they worded it very clearly. cant be any mixed messages here.

 

[dragonelite]

If they were selling OK they wouldn't have changed their policies.

ITS OFFICIAL. No always online, no used games restrictions.

Anyway, still 100$ is a hell of difference for a less powerful box.

Gamescom germany.
"We are glad to announce our new SKU without kinect for $359"

Had hoped we could still share digital games...

 

[Rangers]

If they were selling OK they wouldn't have changed their policies.

ITS OFFICIAL. No always online, no used games restrictions.

Anyway, still 100$ is a hell of difference for a less powerful box.

we dont have any idea how they're selling. and what they would be selling if they were 399 like ps4?

i think it was more things like that facebook poll. preorder sales could have played a part too.

edit: it seems this news has brought neogaf down

say what you want but MS sure does dominate video game discussion

 

[function]

I don't think it's a good thing. I want a shared digital library and that was *finally* on the way to becoming a reality thanks to Microsoft. But now that may be history because of people crying about an internet connection, because after all god forbid a device in 2013 makes use of the internet.

No one was crying about a device making use of the internet. Really, you can do better than this!

There's no reason that disk validated "traditional" operation can't exist as a choice or fallback on a system that can also manage a shared library if you opt-in and then choose to meet the online validation requirements. It's a false dichotomy. The problem is that through incredible arrogance, blindness and contempt for their customers, Microsoft may have poisoned the well of public opinion against all forms of DRM so that they now feel they have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Don't blame other gamers for this. This is all Microsoft's doing.

 

[MfA]

dammit so much for my dream of a digital future and digital sharing and digital rentals .... complaining about old fashioned discs ruined the dream.

It doesn't need a call home to disable rental games, the time limit can simply be administered by the console from the moment of the download.

 

[DrJay24]

They were probably getting out sold 2:1 in there home turf, that was all the incentive they needed. Good for MS, they listened to the customers and were able to change course before it really mattered.

 

[Deleted member 7537]

we dont have any idea how they're selling. and what they would be selling if they were 399 like ps4?

i think it was more things like that facebook poll. preorder sales could have played a part too.

Actually we got numbers from UK retailers with PS4 having a 2/1 advantage in pre-orders. I think this was posted here. Keep in mind that 360 has dominated (not counting Wii) the UK, outselling PS3 by a fair amount.

 

[joker454]

No one was crying about a device making use of the internet. Really, you can do better than this!

Well here you go, the fallout from the article quoted just above:

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.

Really? Sharing discs, in 2013? Sigh, well that's bloody fabulous, no more digital game sharing. Great, welcome to 2005. Sorry but this really sucks. I'll have to hope Steam isn't so mired in the past. What's next, will the consoles only work in homes with 20 amp circuit boxes and rotary phones? I hate this.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Don Mattrick has posted an update:

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.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

Sony obviously don't have to say anything.

The hell they don't.

But it'll happen behind the scenes. I wouldn't be surprised to see a sudden rise in 3rd party exclusive content on the X1.

 

[Rangers]

No one was crying about a device making use of the internet. Really, you can do better than this!

There's no reason that disk validated "traditional" operation can't exist as a choice or fallback on a system that can also manage a shared library if you opt-in and then choose to meet the online validation requirements. It's a false dichotomy. The problem is that through incredible arrogance, blindness and contempt for their customers, Microsoft may have poisoned the well of public opinion against all forms of DRM so that they now feel they have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Don't blame other gamers for this. This is all Microsoft's doing.

you felt the same about steam, right?

you should link some of your past posts about steam...

theres no way they can make a opt in system now, dont be stupid. they cant do anything that will muddy the waters of the total capitulation. opt in would just lead to another backlash or the perception they didn't go all the way.