(EDIT 2: Kyle Orland of Ars Technica laments the lack of a future the internet’s backlash has destroyed. Matthew Panzarino of The Next Web says that gamers have ‘talked themselves out of the gaming experience for the next 10 years and into one of the last 10.‘ David Pierce of The Verge says Microsoft may have ‘listened too hard’ but says that these changes were, for the most part, for the worse.)
I’m not sure if I’m more pissed off or sad right now. After the internet whined and whined and cried and cried, Microsoft just reversed course on its DRM and online check-in policies. You no longer have to check in every 24 hours — “After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again.” — and you can “Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today.” Great news, right internet?
WRONG.
Why? This is the infuriating part:
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.
Gone is any notion of a family share plan, which was infinitely better for all parties involved than loaning a physical disc. Gone is the convenience of having all of your games installed on your hard drive, so you’d be able to swap from one to the next with no need to swap discs. Gone is all innovation.
What we’re left with now is an Xbox 360 with better graphics, a top-notch Kinect and TV integration. That’s about it. The PlayStation 4 is no better — it’s just a PlayStation 3 with Gaikai streaming support coming next year .
Every truly “next-gen” feature has been wiped from the Xbox One. I’m honestly, genuinely saddened by this.
I give up. You’ve won, internet. Be glad you got your way. Great job.
Sports 4 Starters 
“After the internet whined and whined and cried and cried, Microsoft just reversed course on its DRM and online check-in policies. ”
More accurate
“After the internet was preordering PS4 instead of Xbox One, Microsoft just reversed course on its DRM and online check-in policies.”
They didn’t change because of people complaining, they changed because of bottom line, and people not wanting what to buy this “innovation”.
You mad bro?
If they really wanted to, there would be nothing stopping them from allowing digital sharing (and even gifting) of downloaded titles – both of which were in the cards before this reversal. By keeping those programs in place, they would have given gamers a HUGE incentive to buy their games in downloadable form rather than on disc, which means more money for publishers and less for GameStop – which was the whole point in the first place, right? I have no idea why they decided to throw the baby out with the bathwater, no matter how rancid the bathwater was.
This is a really valid point. I’m not sure why Microsoft completely reversed course, unless they wanted to say, “This is why you can’t have nice things.” I have no idea what’s going on with that.
Is this a joke?
Because it’s not very funny.
“Gone is any notion of a family share plan, which was infinitely better for all parties involved than loaning a physical disc”
Because all parties involved have access to high speed internet without caps that allows for multiple 30+ Gb games to download instantly whenever they want, right?
Also, it was M$’s decision to remove the digital sharing. That was still an option they could have left for games purchased digitally. They were the ones who removed the only real benefit to the Xbox One, not the internet.
Aww, Joey, the little sissy, is upset that Microsoft isn’t going to **** him up his ***.
He’s upset with all those self respecting humans who stood up for themselves.
Wah Joey Wah.
Since when are gimmicks the definition of next gen??
Also, it’s not the power of the internet but rather the power of capitalism. PS4 was selling hard everywhere while the Xbone couldn’t catch up at all.
Innovation belongs in the games, not in redefining consumer rights.
I hope this guy isn’t serious this has to be a joke
a-are… are you retarded?
Holy shit, this guy’s a huge faggot.
Your blog looks like ass and this post is shit.
You sad piece of shit.
Microsoft has always acted only with regard to their wallets, not in the public’s best interest. You may say “of course a business is only around to make money”, but M$ was willing to trade quality for cash from day one, and is why they are so rich today. If you can’t see this, you’re probably one of the sheep that sends them money just to be one of the kool kids. At least now we know that they are willing to change their policies the moment they feel it will suit them best. Anything “confirmed” by them in the future really means “as long as you give us more money”. Not that Sony is the most upstanding company either, but at least they stood up for consumer rights. You’re welcome.
TL;DR
AHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE!!