It looks like Microsoft have finally caved under the pressure (and blatant trolling) delivered by Sony at last weeks E3 as earlier this evening Don Mattrick announced the removal of DRM from the 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.” Mattrick writes in the official statement. He then went on to explain how “after a one-time system set-up “ an internet connection will no longer be required to play offline games, and that lending and trade-ins are also back on the table.
In addition to this news was the announcement of day one digital downloads, as well as the removal of regional restrictions which is bound to make a lot of people happy.
In his closing statement Mattrick writes, “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.”
After Mattrick’s rather controversial comments in the news over the last week this has come as a huge, and extremely welcome surprise for gamers and can only work in Microsoft’s favour. This has no doubt brought back a huge number of people who were feeling let down by Microsoft’s questionable DRM policy.
Glowbear
I didn’t think they’d do it in the end, but yeah wow
PacManPolarBear
Right there with ya. Absolutely stunned by the news. Thank god for Sony. Without the pressure of competition and the serious ass kicking it gave Microsoft during E3 this never would have happened. And gamers everywhere win. Now both systems are pretty evenly matched. I’m still getting a PS4 first but now I also want an Xbox One and I doubt I’ll wait a full year to get it like I had once planned to.
And I even took the time on the latest BRBCast to say how much I doubted Microsoft would change their course this year. Never been happier to be proven wrong.
Matthew J
Geez, you can’t write fiction crazier than this. To think I gave Microsoft the benefit of the doubt of having a long-term plan. Even if they did, that all just got tossed out the window, which just completely boggles my mind.
Oh well, at least the Xbox One is infinitely more appealing this year now. I knew this would be an interesting console release.
Bez
Xbox 180! Love it and heard it hear first!
Do we now think the Xbox 180 is back in the game? No DRM, cloud power, Kinect and probable price cut coming early in the console life-cycle???
Dangerous Brian
I had a feeling that Microsoft would cave, I thought it would be after a few months of terrible sales though. Power to the People!
It’s too late though, I’m still going PS4.
Ozfatboy
Good to see Microsoft do a backflip . But llike other have said, this seems like too little too late. How long does it take for a company to realise that majorityof gamer hate their ideas. I’m still gonna stick with the ps4.