A few days ago, I commented that Microsoft's E3 Showing could best be seen as a disaster. A release of a console that would be significantly higher than it's peer, a console that would require daily checkins, where rental options would be a thing of the past, lending and selling games would also be disallowed as a way to become consumer unfriendly.
As the swirl of negative comments filled the internet, Microsoft today pulled a full 180.
http://www.engadget.com/...
Xbox head Don Mattrick writes. He then states:
"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."
Mattrick further explains that this is a direct response to gamer outcry. "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," he says. Further, he confirms that Xbox One games will be region-free, and that disc-based games will have to be kept in the disc tray rather than ripped to the console and played digitally (a previously touted Xbox One feature).
Though the One's down a couple features -- Mattrick specifically says, "These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One" -- it sounds like gamers won this round.
There is a lot of good in this release. Once faced with real consumer outrage and the spread of information, Microsoft tucked tale with a mea culpa.
This is, by and large, good news for those who had considered it, but also good news for consumers - by showing that when push comes to shove, the internet can be used as an effective tool to change corporate strategy.
That said, this is still not a full-out victory over policies. Microsoft is not changing it's development philosophy, which will continue to prevent self-publishers and small studios from creating and distributing games on XBOX One without a larger publisher, which remains a shot across the bow of small business.
It's unlikely that will change because it's harder for consumers to grasp and become outraged, but the ability to operate and use a disconnected XBOX will soothe many who find the required camera-hookup and at least be taken off-line with a disconnected cable when not in use.
(even so, I'm not leaping toward buying one, the extra $100 and the still required Kinect are somewhat turn offs)
But thought this was worth the update.