The Xbox One Just Got Way Worse, And It's Our Fault

Microsoft just announced that its much-maligned DRM policies won't look at all like they originally had originally been described. They're going to more relaxed, sort of like the PS3's. Good news, you say? No. Bad news. The Xbox One just got worse.

[Dwalls1171]

Actually it just got better....now maybe the preorders will grow
But its still 100 bucks more then ps4

Hmm do I see a price cut coming?

[nick309]

The ps3 was expensive at launch. That didnt stop people from buying it.

[OpenGL]

The difference was the PS3 offered more to consumers than the Xbox 360 did, or at least it did in theory thanks to Blu-ray, built in WiFi, standard HDD, etc.

[Dee_91]

and now the damage control articles for all of the people that were pro- xbox one policies.
LMAO
QOUTE

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.

That SUCKS."
QUOTE

Aww shucks now I have to put the game in the disc tray and I have to take the disc to my friends house to play it :(
get over yourself dude

I mean this just shows the type of people that supported that crap.Like how selfish can you be.You would rather have people in miss on a console because of its restrictions just so you can share a game digitally?
ridiculous

[Bzone24]

Lol. People are so paranoid. I'm looking at you Winder47th.

[HammadTheBeast]

Actually it kind of did. And the PS3 rode a massive wave from PS2 era.

[SuperLupe]

Hey by the way how do you guys jusrify Sony making you pay to play online now ?

The XOne has no DRM, no 24h check in, no none of that crap.

Explain to me now how is it great that Sony is forcing us to pay to play online?

[InTheLab]

It's the Playstation. 15 years of dominance....remember that actually happened. Fans went out and bought the system.

MS, on the other hand, does not have a PS2 type following.

[Gaming101]

LOL "It would've been a better console had Microsoft not listened to all the haters"

This is the problem with the dumbass author's thinking. Anyone who disagrees with him is labelled a "hater". This is why said author is not a businessman, an executive, nor will he ever amount to anything in life. You don't grow a business by ignoring your customers. When the people speak, and in this case it was an uproar beyond anything anyone could have foreseen, you BETTER listen. The internet has allowed the voiceless to have a voice, and companies with any brain whatsoever will listen to their audience, their fanbases, as they are the only reason business people get a paycheck every month.

[2pacalypsenow]

@SuperLupe
Xbox 1 still has live that you still have to pay to watch netflix and play online

Ps1 you only need to pay to play online plus you get all the huge benefits and games from PS+

[Ezz2013]

@nick309
ps3 is more powerful than xbox360 that's why it was more expensive
and it did beat xbox360 this gen because the games it offer
just look at TLOU a GOTG contender already

now ps4 is cheaper and more powerfull

not the same story here
MS still need to lower the price by 100$ or even more

[Sideras]

It had a painfully slow start though.

[blackbeld]

Exactly now the X1 can play used games too I do hope PLUS will be free again.

Otherwise I will maybe buy the X1 instead of PS4 for only $100 difference who cares.

Hope Sony will let Plus free online gaming again, then I definitely buy the PS4.

[ExPresident]

@Blackbeld

You do realize you still need XBox Live Gold to play online and access Netflix and Hulu right?

PS+ is by far the better deal. Just pointing that out.

[webeblazing]

now we need to join together and get ps4 with free mp

[die_fiend]

Lol of course it stopped people buying it. What a moronic statement

[EVILDEAD360]

MS just saved XBOX ONE.

They were about to launch and get DESTOYED by every press outlet in the world.

They ate crow and gamers won.

The plot has not only thickened it just completely turned into a new movie.

All eyes are now on Xbox one and it's actually not for the silly policies for once.

Evil

[Polysix]

When I bought a PS3 for that 'high price', a 3D capable bluray player AND a reliable system were very much part of why. It was a dual purpose system and filled two needed roles (for me). I can't hardly say kinect fills any gaping hole in my life?

Also my 360 died - and was no way I was buying another, so made the move to PS3.. the reliability was also a factor. I'm still on my fat ps3 from early days and have a slim too, both are still working fine. Xbox 360 barely lasted a year before it went in the bin with ANA chip and GPU probs (before MS admitted it was their fault so no free fix for me!)

XB1 is LESS powerful but is higher priced because of Kinect, the price it self doesn't bother me, i'd pay that if the system was head and shoulders above the PS4 but it's not, it's actually worse, much much worse. It should be less than the PS4 based on spec (and make kinect optional) THEN they might be on to something.

[TheGrimReaper0011]

It was because of the Blue ray player, most blue ray players costed like 1000 dollars. The bluetooth technology was also expensive and it was backwards compatible, so yea was understandable it was 600 dollars
However i do agree with ya, 600 dollars is too much for a console

[The_Con-Sept]

All I can say for now is this: This console war is going to be a very interesting one. Fanboys will start killing each other over much more petty facts than you have ever seen before.

@Superlupe: PlayStation Plus currently gives us on average 4.2 games for free per month. Wether or not you have interest in them doesn't matter. You will still download something if it is free. You will still play the game at least once. Your temptation of missing out on something free will eat you alive.

The new feature of posting up your gameplay tips and tricks is something I always wanted myself. When you post them on YouTube today the companies who produce said game can still file a copyright claim against you if they see it fit.

Cross game chat requires servers and it is something that xbots love to rave about. But is cross game chat free on Xbox currently? (NO!)

The PS4 is 100 dollars less, doesn't require a camera to be "always plugged in" to turn on a system, and supports indie game devs on a much better playing field.

What you will see on the PS4 is a carnival, not a circus. (Microsoft's weird circus show from that E3 not too long ago.) A carnival filled with all kinds of rides and prizes. Not a bunch of cheap sit and watch tricks with trained animals.

Development teams migrate from console to console. And to them.... The only thing different is the flag that dangles on that stupid post. They choose who they want to be with after each contract is over. It is the same as any sport today. Players switch teams a lot because they want to win.

So to end this now I will say this: This console war is going to be a very interesting one. You will see fanboys fight over the most petty bs anyone has ever seen.

[Syntax-Error]

Sony fanboys say that the PS3 at launch had more to offer than the $399 360 at launch because of what it had. Well the same goes for the Xbox One and PS4. The pricing is based on the packed in Kinect. Kinect is not peripheral, but more of an integral part of the functionality of the console. It's not like adding a PS Eye to PS4 to offset the price considering PS Eye has nothing to do wih the functions of the console. Kinect is the reason you are able to use voice and motion commands. Half the new feature work off Kinect and it's not just used for gaming like it was first announced.

[D-riders]

your talkng about playstation 150 + million ps2 sold. you know the company that is actually a game company. not just a corporation trying to rip us off

[insomnium2]

@ syntax error

You comparing voice controls to Wi-Fi+BD-playback+an advanced processor(CELL obviously) is pure comedy. Keep up the good work. Laughing my ass off as I'm writing this.

[awi5951]

That's rose colored glasses for you the first 2 years of the PS3 game/price wise was crappy. Microsoft front loaded its console with hit after hit Million copy sellers on multiple games. Exclusives too boot some were timed some wasnt but people didnt know that at the time.

And just like metal gear and GTa when it comes out a year later who cares the HYPE is all gone and most wont play it at that time.

The last two years of the xbox was just as bad as the first 2 years of PS3 so it evens out. But when its the first two years and you have a install base to build it looks way worse. And plus the xbox was so overpriced the last 4 years microsoft could care less at this point. Profit wise microsft knows they won big time with the stupid 360 at the same price as the ps3 all these years without a major price drop.

I remember articles saying microsoft was making 50 dollars profit on each 360 sold 5 years ago so i have no idea what the profit margin is now. But it should have been at 130 dollars 4 years ago.

[Rhomiel]

I paid 49$ during a ''Buy 50$ get 10$ back'' and it was also 3 months free so thats 39$ for 15 months so hmmm 2.60$ a month for all the stuff I get! Everyone should get that even if it wasn't for the online play... Even got Music unlimited for a year for 12$ during a sale because I was a Plus member!

All I hope is that we still get all the good stuff even though everyone will be members.

[kreate]

i dont know about the xbox one's voice control but the voice control on the xbox360 sucks.

i know cuz ive been using it. the voice control doesnt control a 100% of ur console. it just helps u navigate with voice on the menu and maybe few of the games. but u still need a controller to press 'ok' or 'back' or when u recieve messages on xbox live or when the system sends u a notification.

u can launch a app with it but after the app is launched, u gotta pick up ur controller or deal with the flimsy voice commands. and if ur gonna tell me to use kinect .... im just gonna laugh at u cuz kinect also has various issues trying to navigate around xbox live.

my conclusion is that nothing beats the controller. the other gimmicks are poorly implemented and its annoying.

[Kos-Mos]

You`re wrong and so are the WiiU haters. Both the PS3 and 360 did horrible at launch. Espesially the PS3. I`m sorry to state a fact.

[Number-Nine]

actually, it stopped a lot of people from buying it.

[Bobby Kotex]

Are you kidding me? The PS3 was a huge failure at first until they lowered the price by $200. Just shows the idiots at N4G will believe whatever distorted version of history they want.

[indysurfn]

if this super conniving story does not prove to people that Microsoft is trying to confuse you into giving up your fights. Your a WANTING sellout. Not just a regular sellout!

[YNWA96]

@Superlupe, I think the response should be, 'stfu" sony rules and I would swllow gear stick if they said it was good for gamers' . Sony rules forever! Yeah!

[Sideras]

Then again Sony didn't fuck up quite as much.

[Gamer1982]

People wanted a Blu-ray for HD movies so it was worth the extra cash. Do people want Kinect?

[BEASTIE-E]

thats because we are loyal fans of sony... we lost some ps gamers due to the fact that 360 came out a year earlier and $200 cheaper... so yes price is a factor

[THamm]

I might keep my pre order now, just gotta get rid of kinect 2.0
BTW all this info this guy is talking about now, (i.e. publishers hub), how come no one spoke of this before the outlash. please...

oh
"New games could then be cheaper. Why? Publishers KNOW that they will not make money on resold games, so they charge more to you, the first buyer. You are paying for others' rights to use your game in the future. If the old system had gone into place, you would likely have seen game prices drop."

For real, no truth to this and I find better deals the way things are now and I don't see XBL turning into Steam

[NameRemoved0017]

Kinect is Microsoft's pride to spam you with ads targeted at what you do while its watching and to let the NSA into your living room, they will never drop it.

[caseh]

@hdshatter

'Kinect is Microsoft's pride to spam you with ads targeted at what you do while its watching'

Wonder if it would recommend a dating website or porn site if you decided to start fapping...

[nukeitall]

I was really looking forward to game sharing and playing my game from hard drive and instantly switch. Now I got a gimped console with last-gen features because of a bunch of moaners and haters.'

You already had a console that was still attached to physical discs, it was called a PS4, but you weren't happy and had to go and f'it up for everyone else.

Congratulations, you win putting us back in the stone age of consoles!!!

:(

[THamm]

Dude MS did this after the pre order numbers. You are the minority, so to them you're not worth it and the old MS views for the X1 domination didn't go as planned so they follow the leader, being PS4.

[davidj88]

@nukeitall

It wasn't us that changed the policy, it was MS. They saw that it was going to cause them to lose out on sales because even 360 gamers were not interested in it. Nothing was stopping MS from delivering what they originally said they would except greed, this will cause more sales for the XboxOne and so they don't care if they upset a minority.

This is why i won't be buying the XboxOne, a company that defends something (DRM restrictions) to their last breath by stating it's good and needed, to then change it because they see it won't make them as much money.

They have no brand loyalty, already scrapped 2 key features of the XboxOne because they couldn't force people to accept restrictions and sign in once every 24 hours. Their biggest selling point for gamers was the cloud based system, but they're slowly whittling away the features until you'll be left with a 360.5....that's supposedly worth $500

[insomnium2]

@ david

" a company that defends something (DRM restrictions) to their last breath by stating it's good and needed, to then change it because they see it won't make them as much money. "

That's the definition of MS. Remember how HDMI or 1080p wasn't needed? Remember how it was all about games until Wii skyrocketed? Then it was all about Kinect -_-.

MS has no backbone whatsoever and I will never support them until they grow themselves one. There is no guarantee if this no DRM will stick, no way to know will there be more core games after the first wave dies down. There's no way to know these things and since MS's track record clearly speaks volumes about this subject I have to question the x-brand fans' intelligence. It's like listening to a woman explain why she doesn't divorce her violent and abusive husband. Does everyone of them x-fans have kids with MS?

[davidj88]

@insomnium2

Exactly, like i said they have no brand loyalty, they are only doing this to make money because they see Sony about to make a boat load of it. They don't care about gamers and developers, they want to choose the way we play and live without giving us an option.

What the numbers showed was that what gamers and consumers as a whole want is choice, this mainly refers to the 24 hour check in they had before now. Why they will no longer allow disc based games to be saved to and accessed from the cloud i really don't know but it seems like a slap in the face, they could have implemented it to give gamers a taste and from the reaction provide a full cloud system next gen by which it would have at least been something we were used to.

Either way MS have shot themselves in the foot, and as they try to stop the bleeding we don't know what lasting damage they could be left with.

[finbars75]

It doesnt matter if they announced this.Im sorry but all the crap they pulled and all of a sudden they decide where going to backpedal like that tells me that they did this because preorders where terrible, but mark my words now they will have some stipulation down the road witht the xboxone.A company doesnt just fold there crads like that withought some reason that we dont know about.They where also saying that MS did this to boost preorders as well so another sign that MS isnt to be trusted.If you guys go back to MS after all the shit they pulled and said then your only asking to get burned in the end.Give it time you will see.

[Cryptcuzz]

I agree with you on this and have express my concerns about it recently.

It is a little to late to be honest. The developers will see this as a sign of weakness and a lack of direction for the console.

Consumers such as you and I will see this and be very very cautious that something major in the future could be added or removed at a moments notice if they wanted to.

If they removed the online checks and such only a week after E3 and in front of millions worldwide, what makes us believe that they couldn't have easily added it in later on down the line if they THINK they have found a solution to the original problem?

The whole thing is on shaky foundation from the get go, I'd rather invest in a much more stable foundation when it comes to my gaming needs on the PS4.

[Statix]

I have to agree, Microsoft may just pull the rug from underneath all their gamers, and re-implement all those restrictve used-game policies 1-2 years later. Nothing stops them from doing so, and the infrastucture for all these crappy policies is still there. They've invested way too much into this anti-used games scheme to just give up on it, 100% wholesale.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

magnam trojan, the trojan horse.

[n to the b]

I still won't trust MS. They can just do what they did with 360 and change the gameplan mid-cycle. 'Oh, you thought we'd continue to cater to the core gamer and invest in first party like (you thought) we did that first year after 360's launch? sorry, we suggest you use this lube that came back with SOMEONE ELSE'S refurbished console and assume a bent over position...'

[hellvaguy]

No drm sucks to me. I don't have a crappy 3rd world interwebz and I only buy new games.

I was looking forward to not having to change discs around every time and share games with family and friends.

[marchinggamer]

Backpedal you mean like Sony and the cell it was "the most advanced technology yet" no itwas a piece of shit and a waste of time and now they are finally knowing

[Urusernamesucks]

Farr from late budy the gen hasnt even started, and this gen is projected to last 16 years. Some will choose to remember others will froget.

[Heartnet]

People just can never be happy... Spend all week moaning about XboxOne and when it changes all of a sudden its a bad thing lol

Who cared why it changed! The fact you have no solid numbers on ps4 preorders aside from the fact from Amazon number system which could be fixed lol.

But no lets still bash MS for doing what the consumer wanted your a troll dude and a guy who blames people for supporting MS when you can't get your head out of Sonys ass

[T2]

@marchinggamer - yeah a console with bluray, Bluetooth , wifi , and bc was a piece of shit .... Riiiight ... The only shit from that situation was that dumbasses were too cheap to buy it so they dumbed it down .... Now xbone thinks ppl will pay100 more for weaker specs and a 40 dollar webcam

[JsonHenry]

The thing is MS failed to give the consumer ANY reason to be happy with the DRM policy. With the way they explained it it sounded only restrictions in nature and nothing of benefit.

Had they done something like announce that with the DRM in place you could maybe rent xbox1 games from Gamefly digitally without having to wait for a disc and the serial number is then removed from you account once you "check in" the game for another rental from gamefly or something along those lines then people might have been inclined to go with it.

But all they did was basically say "hey! you don't own this game and you can't re-sell or let a friend borrow it and you have to check in online or your console bricks itself and we won't give you and good reason for this other than we say so!".

[SilentGuard]

yeh, their communications and marketing were awefull. How long did it take them to mention the family sharing plan? The online games hub and cheaper prices...never mentioned. They could still do all that though but only apply it to digital downloads. MS mistake was trying to apply the DRM to physical disks and have them function as downloads. They should have seperated digital games and physical games into two seperate markets with seperate features: keep disks old school and apply all the new ideas to digital downloads. Present the choice, give the customer options, and let the best method win.

[hellvaguy]

" ANY reason to be happy with the DRM policy"

I was happy with the full game on my hard drive and sharing with family and friends. That's 2 reason why it was better for me.

[MoveTheGlow]

Absolutely, I agree, Json. Also, check out the first comment on that article. There's a huge discussion between Jason Schreier (Joystiq) and the author, which winds up with a lot of awesome comments after, including one from CassiusLonginus which talks about other nations than the US, and how that would have affected them.

Along with Mexico, in that discussion, I'm pretty sure that Poland, home of The Witcher, was a little miffed that the Xbone, which banked a lot on Witcher III at the press conference, wasn't going to have a working Xbone at launch. That changes now.

[MoveTheGlow]

And then the author gives this backhanded agreement on it -

"We do tend to focus almost entirely on the US. Being the US Gizmodo site, I don't think that's entirely unreasonable (also, we just don't have the context of living abroad in those areas), but yes, we should address that at least some."

Yeah, okay, it's not like the US is the lead nation in tech design and marketing or anything, and affects every other nation when Apple sneezes or whatnot.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

Reply to Syntax down below = Games could still look better between the consoles! Especially with ps4 being much more powerful than Xbox 1, if ps4 is the lead console... Xbox 1 could see s#!t ports of games like ps3 did this gen... Like Skyrim for instance felt so broken! But I'm willing to put money on the fact that ps4s exclusives will trounce Xbox ones easily next gen. Like ps3s looked way better than Xbox 360s exclusives this gen!

[mushroomwig]

A price cut before the console even launches? Not in a million years, sorry.

[angelsx]

The price is ok.You give every year 400-500 for smart phone why not ones for console with 10 years life.

[Biggest]

Not if there is a better, less expensive smartphone to be purchased. Only fanboys pay more for less.

[DARK WITNESS]

it's not a smart phone though and it does not have 10 different competitors... it only has one and that single one is more powerful and cheaper. Plus the selling points they have been bigging up they have just removed !!

[Syntax-Error]

Their are less expensive cellphones to be purchased by Apple fanboys BUY Apple. It has nothing to with if there's a better one with a cheaper price tag. You buy what you want. The PS3 was more powerful than the 360 and we see how that turned out. The PS4 is more powerful than the X1 and we will see how that turns out. Raw power means shit when the games still look the damn same. If you think the graphic differences are going to be that much different then you're a fool. The X1 is $100 more because of Kinect, period. The PS4 is just a console with no pack in. I can't walk in a room and tell my PS4 to turn on and then go to cable or game. That's a feature I pay for when I buy an X1

[-EvoAnubis-]

@Syntax-Error: The PS3 was both more powerful and more expensive than the 360. The PS4 is more powerful than the XB1, but LESS expensive. Being able to control your console with voice is cool, but it isn't $100 extra cool.

[MysticStrummer]

Yeah I fail to see how the One got worse with the change. This guy saying games would have been cheaper with DRM is a joke. I'm happy for our MS gamer cousins today.

Peace and good gaming to all

[Heartnet]

Tbh it makes sense. If its no CoD I can see them lowering the price once a certain profit margin has been met which would happen quicker without the used game markets

[MysticStrummer]

Oh I'm not saying it doesn't make sense.

I'm saying it won't happen.

[titletownrelo]

how could they make a price cut NOW after so many people have already payed the 500 dollars for the pre-order?

[bcrazy18]

As far as I know, they don't have to pay the full amount if pre-ordered. More like a down payment like how gamestop does for the pre-ordering of games. I heard it's like $100 or so. If they plan on cutting the price some then then your pay off amount will be lower. Simple as that and if someone did pay in full, I'm sure a refund will be given or store credit towards other accessories and games.

[CommonSense]

This is why N4G is such a joke now. You people spout the dumbest stuff without researching anything. Xbox one is number 1 in video games on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/be...

That aside, it's NOT better. We just lost the "family library" feature, AND you now need the disc to be in the drive to play it. The idea that I could install my games and not have to worry about swapping discs was fantastic...something you'd think the Sony fans would appreciate since they constantly said that's what made blu ray better...but then again Sony fans are nothing if not hypocrites.

And this business of the 100 dollars cheaper is a joke, if you ask me. Sure, it's 100 dollars cheaper but it has no good launch titles. the new infamous and killzone look just a bunch more of the same...nothing new...nothing improved but graphics.

Also, for the people saying the ps4 is more powerful: Correct if you're offline. But if you're utilizing the cloud, your Xbone suddenly becomes much more powerful. Sony's cloud is for storage, MS's cloud is for actually improving the games. Not only that, but MS is providing UNLIMITED cloud storage and friends.

I'll be getting both systems at launch, but this idiot idea that Sony has the better system is a joke...and typical of the N4G community.

[cyguration]

DUde please. Just use common sense.

You don't want to use your disc? Good, they have day-1 digital download for people too lazy to disc swap.

You want to share your games with your family but don't want to give them your disc? Gift it to your friend or family, it's still an option.

People saying the XB1 is worse off for being consumer friendly are some of the most deluded individuals I've ever come across. I can't believe people are saying the Xbone was better when it was anti-consumer...that's the most ridiculous, ludicrous thing anyone could ever say.

Wow...just wow.

[Toon_Link]

It might be number one on amazon but there's been many reports stating ps4 reservations are 2:1 over Xbox (anyways there's like 5 different ps4 skus to 1 Xbox sku). That's pretty huge considering they went up for sale the same day.

Also the power of the cloud is a bunch of crap, there's no way ms can know what speed Internet you have or how reliable your Internet is. You're telling me that games sold at retail that can't be returned after opening have a chance of not working because you can't access the cloud to its full potential. Or how about all the games in development for years now that where counting on this miracle cloud computing, what are they to do now? Guess we'll never know cause we're all irrational crybaby fanboys.

The whole disc swapping argument is irrelevant, people made fun of ms for having to switch discs mid game like you were playing ffvii back on ps1. I've never heard anyone say they could play any game without disc swapping.

Just enjoy your damn Xbox and quit crying about what other people think.

[DogtagDuke1992]

Well stated, good sir. I come to this sight to read up on all the gaming news, and I swear every time I read the comments, I start to think that the world is out to put an end to Microsoft...but then I realize it is just a plethora of Sony fanbots. I really liked the blueprints for the original version of the console. The games on the HDD was awesome...the cloud (although still utilized) will not be as involved as it has the potential to be...and the family sharing idea was genius. Games, just like on Steam, would be presented to the consumer through an online store and could potentially reach a very respectable price. Microsoft had a great plan for the future in place, and nobody wanted to listen to them. They had plans for reselling used games digitally...they had plans for the cloud like no other...they had amazing ideas for sharing games and making their all in one entertainment device incredibly user friendly.... while most of the features like swapping between games will still be available...it will only be available between the game in the disc drive and a digital game you may have downloaded. I hope I still reserve the option to download new games via the online store so that i can have them all on my HDD just like I was initially told. All in all, the changes they made with this console are going to make it more profitable and more successful, however, this primitive and "last gen design" that it now possesses is going to leave innovation in the dust. All I hope is that they slowly find ways to re-implement some of these features, while still giving gamers the freedom to decide whether they want them or not.

[Aceman18]

You do know that people can game share on ps3, I do it with my brother and friends now. Let's not make this feature out to be something new and revolutionary.

[Syntax-Error]

5 different PS4 sku's? Link?

[Aceman18]

I want people to answer me honestly on this question.

How exactly does game sharing benefit the developers when all one has to do is just coordinate with 10 friends on their purchases?

10 friends don't have to buy the same game and that would mean 9 less games sold for a particular franchise with game sharing.

Sony realized this and dropped the limit from 5 to 2 on PS3.

[shadow2797]

He meant there are 5 different product pages on Amazon, versus the 1 One page. And there are:

1. http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

2. http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

3. http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

4. http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

5. http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

And if anyone still thinks the Xbox One is outselling the PS4, Best Sellers of 2013:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/be...

And unlike the regular list, that list includes all the different PS4 bundles under one listing.

So it's pretty obvious why Microsoft changed their policies. Now that they have, you'll see those pre-orders rise and there will be a lot more parity between the PS4 and Xbox One. Smart business decision by MS. #dealwithit

[insomnium2]

@ aceman

MS would never ever let 10 people share a game. There is a fine print in there that prevents it or publishers will force MS to change it. No way in hell would a 10 people gameshare fly.

[Aceman18]

@insomnium

That's what I want to know because that feature sounds like it does more harm than good for the developers. How would these people complaining about losing it feel that there cheating devs out of hard earned earnings if they just buy one copy and share it with 9 others?

[djsandman]

Actually, they stated this 100 times, Sony fanbots clearly didn't listened. You can give 10 Live accounts under yours to anyone you want, you can always play your games, of all the accounts under you, only 1 person can play each game at a time. So I have 10 games, 10 accounts, if everyone wants to use my games we all can play DIFFERENT games at the same time; like sharing except for instantly anywhere. This is why Sony fans are morons, This was completely better for the consumer, and the developers because people could try and game and if they want full access all the time they buy it themselves, Microsoft didnt make money off used games, the developers did. It was a much better system, fuck all the Sony morons for ruining our system because they preferred the current archaic ones.

And yes, the cloud will aid games, half the developers announced their online multiplayer will use the cloud to improve the experience when gaming online.

[tee_bag242]

Great so DRM. You realize its still aways on Data mining how many people in your room and what your saying.
DRM is just half the battle here folks.

[DARK WITNESS]

agreed but winning half the better is a step closer to winning the full battle.

[JohnS1313]

There's a lot of bigger problems. Like weak RAM. The spying Microsoft will do since Kinect will always be on. Things that really can't be changed.

[ChrisW]

Our fault? No, it's the fault of those who weren't going to buy it in the first place!!! They were the ones pissing and moaning about it the most, just because they were getting a kick out of trolling over it!

[chuckyj1]

The Price is $100 more because Kinect comes bundled 1:1 w/ the system. Playstation Eye and the controllers you need to play it don't come bundled with every system SKU.

That is why there will not be a price drop...

[BallsEye]

also 1 year xbox live gold subscription is included.

[chuckyj1]

@ballseye

I didn't even realize 1 year gold sub. was included... That's an awesome deal. Kinect 2.0 plus an additional yr. of gold...for an extra $100? Well worth it...

[shadow2797]

Pretty sure Live is not included. It's not listed on the Amazon page. Link?

[BallsEye]

@shadow2797

http://www.gamesradar.com/x...

2nd slide.

IT HAS XBOX LIVE FOR ONE YEAR INCLUDED. check your info first. It was announced.

[avengers1978]

Since there cutting some of the features it makes me wonder if it were ever capable of doing them at all.
So no 10 family share of games, cloud based games will suffer, and it still requires kinect and still needs one time connection to Internet, so still people with no Internet will suffer or not even be able to get 1

[chuckyj1]

People with no access to internet...So they can afford a $500 system, but not enough for 1 month of DSL or knowing someone who has access to the internet? Give me a break...

Of course it was able to do the features they are cutting...They cut them, because of their changing DRM policy. I was more in favor of what they had then what they are changing it too.

Except for the region lock. That is the only thing I am glad they dropped. But, I will have day one system...

well not quite day one I am stationed overseas...But I will have my day one console.

That's the biggest reason I'm glad they dropped the region lock, I have a few issues with Xbox Live content from time to time.

[avengers1978]

It's not about the cost some people still have no access to high speed Internet or even dial up were they live... Even in the U.S.A a third of the population does not have high speed Internet... Nothing to do with the price.

[greenlantern2814]

@chuckyj1
you say they cant afford one month of DSL what company do you know that offers a month to month service because most you have to agree to at least 6 months. and this also means now they have to pay even more to get the xb1.
ms is just cant push the launch date back so it is ready out of the box and they know it, even if you dont.

[CerebralAssassin]

@ 2pacaylpsenow

does it really matter u have to pay to watch netflix on xbone? The console is $500. I doubt anyone in their right mind is buying it solely to use netflix. Or any other video stream. Not when tvs can stream it and ps3 which is cheaper. Hardly seems like a valid argument to me. It would be different if you could only view netflix on xbone but thats not the case. Just an added bonus for what u were paying for anyway if u got the xbone.

[Anon1974]

Ridiculous article. New games could be cheaper because publishers would have been making money off used game sales?

First off, who said that's how it was going to work? Secondly, does that sound like something publishers would do? What la-la land does this author exist in that he actually believes that publishers, suddenly making money off used games, would have their hearts grow two sizes that day and suddenly pass along those savings to their loyal customers instead of pocketing the extra funds and making their shareholders happy.

And does this guy actually believe that by limiting competition by only allowing used games to be sold through authorized retailers would lead to better returns on used games? By taking away your rights to sell your game to who you want to...that was supposed to give you more for your used games?

Give me a break. This is the most ridiculous load of horse shit I've ever seen gizmodo try to force feed it's readers.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

Damn gamers and their feel of entitlement.

You all make me sick. There was NO issue with DRM and we got a great feature of lending games to our friends...but because of all the crying and bitching about DRM, we now lost one of the best features of the console.

I seriously hate you dumbasses. Gamers in general are the worst kinds of ppl in the world.

Thanks a lot MS...now I'm going to pirate the sh1t out of the XB1 and the PS4.

No DRM...Yay everybody wins...oh wait, not the developers!!!!!

[syanara]

from the research Ive done, Used game sales seem to turn more of a profit than DRM so as a business decision I think this is great for Microsoft.

My real issue with the xbox one wasn't really their DRM but rather that they never really showed me a true benefit to requiring an internet connection. I still plan on buying one however it will be after a price cut

[3-4-5]

I've always been a Nintendo + xbox gamer. I bought a PSP about 6 months ago and it's my first taste of Playstation games and I can say I've been missing out on a ton of great games for playstation over the years.

I don't regret owning any xbox or Nintendo console at all, 360 is still my fave controller and Nintendo is still my favorite gaming company, but as I get older I gain wisdom and realize that picking sides just only restricts the amount of good games I can play.

I couldn't stand Dual shock controller but I'd get used to the new one if need be.

I like a lot of the games shown by all 3 companies and am still not sure which way I'm going.

I'm not buying next gen until x-mas or most likely 2014 so I have time to see how things unfold.

This is the first time I'd ever considered Playstation as an option but it's an option I'd be proud to own, now that I know of Sony's greatness.

We as gamers literally can't lose this gen in terms of how many good games are about to be released in the next 1-3 years.

[redwin]

I just want the original xboxone with the family sharing and all. I ordered two xboxones just after the E3 presentation. I liked it except for the inability to playing offline.

[SaxScrotumz]

According to this ms employee, the family sharing was more of a try before you buy ploy giving you x amout of time before prompting you to buy...

http://www.heyuguysgaming.c...

Edit: so-called MS employee...

[lilbrat23]

@ SuperLupe

Not all games will entitle you to use Plus to play online nor does netflix, Amazon Videos you also get way more with plus than you do with live.

[Orionsangel]

Internetz, It's so predictable. Haha

[bligmerk]

Hard to get worse than worst already. The hardware is very outdated already, the RAM is 33% slower, the GPU may be 50% slower, multiple other deficiencies, and it costs more.

There really has been no change to how much the XBone is a piece of junk compared to the PS4. Some people keep clinging to some strange hope but the clues started earlier this year when MS didn't really attend CES, they didn't attend Game Developers Conference, they barely attended E3 and now Gamescom is coming up. All they have left for Gamescom is Kinex2.

Oh, it can get worse...much, much worse, for XBone that is. The PS4 is the one that is going to launch into the cloud.

[admiralvic]

People like you seem to forget that the Xbox is a bundled console, so while it might not be as powerful as the PS4, it still costs more money. To put it another way, it will cost me $460 + Tax to get the PlayStation Eye and PS4, so that is where the price difference comes from. M$ might be able to drop policies people dislike, but I doubt they would be willing to take that hit. Remember, just to match the PS4 the XB1 needs to take a 20% discount, which I just can't see happening.

[Blankolf]

The so called power of the cloud, we have yet to see, and devs have said to be eager to see how they solve the latency problem, required DRM, to be Always Online..

This way it will be a 50% less powerfull gaming machine against the PS4, with more announced games, but less 1st party studios.

I hope for their success, as much as Wii, but for the SONY and their stand from the begining, they deserve to win said war.

[Lovable]

Th3 pOWa Of th3 clOUd

[NameRemoved0017]

The power of the clouds = server side stuff like Sim City, the game still runs off your hardware it just does random calculations on the server so they can force you to use online

[wenaldy]

You see, M$ is a liar.

[testerg35]

I'm guessing Sony has never lied.

[wenaldy]

@testerg35

So? At least Sony's lesser than two evils. I called them liar in term of PR BS. Tell me what happened with "the power of the cloud" post MS backpedalling policies?

[testerg35]

LOL!!!!

[CommonSense]

The expression is "the lesser of two evils."

THIS is the intelligence level of the average Sony drone.

Do some research on previous sony scandals, btw. Like how they had fake reviewers in the music industry making their new releases look more popular. Or paying off DJs to play their singles more. You think they would do that in the music space, but not the games space?

MS and Sony are both large corporations who's only goal is to make profits (MS just happens to be better at it). Stop pretending Sony is your buddy. They aren't.

Also, they aren't lying about how the cloud works. It's simple. Physics and animations are handled on your hardware, while non-latency dependent things can be handled cloud-side. It's just up to the developer on how much thy want to utilize that functionality...my guess is A LOT...especially in the next few years.

@BlankOlf: You can have all the "announced" games in the world, it means absolutely NOTHING without actually showing the game. Every one of those announced games was CGI. Do I really need to remind you of The Last Guardian? Sony loves to pad their conferences with games that may or may not actually exist. *Cough* Agent *cough*

[hellvaguy]

Last I checked, the lesser of 2 evils is still evil. That's why consoles are run by businesses not moral authorities leaders.

[AlphaJunk]

You have no idea about what you're talking about.

[djsandman]

Moron half the developers announced their use of the cloud. I know it sound futuristic to someone living in the stone ages trading disks.

[Godmars290]

No. Still Microsoft's.

[ltachiUchiha]

Its good to see everything back to normal now. Lol i really have nutting to complain about besides hoping microsoft has another sku without kinect for $399. Thats all i want them to do now but even if they dont, ill just wait untill they drop the price then buy one.

[Godmars290]

Yeah, nothing's really changed for anyone who buys a XBO and doesn't have internet. If anything not that this DRM "resolution" has been announced some people are going to walk into the mess more blind than before.

And if MS hadn't been so arrogant, had tried to ease into their DDL future instead of strong arm from no real position, none of this would have happened.

Likely wont happen again because we're so divided.

[vector415]

Yeah right. I would rather not pay 60 dollars for a game I can't even play just because my internet is out or I am somewhere without an internet connection.

Microsoft made the RIGHT decision.

[CommonSense]

I'd rather coordinate with a few friends which games we're going to buy, then just download the games for free from each other's libraries. 60 dollars goes from being one game to being 3 or 4 games.

But, hey, that's just me. It's getting harder and harder to have common sense in this day n age.

"Is there no place for the man with a 105 IQ???"

[FlunkinMonkey]

Get off your high horse you patronising bigot. There is definitely no place for people like you. The irony in your name is too much, you severely lack common sense.

You talk about Sony drones but listen to your waffle. wow. impressive. You talk about past Sony scandals but don't seem to care in the least about the constant flow of cancerous MS BS which has been invading the gaming society.

What are these exclusive's you're so excited to see on the Xbone? Is it Titanfall? Dead Rising 3? They will blatantly come to PS4.. What other gameplay from the MS park were you excited about??

While you rant like the apparent fanboy you hate, i'm going to be excited about exclusives from companies such as Naughty Dog and Santa Monica and Guerilla Games, some of whom have won multiple game of the year awards while the 360 had been left in the dirt.

Agent?! Pfft please.. You ignorant buffoon! rumours of the game have been shut down by Tretton himself. Stop grasping at straws, you talk like you are some sort of a higher being, but you're just an ignorant idiot, ready to bow down to MS's ridiculous policies.

You're only as good as your last scandal.

[Zechs34]

That's even worse than used, that's just stealing. So you idiots will pay $60 for one game and "coordinate" to share it between all of you so the developers now only get the money for one copy that several people have enjoyed it?

GTFO wit that common sense trash. Not only do you lack it, but you also lack intelligence on an acceptable level based on your comments in this story.

OT: Sure it looks bad that MS backed out of their original policies, but things are just going to stay the same now. What's the problem? People lie all the time, but don't ignore that they are at least pretending to listen now (even though they did it to save their box from being outsold for the next gen)

[joeorc]

100% Agreement, my sister for Example loves her xbox360, when the family gets together over @ her house for visiting , we power on the xbox360 and have fun playing some game's . but after she watched the reveal and E3 she said she was not getting the xboxone because her internet goes out many times because of the Area she's in youngstown, there is just no way she would be able to stay online for extended points in time due to where she is situated. Her only option was something like HughesNet but its way too expensive, now that the policy has changed she may change her mind now. which is good, because she loved the games on the xbox360.

[Majin-vegeta]

Cry some more why dont u.

[creatchee]

You cried enough for a thousand people. Isn't this what you wanted?

[ElitaStorm]

Make up your mind already microsoft

[OC_MurphysLaw]

NO...make up your mind games media...first its a bold step, then after Sony's E3 the Xbox One policies are horrible ideas, now they reverse and its... "you all made the One worse by forcing them to reverse!".

[MysticStrummer]

I doubt there's more than a small minority who say this news makes One worse.

One article does not represent "games media".

I'm happy for you guys.

[matgrowcott]

@MysticStrummer

I think most people, myself included, loved things about the Xbox One and hated things about the Xbox One. Unfortunately, the things that were hated were annoyances and inconveniences and the things we loved were pretty cool, and now we've lost it all.

I think that's a good reason to say it got worse in some ways. No digital selling/trading, no family share... this is all stuff that would have changed the way we share, purchase and enjoy games. It would have cut costs, if only because you can split everything in two.

Nope. Not any more.

[DARK WITNESS]

No... it was a horrible idea when it was just rumor.. it turned into a nightmare when it was made fact.

It should never have been an issue to start. After all the crap we have seen from games like Sim's city and how negatively DRM can affect a game, you want a whole console doing that with every game.

It was never a bold step, except to the MS sheep who believed the crap from MS execs

@matgrowcott

The only thing that was good about the xbone was it's controller. they have not changed that so it's all good.

[matgrowcott]

@Witness

I've still yet to be told by a single person who has knocked Family Share why it wasn't awesome.

A lot of people have told me it wasn't. Not a single damn reason.

[DARK WITNESS]

The idea in itself was not bad but if I am limited to only sharing with 10 people as opposed to sharing a disk with whoever I want plus the need for the 24hr checkin then I would rather not have it.

I still share my games just fine with my friends using a good old fashioned disc.

The only positive to family share was being able to share games with someone who is not close to you geographically... thats it.

but looking at all the negatives that come with having the drm which is needed with it and it turns into a massive no no!

Family share is not a bad idea, the drm etc that is needed to make it work is a very bad idea and not worth it.

[Jakens]

People just want to be vocal on the side that they are not happy with.

Nothing has changed there.

You might think the same 100 people post every single day but that is not true my friend.

Again, people are vocal and will always be vocal and it will cover all ranges of opinion.

[matgrowcott]

@Witness

"with 10 people"

This was a little hazy, whether you could have 10 people total share all of your titles, whether you could set it for individual titles or whether you can add and delete people as and when you wanted.

It's very unlikely that very many people are sharing games across 10 different accounts. Unless you live in a communal house, maybe, or you're part of a very big family, or you have a lot of friends with whom you trust your things, 10 is more than enough.

The 24 hour check-in was more than fair considering the potential savings attached to it. I hate to pull a comparison, but Sony took measures to limit people from doing this stuff on PS3 and it was a feature of itself on Xbox One. There has to be a compromise somewhere there.

[insomnium2]

@mat

"whether you could have 10 people total share all of your titles"

Not in a million years. The publishers wouldn't allow it.

[matgrowcott]

@insomnium2

People keep saying this, seemingly looking over the fact that that's exactly what Microsoft announced they dropped.

I understand a healthy amount of cynicism, but the shared game list was described in exactly that way. It seems people are justifying the service being dropped by saying "well, it would never have happened anyway."

From what we can tell, it WAS happening, and people campaigned against it. Don't blame publishers for that, blame "gamers" who don't understand a service.

[hellvaguy]

Any smart business will change based on consumer wants. Business 101.

[Foxgod]

ITs still the same for me, and i see a lot of people cheering, so i dont see how it got worse.

[NameRemoved0017]

It will still lose to Sony because they are to ignorant to drop the kinect. Then if they did drop the kinect their is always the fact the Ps4 is better hardware.

[Foxgod]

You dont lose by having almost 50% market share, if MS can do the same thing they did with the 360, its a victory from business perspective.

Making enough profit to warrant a continued existence is more important then having the biggest market share, because the last two gens where plenty of proof that market share can shift from one direction to the other.

So all in all, survival is the top priority, and MS wont fail at that.

[rela82me]

People will never stop complaining, I can guarantee that. Whats next on the list for PS4 fanboys:

1) Their hair will be messed up by their "always -on" tinfoil hats because of fear of the kinect.

Even though multiple reports have stated functionality of the kinect can be turned off. And the kinect is now not just for gimmicky games, it is actually used for various features of functionality. They still will send all video game rants to Obama to tell him your a future terrorist because you got mad at a kid and said you would bomb his house. "Xbox My Mom's a Terrorist Arrest her"

2) BUT THE RAMZ!11!
Lets not forget that the xbox isn't catering 100% of it's system to the games that don't utilize and never will utilize 100% of the hardware. We can easily assume that the xbox one will have no chance with their "inferior graphics" because it just will okay guys. Trust in the Sony fanboys they KNOW the graphics will be 50% worse than the 'xbone' because they just do; despite the game demos on stage.

I don't want to handle multiple tasks at a faster rate! I am a Gamerz!11! And I do NOTHING but game. I never use my console for videos, internet, music, social media, interacting with friends, and or having drunk chats with minors!

3) BUT THE NVIDIA CHIPS GUYS!
Oh boy lets get on those EVIL microsoft execs for using a stable platform for their product so they didn't look worse from their already PR nightmares. We all know that Sony's devkit worked flawlessly... How dare them not show a completed product at a show meant to preview hardware 5 months away.

4) M$ 180 IS NOTHING BUT A FLIP FLOPPER
How dare they make changes based on consumer response. We dont WANT to like the console GEEZ! It makes the justification of me buying a PS4 easy!

5) BUT...BUT... THE COST!
Gee Willikers guys, this has less stuffz on the inside and cost more! Despite the network and software advantages that MS has held for the past 10 year; hardware is the ONLY factor in price now'a'days. We all the software in the world is NOTHING without decent software.

6) XBOX NO GIVE ME FREE GAMES!
We all know that this 2 free games a month thing isn't going to last forever. This means that now that sony and ms both charge for online we can justify the similar pricing for online service with free games. Despite the various functionality features that are more stable and secure on MS they still don't give free games away. Even if they do, we have had it for longer so ;P

7) WHAT ABOUT MY KINGDOM HEA- ...OR FINAL FANT- ...BUT METAL GEAR SO- ...WE HAVE BETTER EXCLUSIVES OKAY!
Eh we don't want you "Titanfall" or your stupid "Quantum Break." We have sent out prayers to Naughty Dog and they will save this console all by themselves! One uncharted game totally defeats any and all games that xbox has ever and will ever produce DUH!!

I'm sure there are more things but as we can all see Microsoft is the next Doom-Box 180. We should all start a charity for the grace the Sony has bestowed upon us.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

^ now that was a funny rant.

[Biggest]

He found a way to encapsulate his every fear, and attempted to make it humorous. Some people laugh through their pain. I applaud him for being so open about his feelings. Acceptance is a major step in the right direction.

[Rivitur]

So that rant is sarcasm right?

[MysticStrummer]

I agree with you, but I wonder how many people cheering now claimed to not have a problem with it before things changed?

[FITgamer]

#7

[IanVanCheese]

Article has a point. The always online deserved to go, but the sharing system was actually really cool.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

but sharing was hinged on the 24 hour check in so once that went.... it all went.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

So MS is evil for DRM, they listen and change it and they now say it is worse. What am I missing? Did people expect to keep those features without DRM? Either people want it all for free or no matter what MS does they are not happy. The people still complaining never planned on buying an Xbox.

[Biggest]

Not true. The people complaining about it being "worse" are trying to validate their initial defense of the horrible policies. Guys like Foxgod spent a substantial amount of time defending the undefensible. Microsoft tried to backpedal. Those guys refuse to backpedal.

The sharing thing is rather lame and does not require an always-online connection. The PS3 does it just fine, with or without a constant connection. Microsoft COULD allow game sharing, but why would they? Their fans won't ask for it. Only Sony fanboys care about those things. . . According to you, GiantEnemyCrab.

[Lannister]

I would love to hear from Cliff Blezinski. Wasn't he mouthing off about how Sony was playing everybody for some suckers and how DRM was the future.

And Microsoft, sorry but you're too late. I will never trust them for even daring this in the first place. They actually had the gall to try this.

[MonChiChi]

Yep, sure hope someone is in contact with him on this. Would love to hear him now.

[horndog]

For sure man and I bet you were planning all along to buy one at launch before they announced drm right, now it's too late right?? Dude just stfu. Worse kind of fanboys are the ones not happy with anything

[hellvaguy]

Cliff went multiplatiform lovin like 1-2 years ago. Welcome to old news.

[Zechs34]

Did he? What games did he personally direct or was heavily involved came out multiplatform? He quits Epic, now criticizes everyone and their mother stupid things, claims he never wanted to do more Gears sequels, pretended to endorse Bulletstorm, had no involvement with UT3...

He's a trash talking punk who loves to be flamboyant and dramatic. When he himself admits to his followers hat most of the crap he says is to get a rise out of people proves how very little he has to contribute.

[0pie]

So they invested money in developing DRM, developing infrastructure that supports that DRM, took a ton of negative publicity for having DRM, fell way behind in preorders, and finally decided to stop the bleeding?

[Wingsfan24]

It's been a week since they unveiled the console. Better they change it now than later.

[Jakens]

^^Do you know how cool it would be for the people that bought a Xbox One with all the restrictions and the hate and THEN three months or so later removed the DRM stuff.

The case I describe is my opinion of a way cooler way to "Change it" or even "stop the bleeding"

Things were looking so good (to me) for Xbox One.

Screw you guys that rent games...

[green]

I have read a few articles that have brought up a good defense on the whole Xbox One DRM stance. WHile they bring up very valid points, the problem is that they are all gestimates because Microsoft themselves never at anypoint in time explain to gamers their vision for the Xbox One and what benefits giving up some of the things we are used to could help benefit us in the future.

If they came out and said for example that due to DRM, all XBOX ONE 1st party games will be 20% cheaper. We might all take a back seat and say that it is actually quite good and getting confirmed cheaper games is something we can live with. But instead they did the exact opposite.

[BitbyDeath]

Xbone just became relevant again.
This is not a bad thing.
It is awesome.

[Honest_gamer]

this is good news for us gamers and proof when we unite we can get things changed for the better good, i fail to see how thye had to stop game sharing my ps3 does that?

[Roper316]

NO! It's MS's fault for designing such a anti consumer monstrosity to begin with.

[steve30x]

LMAO Somebody loves DRM then. It got way better.

[urwifeminder]

One of the most amusing months in gaming history thankyou n4g I put cash down yesterday just woke up to this seems the campaign worked well either way I still get forza 5 and dedicated servers.

[windblowsagain]

They did not listen, they saw the pre-order numbers and top people were in deep shit, that's why it's all been removed.

Good for people who were going to buy one though.

I'm just getting PS4, But to each his own.

[rextraordinaire]

I understand that digital release cost less than physical ones, but they lack the charm of having a booklet (One of the best toilet readings), and the charm of having them all nicely sorted on a shelf.

If I have the choice, I'll always go for the physical version of a game.

[Rivitur]

But booklets have gotten smaller and smaller so when you need TP always bring the game's official guide to finish the job.

[Jakens]

You mean the half-page disclaimer that used to be called a manual...

True that I love to smell those new booklets (shut up, I do) and might even give it a read so a toast to that sir.

[cheameup]

I wish they stuck to their guns. we didnt even know the whole story and the internet blows up. the sharing was going to be a great feature for those who actually dont care about being online cause they always are anyway . yeah I know many seem to care but many dont .I pay for stable internet. I hadnt decided which console to get yet but the sharing was def a MS point I was interested in finding more about

be great if you could choose to use the 24 hour checkins and still get the benfits

[Jakens]

Imagine if Nintendo did a 180 back in 2006 with the Wii system. What if they changed their controller to match EVERY OTHER SYSTEM. They were brave and strong and cared not for any internet ranting. Not to mention that it sold like crazy after I claimed it would flat fail.

I have been wrong every time about Nintendo. I was giving MS a chance before today to be brave and strong...(More like the dicks at Apple :0)

Damn I will miss the good points that Xbox had going for it.

[MaideninBlack]

Gotta love it when consumers speak with their wallets. Now if only we can do something about Monsanto...

[FITgamer]

Burn them to the f**kin ground would be my first choice, but i just go with my second choice buying strictly organic.

[KingKionic]

It sucks that full game library travel is gone.

As well as family share.

Unreal...

[green]

It really sucks. Now next gen just feels like current gen with a shinier coat of paint.

[rextraordinaire]

... What's strange is that a console does not need to be always on for that. Their cloud isn't hosted withing YOUR internet connection. All you need is AN internet connection to access it. Your console could very well be buried 6 feet underground, smashed to pieces, you would still be able to access all the info you put in the cloud.

As I see it, they're just removing some good features because they won't admit defeat without trying one last blow. That's low.

And more, such features are nothing new. I can already upload and download all of my games save files and config files anywhere in the world, on a 5 years old PS3. Sure, I pay 50$ a year for that, but such features would not have been free on the Xbox One either.

@PockyKing : But what would it change if there's no connection check-up? I see this as just being useless, really. Check-in when you have to deal with online, why the need to check-in more than that?

[Wingsfan24]

Having game saves versus having a full game anywhere readily avaialble to play is a lot different.

"What's strange is that a console does not need to be always on for that. Their cloud isn't hosted withing YOUR internet connection. All you need is AN internet connection to access it. Your console could very well be buried 6 feet underground, smashed to pieces, you would still be able to access all the info you put in the cloud."

Following that quote, what would be an issue having an online check in? 24 hours is a bit much, but people were angry having it at all.

[angryraptor]

I for one am disappointed. I was down for the digital sharing model that was outlined in the previous policy. For me it was the best of all worlds -I got a physical copy, which under the previous policy would have been converted to a license in cloud and been reduced to more of a keepsake, which suited me fine as It was something to put on my shelf. The idea of having a digital license to share across the cloud with 10 designated family members was exciting and should not be overlooked as they move forward for those that shared their original vision. Too bad this option could not be allowed on a per gamer account basis :(

[Jakens]

I really wanted a system for the rich that buy new games and don't rent. I wanted a system for the rich, the few, the non-scared. Even if said system charges $60+ for LIVE one day. I wanted a system for those with great paying, steady jobs, that have lots of paid vacations, with the best (but very expensive) steady internet connections that live in large cities away from all natural disasters (and places like "why would I live there?".

Not to mention, those with the system won't be doing illegal things at home with the Kinect on them. I wanted that XBOX. How great it could have been for me to know that people won't want to cheat and won't be pirating games, and clogging the multiplayer with trash and hate speech. It was going so good RIGHT THERE!!!

These owners of Xbox would be willing to be more honest in paying per person to watch any movies or to play anything on that Xbox. These few proud GAMER owners won't be leaving their home regions with that box without some strict limits.

These owners sadly do risk buying a second Kinect if the first one breaks (for any reason) Again, the rich, the few, and the non-scared. Boy that would have kept up the 200 comments threads for days here man. I kid...I kid...or do I? You decide.

This much is true...Damn I will miss the good points that Xbox had going for it...

[BLAKHOODe]

The only problem with this guy's article is he ASSUMES games would eventually be cheaper, because publishers charge us more now to make up for used games sales. I'm calling B.S. on that.

Corporations like Microsoft, EA, Activision and even Sony are in the business to make money. The $60 price point WORKS. You don't see them cutting the price on digital downloads, despite all the cost of physical media, shipping and distributing has been eliminated. They're not going to pass their savings down to the consumer and cut into their potential profits, especially when game production cost are consistently getting higher.

I'll agree that it sucks we're losing out on the game sharing.. at least, based on what we knew of it, but that's where Microsoft dropped the ball and failed "educating" us. There is always next next-gen, though.

[n to the b]

Agree. Why trust MS to have reasonable digital pricing when 360 digital download pricing has been far from reasonable?

[wishingW3L]

Gizmodo, shut the hell up!

[cyguration]

This!

WTF do they think they're doing by stirring up people like this?

Clickbait ftw.

Microsoft patched the wound before it got out of hand, simple as that. Any idiot who defended their anti-consumer DRM is either on the take or just a pro-corporate shill. What kind of moron actually goes out of their way to defend a policy that takes away their rights?

That's like black people supporting segregation.

[SuperSteve]

Sorry Microsoft. Too little, too late. My PS4 is already pre-ordered and paid for in full, and since 99% of the game libraries for both consoles will be identical this gen, I see no reason to spend $500 this Christmas to play Forza on my Xbox (but not really on my Xbox - "power of the cloud" don't cha know?) while you spy on my ass and then sell my info to third parties or send it straight to the government.

[Swiggins]

I want some of what this guy is smoking....it's gotta be fan-freaking-tastic.

[Lulz_Boat]

LOL, This is the BIGGEST U-TURN in videogames history. ahahahah what a fail

TWO DAYS AGO
Microsoft’s Major Nelson said in an interview recently that Sony’s PS4 console isn’t going to make them change anything about their Xbox One system.

[rextraordinaire]

I hope one day people realize that the price of games never really got higher in the last 15 years of so of video games.

Given we all make more money than back then, they're always ever getting cheaper...

[mydyingparadiselost]

So how do all of these things affect the cloud computing MS has made such a big deal over? If your not online there's no cloud so you can still play the game but itbwon't be as pretty or your game crashes when you bump into something or what? I say the reversal here is a great thing but I still have questions, hopefully there will be answers.
Oh, and by the way the One was way worse in the first place because of YOU, ranting authorman.

[dazzrazz]

This whole cloud shite was mostly PR bullshit excuse telling people how they need to be connected because Microsoft servers are computing whopdy fucking doo. Still its $100 on top of PS4 because the PRISM camera nobody wants and I still am sticking with PS4 ! I hate when somebody is trying to sell you garbage you don't want. I bet Xbox can work just fine without it, but its just what Microsoft wants ! They would love to have this thing in every household. For me device that is constantly listening and that can tell how many people are sitting in front of tv is a major privacy issue and I dont want it !

[mydyingparadiselost]

The camera is now my biggest concern with One as well, I'll be waiting and watching to see how the situation with privacy legislation and how the camera winds up being used in general. I'm at least more open to the idea of of a One now but like I said there's still too many questions and not enough answers I can trust. PS4 is still looking like the future machine for me!

[TheHybrid]

Spot on.

[hkgamer]

Definitely agree with this article. I loved the DRM stuff. I mean I don't buy used or trade games anyway so having a full install and family sharing was perfect.

All my Vita games are mostly digital because I am too lazy to change disks. Also kiinect features seems a little pointless now. The Xbone design was meant for all games to be fully installed and not require disks. Now it needs disks it wont be as immediate as before unless you go all digital.

[rextraordinaire]

Oh please. Too lazy to switch disks? I honestly believe this can only be good for you that you'll have to.

[hkgamer]

I just like the idea that I can change games immediately. Am I fat and Lazy? Yeah, probably a little. But that's besides the point.

I mean the whole point of Xbone was everything being instantaneous. Switch beween TV and console, switch between games and movies. I think one major feature has gone.

Also Family sharing was an incredible idea. Hopefully they will bring this feature to people who purchase digitally.

[rextraordinaire]

(That's directed at your reply to my reply):

But...but, you can already do all that! I don't know for you, but my TV remote has a button to switch displays between my console, the TV, and my sound system. And more, I can watch two shows at the same time on my standard HD cable subscription. One channel displayed in a tinier frame in the corner. And wait, that's not all! I can also surf on facebook and all that straight from my TV interface. I have access to 50+ music channels on my T.V. already. Even better? I can already go on netflix on my 5 years old ps3. And guess what, I can even record those shows. I have't read anywhere that the Xbox One would let you do that.

I don't need to log-in every 24h for all that. Except for the web-based services, all of this is offline, always.

[hkgamer]

ok.. know you ran out of bubbles so you don't need to or cant reply. Just wanted to clarify a few things.

Not everyone has complexed or organised home system like yours. I am guessing lots of people have a simple set up.

Xbone features are just trying to simplify things and make everything accesible from the Xbone, even though it only has one HDMI in.

MS understands that most gamers have a decent internet connection and tried to make something connected all the time. I mean which device isn't always connected? Their DRM plans needed that constant internet connection but it did have some benefits like installed games you own doesn't need your disc inserted.

it has other benefits and if microsoft concentrated on these benefits from the start like having family share then it would have been more succesful. I'm pretty sure loads of people haven't even heard about the family share functions.

I am no longer interested in the xbone because now it has become a more expensive, weaker PS4 that has big brother kinect camera staring at you 24/7.

[wishingW3L]

then buy all your games digitally. What is the problem now? Every game being released on disc will have a digital version too. And remember that you can start playing while downloading the game. Or at least it will be possible on the PS4 and you can already do it on the PS3, so the "immediate" excuse is not valid here.

And why Kinect features will be pointless now? To me they were already pointless. lol

[hkgamer]

well kinect features are even more redundant than they were before.

retail games are released cheaper than digital, even at launch.

I am also a collector/hoarder... I prefer to have the disks, but like the convenience of digital games.

Now the thing about playing while downloading on PS4... has that even been explained yet? If you see that one PS trailer/preview of the guys playing knack and killzone. Killzone has two options when downloading the game. Download multiplayer part first and download single player part first. I thought it would have been split into more parts.

[CJDUNCAN]

this bothers me because we are so close to launch. you have to consider how much of their backend coding and game development was based around their policies, now they back peddle because of outrage?

be confident in your product and what you stand for, but i know in the end of the day they have to worry about the consumer not purchasing the product.

[iliimaster]

now i can enjoy gears 4 the ps4 is still gonna sell like crazy with that price point i cant wait till micosoft follows sonys steps again... 399!

[jay2]

Erm, no! The idea was your game, you're stuck with it. And the net's NOT FING READY!

[XisThatKid]

I'm Happy for the people who opted in for X1 but F this guy and his twisted but plausible alt future for X1. I was thinking the same thing but MS never really gave us a reason to buy into the DRM stuff and all the "restrictions" they forced into the game.

[wishingW3L]

all the games were going to have DRM but they were still going to be sold for $59.99! I bet that if MS said right away that games were going to be $10 cheaper because of DRM they would have avoided the backslash but they were expecting people to trust them. To trust MS, the most monopolistic company in the world. To put trust on the fact that they were going to make games become cheaper because of DRM... Yeah right.

[SilentGuard]

Why couldn't all the benefits of the old system still apply only to digital downloads? They could still allow storing and loading from the cloud, create a marketplace hub, allow you to play games from any console, and sharing but just limit it to downloads. This is how MS should have handled it from the begining. Their mistake was trying to apply it to physical disks. They should have kept physical disks the way they always have been to appeal to those that don't want the changes/DRM and allow all the new features to apply to digital downloads. It would have created choice and nudged people towards digital distribution by making it more attractive without upsetting anyone.

[tiffac008]

Exactly, MS said they were going to educate the community on the benefits of Cloud but yet they take away the feature that can be best used as an example on why the industry should go digital. Just because they backpedaled on the DRM?

Can't the feaure work without the restrictions?

[THUNDERMARE]

This would have work if MS came out with DRM THEN reduce the price of games to $50

[optimus]

The writer is a bit naive... He goes down the list of things we would "lose" yet in his own blog he uses the quote from Microsoft that states we would lose SOME of the features they had planned... They haven't said what those features would be just yet... If anything, they still can incorporate some of the features and thus justifying the extra $100.

As for thinking we would have cheaper games if they kept it the way it was? The was the excuse publishers gave when they decided to eliminate instruction books from games, yet here we are STILL paying $60 for games even though the publisher has saved millions (per game) in printing costs.... Even with the previous drm policy microsoft has already said games would still be $60... This guy just feels like complaining cause he had nothing better to do and knew he would get hits if he went against the good news.

[airgangstarr]

We won nuff said i dont wanna hear all the hate now i can play titan fall i can careless about cloud this or that i dont ever wanna hear drm again of used game shit they learned there lesson thanks to all of us standing up for our rights

[greenlantern2814]

@superlupe
And other ms fans no it is not great that we have to pay to play online. But you have been for years and if you had ps plus you would know it is worth it. If sony puts that money into making their network better than that's a good thing.

[Red_Devilz]

This article is based on numerous false premises. Total junk.

[AlphaJunk]

This Blows - Microsoft you made the wrong decision! I want to go digital and share with my friends across the country, but now I can't share a downloaded game!

[urwifeminder]

The SDF saved xbox thanks guys I will never for get this I have a higher opinion of you guys now all that over the top hate worked perfectly thank you again no bless you boys.

[kennyng1026]

MS come out and say I'm sorry I was wrong.

Still there's some fanboy cannot admit that DRM is evil and trying to defend it with some unpromising hypothesis.

You wanna give up your rights as a gamer, but sorry most of real gamers won't.

Victory of consumer!

[wickedthumbz]

Tool bag writer! How can it drive down the price of games and at the same time drive up the resell cost if YOU CAN'T RESELL IT!!! That was the whole purpose of DRM! By linking games to an account yes you do cut out physical discs, but not everyone wants that! How lazy are you that you cant take a game out of the tray? Also you have to download the permissions on the console as well as most of the games graphics and other settings! With a 500gb hdd it'll fill up really fast, having a physical disc helps with that! A fully digital age wont work for gamers, face it physical media is still wanted and loved by real core gamers because it frees up the console to give you better gameplay and bigger better games. If they were serious about lowering prices they would have announced it at E3 and blew the world away. But they didn't which means they have no intention of doing it. And lastly I know they saw they were losing the console battle early and switched up. Shows they knew they were wrong, and probably the hardware doesn't work like they said. Which was also Proven at E3. Smh worse? No it was already bad, this is a half assed attempt to save what little followers they still have!

[S2Killinit]

its not OUR fault, its their own for wanting to screw their fan base.

[sak500]

All the above crying now over lost DRM are sony fanboys who are now out of ammo to take a dig at xbox one. Since you guys also have to pay to play MP games and still have no cross game chat what will you do now?

I for one was so against MS's policies and was convinced to go for PS4 but now that they accepted their mistake and will rectify the X1 to be more gamers/consumer friendly i'll go ahead and pre order mine.

[lex-1020]

There is cross game chat now.

[Jdoki]

If you want to go with a company who couldn't properly explain the need for DRM. Whose own executives couldn't give a clear message about their policies. If you want to go for a company who have just done the biggest 180 the video game industry has ever seen. If you want to support a company who has now removed / reduced features before they've even released the thing.

And pay $100 more than a competitor...

Fair enough. Your choice.

This DRM news makes no difference to me. I still won't be buying an XBO until MS prove they will support the console beyond 2/3 years.

[lex-1020]

"Because every single game, physical or digital, would be tied to an account, publishers could create a hub to sell and resell the games digitally. Let's refer to these as "licenses" from here, even though it's a loaded term."

If that was actually the case why didn't Microsoft come out and explain that?

"Here is how this makes sense for YOU: New games could then be cheaper. Why? Publishers KNOW that they will not make money on resold games, so they charge more to you, the first buyer. You are paying for others' rights to use your game in the future. If the old system had gone into place, you would likely have seen game prices drop. Or, at the very least, it could have staved off price increases.
You also would have started getting a better return on your "used" games—because a license does not have to be resold at a diminished rate."

Again why wasn't this stated if this was the case?

"How do you know that this would have been the case? Because that's exactly what happens on Steam." It is? Because I use Steam. I have for over 3 years and I haven't seen this once? Only certain games (valve games) can be traded. Others can't

[batbatz]

what an absolute moron..

[HacSawJimThugin]

Life is about evolution, becoming something better that what was better than before. SD became HD, phones got smarter, white chicks grew butts etc.

The X1 was fine the way it was and I for one hate that MS caved and gave in. I'm convinced now that the Internet consists of 2 year olds who kick and scream when something doesn't go their way.

I could careless about what Sony is doing and their products. I have no desire to purchase a PS4 and I'm quite sure my friends -who I game with daily- feel the same way. Yet every MS related article teems with the opinions form Sonys finest. If the X1 doesn't interest you so be it. Let us idiots spend our money the way we want.

If the PS4 is so complete, then why would you need an X1?

I can only hope that MS implements family sharing in the future so the us proud few can enjoy the X1 as they envisioned it. Kudos to the author for a great read.

[worldwidegaming]

People are just butthurt that microsoft did not inform them that they were making themselves look like assholes by defending them.
Microsoft does not need your help. "good night"

[JohnS1313]

It's not my fault. I don't want the piece of junk anyway. DRM was only one of many problems it has.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Shame on you gamers,.. See, we told you it was neccassry to have probation check ins.. We couldn;t "un-do" it..and we blew smoke up your ass... now you made us,..

Now you made us,, give you less,-.. because you wanted more. We MUsT take features away. because you made us .... Now you will get a day ONE update.. and we will Make sure to get that camera and microphone inside your house..

[zeeman]

So now DRM was a good thing?!

Can I use that report feauture to report gross stupidity?

Its like thos people in the states after the recent tragic bombing. They were dragged out on the street and on their knees under a snipers sights while their houses were being swept. They then gave the authorities backslaps and pizza oblivious to the fact that their human rights have been infringed.

Wow just.... wow.

[mahmoods26]

People are arguing that this happened because of consumers. I say this happened because of Microsoft. First they didn't explain the benefits of their restrictions. Then they blackballed the press and refused to speak with them. Then they insulted our intelligence (are you a developer? well are you?). This whole backlash is bull, if Microsoft wanted to introduce this model they still can. You don't need 24 hour check ins just make it exclusive to digital copies and authenticate when the games are bought from XBL. If you want to have family sharing just have it. If you want to implement resale rights just do it. Don't impose security restrictions and then say its for the good of the industry.

To those people who claim that this would lower game prices, you're living in a dream world. Publishers are charging upto 90-120 dollars or 60-80 pounds for a game now and yes I'm counting DLC as part of the game because most of the time that's exactly what it is (See Capcom, Dead Space 3, etc for examples). You're just going to get even more of that even if prices go down.

I understand digital sales are the future but cramming it down our throats is not the way its done.

[ufo8mycat]

People seem to forget you can still have the full game on your hard drive. You download the digital version, just like you can do with 360 games.

If you buy physical, yes you will have to have the disc in and swap it out with another physical game.

How hard is it to swap discs? It takes literally 5 seconds. Talk about lazy.

Point is you have options. Buy physical or download digital.

[hazelamy]

what a hypocrite.

according to you, prices are high because people are buying preowned where the money only goes to the stores, not the publishers?
and then you say the x1 is worse because you can't get your free games through the sharing program.
where you wouldn't be putting a penny into the industry.

and the line about game sharing enticing people to buy the games themselves, that's about as accurate as saying every preowned sale is a definite lost new sale.
in other words, total bullshit.
why would they need to buy it, they've got it for free.

we're bad for the industry because we wanted to own the games we BUY, while you're better for it while wanting games for free?

what a crock of horseshit.

people who like to buy and own their games won yesterday.
people who like to get games without paying for them, lost.

i'd say the right side won.

[Livecustoms]

Kinect still needs to go ! Than you can sign me up :D

[Polysix]

Shit article is shit. Xbox One just got much better. I'd even consider buying one in future (if the hardware actually turns out to be reliable and has any performance advantages over PS4, though that's unlikely). Before this I wouldn't have pissed on an Xbox One if it was on fire... after this, I'm actually looking at it's GAMES and seeing if they would tempt me. I'm sure many are like that. Even though I like Sony's first party stuff too much to not have a PS4 and it's a nicer system (imo) and doesn't have mandatory kinect and a $100 price hike for lesser hardware.

[XINTSUAI]

Well, we can see now, how the things will be If Microsof win the console generation.

every true gamer should boycott this company! Vote in campaign, exit Microsoft! SEGA back!

[slimsmcgee]

Lol... SEGA

[LordHiggens]

This is great news folks, but I see some blatant non-apologetic Sony fanboyism...

"But it still has to use Kinect."
"It's still 100 dollars more."
"The family sharing is gone."

Well you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'm glad family sharing has been replaced by traditional sharing. Good. It's the way it should be.

Don't like your Kinect...do what I plan to do. Turn the thing around and point it at the wall.

Being 100 bucks more is the most legitimate concern I've heard...and basically if you can't afford 100 more bucks...then perhaps save a little bit more. Or just go with a PS4.

This news made the Xbox One a contender in my book. Whether you prefer Sony or not you can not deny that it showed some impressive titles at E3. I can't wait to play them.

[lordcheese]

Agree with the sentiment but not the tone of the article. Microsoft have basically capitulated to rabid fanboyism. Its a damn shame. Its issues like this that make me hate having gaming as a hobby as those of us being reasonable and thoughtful get pigeonholed with those morons who just like to cause a fuss.

This is not a piece of medical equipment, or something the government is forcing you to buy. If you don't like it, don't buy it. What you've done is forced MS to remove innovative features from a product because you don't like a couple of rather minor restrictions, which actually amount to almost nothing in terms of your gaming experience. Worst part is most of the people shouting had probably already decided to buy a PS4, or had a major anti-microsoft agenda anyway. There will always be a few rational people who speak out, but unfortunately they are a small minority.

And please, please, get a grip about kinect "watching you". Ever heard of a power switch? You know that thing next to where you plug it in? If you're really that paranoid just turn it off. OH NO ITS WATCHING ME SIT STATIC ON MY SOFA USING A JOYPAD! HOME INVASION! BLACK HELICOPTERS! MOVE TO THE BUNKERS THE REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN! Its amazing how potential innovation has somehow been construed as a mad attack at personal privacy. Bet those people bitching about the possible evil big brother kinect are also those people who post every visit to the damn toilet on facebook then complain when someone sees it. "ATTENTION SEEKER JUST CHECKED IN AT THE BATHROOM" - goddamn hypocrites.

MS tried to innovate and were basically shot down by paranoia and fanboyism. I bet those same fools are the people crying about the next gen consoles not feeling like a true step forward. You know why that is? Because when someone tries, they get a backlash. Well done guys, you should all go back to your goddamn atari 2600 because you clearly dont want things to change since that came out.

And just so i dont get hit with any sort of fanboy tag - i bought a 360 and a ps3 on launch day, and i can see myself doing the same with the One and the PS4 as they both have games im interested in.

[psyxon]

how i feel about x1.

[Xsilvermist]

@superlupe ur totally right xbox live is sooooooooooooo better and how could us ps gamers justify paying psn this time around i mean sure we get allot of free games and discounts if we pay :'( and if we dont pay we can still even play planetside2 warframe and the othet F2P online games without ps+ and use netfix and other apps without ps+, wait a minute thats sounds awesome so how does live compare and since we pay for psn now it will become more improved so ur argument is invalid bye now. apply cold water to the burnt area

[H3ADWOUND81]

@lordcheese

Ms is learning consumer opinion counts alot more than what they thought. I'm anti-Microsoft, I was always getting the ps4 so I really couldn't give a damn about it all, as it doesn't effect me.

I think consumers are entitled to their opinion on restrictions, to suggest people should have just kept quiet and accepted what they were proposing, like good little lemmings is exactly the same mentality that got ms in this situation in the first place..

[dumpledinkle]

The console is worse. Gamers wanted to play without disc since the hacked xbox. Microsoft listened. Noise during gameplay increases. Durability of the console decreases.
Who even wants to sell games for pennies anyway?
Not sure why everyone wants to be ripped off so bad.

[Sadist3]

Xbox just got whack, thanx to crybabies. Thanx guys, because people were complaining that you have to be online. Even though they're online always. The same idiots who will have Xbox live and PS+. How do you spend $50 a year for online, but complain that the Xbox has to be online?

[Dfooster]

Ridiculous article. I stopped reading after it said new games would be cheaper. What you mean like this gen when a two year old game is £40 through Xbox live. Mmmm ok dream on article writer.

It just got better, any idiot can see that

[ASH_ufo]

great news xbob!
but, PlayStation much better for me =*

[lucidity]

Gizmodo are legendary corporate apologists. They've been going to be for the Xbox One since it was announced.

[Wanted Rogue]

Really, you're worried about the camera?? What about the forward facing camera on you phone that is continuously sending images of you to Prism along with all your emails, texts and phone calls. What about the security cameras in the street, shops or any other public place? They're also sending all your details to government agencies!

What you're worried about is that Microsoft aren't really interested in making a great games solution, just that try pretend to do that so they can upload images of you in your underwear to your facebook wall - well spotted, I thought it was just about gaming.

[S2Killinit]

I think the difference is that the forward facing camera on your cell phone isn't always on. Don't get me wrong, I believe the smart phone did have a significant impact on our right not to be monitored. But the difference with the kinect is that it is always on, and it is packed full of technology that MS boasted about to a group of industry leaders in a summit. Those said capabilities are not good news for consumers and neither are the patents Microsoft claims will never materialize even though they went through the trouble of doing the patents. Another difference is that the Kincet is inside your HOME, the last bastion of privacy. Your home used to be the only place you could be free of the influences of the outside world and with the precedent set forth by kinect, that will soon be over as corporations motivated by higher profits and competition over learning more effective marketing techniques, will invade your homes. Soon your fridge and toaster will start being "always on" and "connected" for your convenience. I hate to see the implications of such a day. Lets just assume that this won't lead to anything bad in the industrialized nations (which is wrong) but what about countries with oppressive governments? Can you imagine? But I digress. I believe even if Microsoft doesn't implement any of their patents such as charging people who watch a movie based on how many people are sitting in front of the kinect, the introduction of the xbox one into people's homes will set the stage for such applications in the future. MS is not stupid they know what they are doing and that my friends, is bad news for us.

[Godlovesgamers]

"The Xbox One Just Got Way Worse, And It's Our Fault"

Sounds like something either a greedy developer or a M$ shill would say. Regardless though M$ has already shown who they really are and who they really care about and its not the consumer.

A person with any sort of intelligence and self-respect will still pass on the Xbone. How can anyone trust this company anymore?

[MontyQ]

the Kinect cam is same as a loo cam and should be banned

[RetardedIceCream]

Some people will always complain

[raymantalk1]

forget about the DRM or the Online CHECK IN even without those things, only a complete moron would buy an XBONE over the PS4.

is it smart to buy hardware that is 50% less power than the PS4 no, so if you think you are a smart person you gotta buy a PS4.

and if that is not enough reason then there are the exclusives much more variety of games if none of these things have made you switch to a PS4 nothing will but hey you can stay with HALO & GEARS atleast you got 2 great games to buy a XBONE for for me 2 games is not enough reason to buy a console for.

sorry if this has offended any XBONE supporters but you have heard of FREEDOM OF SPEECH im just expressing mine. :)

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

Hi... I'm Xbox One and I damn near took a s#!t on all of you... Still wish I would've but the fact I randomly chose not to will still make you love me right? Even though this incident still exposed how I feel about you all? I mean I'm still gonna have to s#!t on you all though sooner or later... I can only hold it for so long!

[LeCreuset]

Don't know whether to go with "funny" or "well said."

[isyourhouseonfire]

Yeah, the XBOX ONE went from #1 to.... #1. Oh no.

[hankmoody]

That's EXACTLY what happened. It sucks for people like myself who had no problem with the DRM rules they had in place and now lose out on the cool features they were forced to cut. I'd have loved to be able to have any game I bought residing in the cloud and then be able to play at someone's house without need to carry around the disc. Now all those people who were complaining about the DRM got what they wanted at a price and the ones who weren't really affected by it all have to lose out.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

If you want to talk about the price of having the cloud feature cut... The price of that feature should be included in the price of Xbox Live... How do so many people not question that?

[hankmoody]

I'd assume that cloud connectivity would've been part of the XBL experience. Did they ever state whether they'd be charging for that or not?

[S2Killinit]

this article made my head hurt. Very speculative and in a very unrealistic way. In fact some of it just goes up against facts. We KNOW they were going to charge the same amount for the games, this was announced, so no chance that new games would have been cheaper. Xbox one is now a better system, and its thanks to the consumers who said "no". We actually did a favor for the fans that would have bought this system no matter what. I for one though, will never buy the xbox one because I know what they wanted to do, and I know who Microsoft's main target group is, and its not gamers its casuals. I will not support them.

[MrWegman]

I want the option of "always online" and the benefits, but that option is not for everyone... why not have both????

[slimsmcgee]

Every article was bashing MS for these policies, and now they're trying to cause guilt for getting the policies reversed? I don't get it.

[KingOfArcadia]

Man, this just goes to show that people suck. Nice job internet.

[EditorAtGNG]

So basically, both the PS4 and Xbox One are just a graphical step up from their respective counterparts from last gen. What's actually innovative at Sony is their "immersive Social Media integration" (a load of bullshit no one wants or needs but tends to be showed in by devs for no particular reason than to help advertise their games on Youtube).

On the other hand, M$ actually tried to shift their perspective, try something new and while it was a step in the wrong direction, at least they tried. I know I will get crucified by Sony fanboys but Sony didn't really show anything innovative at E3 with the PS4. It is higher spec PS3 that can upload videos to Youtube. That's it. Oh, and a gimmick with the controler (cause, you know, REASONS).

Seriously, people need to open their eyes. Have standards fallen THAT low that everyone's just ok with with this stale mate in the industry? I am not saying they should light the world on fire but come on! A new gen should introduce new ideas, new ways to experience games! (I hate to admit but Nintendo DID innovate last gen with the Wii... now, there's nothing).

[GirlyGamer]

Mmm I didn't really plan on getting one right away in the first place. I've just been trying to keep up to date and following what's going on since finals just ended and I'm on vacay now . But if any console has online check-in then forget about it! I'm definitely feeling the internet strain in my home country, where 90% of the people I visit don't have wifi. And the wifi is wonky in places that do have. My computer is dead weight most of the time. I can't imagine sending down a console for my family, but they wouldn't be able to play it :( Not to mention that whenever we have money troubles, the internet is usually the first thing to go. It's such a bad decision to limit your consumer base like that.

[KingOfArcadia]

Yeah, because a download of a few kb once every 24 hours is unpossible where you live? Did you write your comment on paper and then mail it in? Because otherwise the amount of time it took you to write your post would have been more than enough time for the check to complete.

[GirlyGamer]

I hate products that require internet in order for it to work, when in can work perfectly fine without it. As mentioned, when ever we have money troubles, we cut the cable/internet first. It's a luxury that we can live without. Although those times only last a few months, why do I have to live with a $500 dollar paperweight during that time?
Edit: The reason my reply is so late is because my internet got cut off for a while. Who knew that was possible?? /s

[Goldenarmz]

I never understood how people can pay 60 bucks 2-3-4 times a month in some cases. But having to pay 50 bucks a YEAR is some how too much. Come on, when you put money in to something you get better service. The PSN service will only get better from here on out. It will only create a more stable network and probably come with even better features than what you were getting before. Stop being cheap and expecting to get EVERYTHING for free.. if you cant afford 50 bucks a year, then you have bigger issues than some video game network. And to the school kids who depend on their parents. Do like other kids used to do, save their lunch money for the week or month or however long itll take you to save up to 50 bucks and go buy a PSN card.

[prologic]

Blown! Funny thing everyone's on the Internet complaining about the 24-hour check-in is on the Internet 24/7 complaining. You didn't like what ms had to offer... Get a ps4. Fing fanboys.

[LeCreuset]

It's Eminem's fault.

[Ulf]

Stellar article. This guy is a good journalist. Few and far between in the games industry.

[DeathofSouls]

Please help me get the word out PEOPLE ARE UPSET about something that was never going to happen the way they thought it would!!!

"Heartbroken Xbox One employee lets rip" a blog

"When your family member accesses any of your games, they’re placed into a special demo mode. This demo mode in most cases would be the full game with a 15-45 minute timer and in some cases an hour."

Source
http://www.heyuguysgaming.c...

[bigbri642000]

You know what? After reading this article what Microsoft didnt do was say new games were going to be cheaper. Everything was muddy about it. I wouldnt have minded the policies so much but nowhere as any info regarding what I wuld get for trade-in etc.

[swice]

Their DRM policies were unacceptable. If they have to cut features because of this, then obviously the industry isn't ready for what they have to offer.

We didn't make it worse. We took a fucking stand against shit that we didn't want in OUR industry.

[bigtrucknd]

I think microsoft will build up their install base and slowly implement all the policies they wanted. Microsoft will do it slower so we the gamers will accept it.

[zugdar]

Most of this argument is moot due to that almost every PRO was a "publishers could" "Prices could go down".

DRM is a so a thing of the past???? D3 and Simcity fans would argue that.

We want actual planning not a possibility.

[swerve121]

Its alot of cry baby bitches on here. Yea the system is 100 more and your trying to tell me the new Kinect isnt worth that? I wish yall would stop talking about the Power difference. That shit didnt mean anything last gen and it wont this gen. Its gonna be about what the 1st party developers can do.

[Ortiz83]

First off people did not make the Xbox one worse. Microsoft changes its policies due to lack of preorders cause people were jumping ship. So family sharing and whatever is not available anymore. Well that's all microsoft's fault. It's there fault for not thinking ahead and seeing people jump ship. You have to always think that as a possibility when your making a drastic change. That drastic chane is drm and always online and what not. So if anything, they built a not so powerful machine. They should have made the machine to support drm free and drm games. Having the consumer decide if they want to save it to the hard drive or not. Then if you do, you can no longer trade or share that physical game and with uploading a game, it will require a 24 hour online check. If you don't, you can still share and trade in that game. If Microsoft was actually listening to people like you guys think, then they would have done it that way to please both side of Xbox fans. The one that don't want drm games and online check and the ones that do want it. They need to hire a new software engineer.

[James Vanderbeek]

Microsoft already shot themselves in the leg with the console name. Xbox 1. Little confusing to the consumer. Are they going back in time? Why not xbox 2000 or something stronger than xbox1.

[Krosis]

Disagree all you like but the ps3s "cell" was a terrible cpu and pretentiously complicated--a main culprit in all the headaches devs had for that platform. Dropping that chip for a much more sensible cpu in the PS4 is a smart move by Sony.

[frayed]

Very pleased to hear MS saw sense and realised the console market just isn't ready or willing for digital only sales like steam. There are potential benefits to a DRM, digital distribution system like steam, however, there is no evidence, none, that MS would have adopted that model. Actually, PSN looks A LOT more like steam given the open publishing for indie devs and support for all payment models. A fully digital Xbox Live would probably have been more like Origin, which is far more expensive. Also, the game sharing feature just wasn't going to work in the way people assumed. It would have been like 'trials' of full games.

I appreciated the 360. It was more game focused to begin with and made social and online gaming accessible to the masses. However, the PS3 eventually succeeded in appealing to the hardcore gamer in me and won out as 360 became more and more casual.

It is therefore worth pointing out that PS4 STILL makes more sense for the consumer - if you are a hardcore gamer. The key exclusives on Xbox One are HALO and Titanfall - the former of which will come to PC as well. All the rest of note are multiplat and the 'significant' power advantage and, from the looks of it, initial install base, for PS4 should ensure a slightly higher quality of game on Sony's system this time around. Were the prices reversed, the Xbox One would be very relevant. However, at 100$ more... for the hardcore gamer who doesn't really care about connect... PS4 is the clear choice.

It seems to me that a large number of 360 fans are clinging to brand loyalty. 360 was a good console. Fine. But, it's really hard to make the argument that the system offers better value. It's less powerful. The cloud ideas are yet to be proven and very limited in application. It will have less indie games. And it is more expensive. I'd honestly consider buying it, but not at that price... and for the people who can simply afford to lay down the extra for those exclusives, wouldn't you also want a PS4? For the more powerful system and better 3rd party games (it WILL happen, just like this gen, but potentially more so... read Eurogamer)? Not to mention the fact that, actually, Sony has yet to unleash the MEGA talents at it's disposal. Naughty Dog, Quantic Dream and Santa Monica (GOW team). If so, Sony won't lose out as people who buy the One will probably be the people with enough cash for both. Early adopters with limited resources will surely get the cheaper more immediately powerful system??? And yes, that goes for COD kiddies too. Maybe, with a price drop, a year down the line, I'd get one... (no pun intended)... but, like most, I'd already have a PS4.

[Double_O_Revan]

"The content was just too easy to get and too cheap to bother with pirating it. We could have had that with the Xbox One and games."

Considering the fact that they announced games would stay the same price, I don't see how we were going to get cheap games. Even over time. If they would have come right out and announced games at $50, then it would've helped sway in their favor.

The other one that gets me is the family share plan. People think that they would just split the cost of 1 game with 10 friends. But I don't think anyone thought out how the hell all those people were going to be able to play that game as you can only have the original owner and 1 other person playing at the same time. So then 9 people are fighting over time to play the game.

True it would be great for 2 or maybe 3 people with cutting the cost in half. But any more then that and you'll have everyone fighting for play time.

[DestinyHeroDoomlord]

Off topic sorry... but does anybody actually read past the first page of comments?

[frayed]

not sure man. I hope so.

[DestinyHeroDoomlord]

Yeah me too, because they usually carry the most substance. ..

[Tzuno]

wow finally they realized that they are wrong. Thank you Sony yeah that's right thank Sony because they have not got in to this madness making Microsoft reconsider. We win the war.

[Tzuno]

Now remove mandatory Kinect and lower the price to 400$. Now that's worth celebrate with this : http://www.youtube.com/watc... do the happy dance :)

[TENGU]

The backwards thinking fools have gotten their way :(
I Think the pros heavily outweigh the cons.

[edwoods]

if hitler offered you a bag of diamonds to hand over the whearabouts of some jews in hiding, the pros would outweigh the cons for you i bet

[MrFurious]

MS lost already as they admit their failure, so Sony was right!! That statement from Microsoft says it all....and do not worry MS will bring back DRM t some point as well as online check regular...

[threefootwang]

I really hope Xbox 360 fans (such as myself) who deserted Micro$oft for the PS4 do not do a complete 180 and go back to them now. MS has shown their true colors now, and they're level of arrogance will be their undoing.

You'd be smart to stick with the only console that has been straightforward from the start, who actually gives a damn for their fans.

[MrFurious]

Stupid would be to pay for a US unreliable machine 100$ more and less powerfull...pfff that i call stupid

[minty-hippo]

I wouldn't be surprised that EA, having to "deal" with used game sales as losses just like this gen, will reverse its stance on no more online passes, and add even more of that micro-transaction crap to any of the games we play. I was against the Xbox One in general with the DRM, but now the next gen battle seems more even, even if Microsoft reversed its policies. Someone needs to punch Don Mattrick in the face for his "no online? Get an Xbox 360 then." comment.

[ShowGun901]

I dunno, EA seems to really want to earn a better rep, maybe online passes actually ARE gone... I'll take them at their word for now, like I believed that DRM and 24hr checks were essential for the functioning of the xbone... Microsofts tactics are plain now, (lying to customers to get sales)... your move EA...

[whytry187]

I love how all these XBONE fanboys come out of no where when dey wuz quiet and pissed two weeks ago. #fairweatherfans lol

[Rngr]

Stupid article. I hate when crap like this gets to the top of N4G.

[Prcko]

someone is jealous...

[edwoods]

Ok, first and foremost , this is my first post on n4g and decided it to be so after seeing so many unbelievable xbox one fanboys on here ranting about how the gamer community has destroyed the potential of xbox one. Let me start of by kindly stating the obvious-YOU ARE A MORON!
Now…let me explain why. You seem to have this fetish with “always online”, “digital game sharing”, and “cloud gaming”. Ok, that is fine. But what isn’t fine is doing so by compromising consumer rights. There is a reason why in today digital society, we still use snail mail postal service, we still use fax machines, and we still buy larger and larger hard drives for the home. It is because, despite the novelty of having things quickly sent to us digitally and optimally, there is and ALWAYS WILL BE a need for a tangible product (yes…even entertainment products) to be in the hands of the actualy consumer both for allowing free discretion over one’s ownership and also to allow the legacy of games to be always accessible and of value in many MANY years to come. Imagine if the first NES had DRM. You think your games you bought 25 years ago would be as easy to play as just popping a cartridge in? NO! Daddy Microsoft wanted to tell you when and where you could play and if Daddy ever abandoned you, ….well here’s a big “FUCK YOU” and deal with it.
Now here’s the most frustrating part about the DRM supporters. They are supporting DRM for reasons that do not even have to be related to the restriction incased within the supposed DRM the glorify. Allow me to explain; You moan and bitch now because your narcissistic ass wants to be able to share games digitally without going to someones house, and you’re willing to do this selfishly at the cost of giving up ur true ownership of a game. Well what you fail to realize is Microsoft didn’t need always online or a 24 check for that! They could of created an OPTIONAL way to allow gamers to share to friends digitally (or even allow you to play remotely on another xbox) by simply giving the OPTION to connect to the internet and freeze your current system from playing a game to allow sharing of it to another. As far as cloud based processing is concerned, that could have been optional too for developers to allow in games to either be utilized or not from a simple on/off in the option screen. This would allow both internet people and non internet people the OPTION of still playing.
Microsoft is stating they are dropping things previously mentioned for their console, but WHY!??? The real reason isn’t because of the change In policy. They just didn’t implement it right from the start. THESE should have been optional and worked around the convetional rule that people will and ALWAYS will want physical forms of medium. Not to have some douchebag greedy corp hold the rights to something I buy. Something u xbone fanboys simply don’t get because you’re too arrogant to think about the horrible and illegal precedent it would make for the gamer. Oh and you dont need to disc swap already with the 360. Its called digital download you retard and its been around for years already. Only difference is we can currently play the damn thing offline!!!

[jdawg222]

i have been a sony gamer my whole life, since ps1 ( gaming since the OG Nintendo) and never kept a MS console, I did buy a 360 b4 ps3, but sold it for ps3. and even im happy about this news. this is beyond being fanboy, this the state of industry, and i like physical media and to do what i want with my purchase. the day that stops I stop gaming.

[manny1up]

Microsoft is lying , you can still implement family plan via a PATCH . There's no assurance they won't just build up a big costumer base before they reintroduce the anti-consumer policies..Microsoft LOST consumers confidence , as a 360 owner am opting for PS4 .

[mrmarx]

get this shill off of my computer screen.. damn apologists for microsoft