Polygon: "Microsoft's flip-flop on its controversial game licensing policy, which would have restricted game ownership on the Xbox One, is a well-deserved, albeit ephemeral, win for consumer rights.
That will change, both for the worse and for the better. Microsoft's shift in direction is the best proof of how, when it comes to DRM, even one of Earth's largest companies will find a way to be agile."
Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.
Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.
Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.
"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."
That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.
A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.
I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.
I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons
I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.
Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.
At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath
I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.
Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.
As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people
Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much
Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region
Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.
I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games
Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo
The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.
They don't need to do anything, eventually all games will be released digital only
Polygon's so stupid.
Also, just pointing out, the Xbox One still has the capabilities to pull off DRM/Used games restrictions, only a day one software patch is allowing those. Any day now, I see them reverting.
Or maybe not.
August 21 Gamescom 2013 - Sony Exclusive Guns Coming Out
Sony revert something they never intended i see what you did there.
Give a year or two down the road and you'll have your answer to just how it'll be back.
How is it that Sony gets repeatedly lumped in with MS's mistakes?
Sure we're never going to know if they would have gone through with their DRM plans if MS hadn't been both obvious and incompetent in how they handled theirs, but still.
When Sony makes a mistake or seems to, its only Sony's mistake. But when MS makes one Sony gets mentioned by default.
I mean to this day BR was seen as pointless when first introduced, and yet MS compensated for the lack of a HD disc format at least three times. Two of which required major rewrites of the 360's system OS and how they handled games entirely.