100°

Larry Hryb recalls that the Xbox One was originally "very complex to explain."

At PAX EAST, Hryb took a shot at Sony's claim that it will ship 100 games in 2014. "Saying something and shipping something can be two different things," Hryb said. - Gamespot

Read Full Story >>
gamespot.com
AngelicIceDiamond3666d ago

I'm pretty sure blocking used games is CRYSTAL clear to allot of people.

Yeah, we can comprehend that MS.

zeee3666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

So true! They tried to screw us for sure. Those pre order numbers must have been really really bad and that's because gamers are not stupid and we have a very vocal community.

It is amazing how Larry still thinks that it's us, the users. who are not 'getting' it. It's actually the other way around.

kreate3666d ago

Its trying to twist words so the anti-consumer policy 'sounds' good to the consumers is the 'very complex' part.

TheGreatAndPowerful3665d ago

He's back to trash talking I see... and just a couple of months back he was crying about being picked on by the community and that people weren't giving the Xbone a fair shot and blah blah blah. What a d***!

ZodTheRipper3666d ago

"Hryb took a shot at Sony's claim that it will ship 100 games in 2014"

Until today more games have been released and announced for PS4 than for XB1 ...lots of developers announced PS4 exclusivty without any exclusive contracts - meanwhile MS paid EA for Titanfall or PvZ to make it look exclusive.

Kayant3666d ago

TF is a full MS platform exclusive. But you can add peggle 2, below to the timed exclusives list. They really do have an unprecedented partnership with EA.

Addressing the other thing of XB1 being very complex to explain. They sure as hell didn't try to explain it well during that time with different execs/people saying different things and them not bothering to clear it up with an official statement then just posting randomly on their news site the way some things will work going forward. Evading giving further information after E3 by cancelling the Post-E3 roundtable talks. So to me never seemed like they intended on explaining their *complex* plans during does times.

@Massacred

Oh shit looool...

OrangePowerz3666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

That is true very unprecedented. No other company would willingly sabotage their own sales by delaying and hidding the game version that comes out on the console with the bigger userbase.

Let's see for how long that will last. Nintendo had a unprecedented partnership with EA until things didn't go the way EA wanted. Sure EA went with X1 because of the original used game block given that they dropped the online pass just around the time thr console was revealed and they most likely expected the PS4 to sell less. If the PS4 keeps outperforming the X1 in sales they will end their unprecedented partnership with MS unless MS pays enough to offset all lost revenue.

Mankey3666d ago

Very Complex to explain? The fact that I could no longer play my console at a friends apartment who didn't have internet seems pretty straight forward.

OrangePowerz3666d ago

Nope Larry we clearly understood that you wanted full control over the software and block out used games and always be in full control of what content people can access.

Don't make it sound like the consumers are too stupid to understand what the system is and was about because it's so complex, you know despite the claims it is not rocket science.

hello123666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

This is actually the problem with the internet. Do you realise lot of gaming companies around the world are struggling because of the used game market?

Microsoft but mainly gaming companies that make all those blockbuster games for millions wanted DRM.

Sony was implementing DRM too you know and still has DRM, http://couchjockeyz.com/yos... but removed most of the DRM features, by patch, and lied they had nothing like this to get one over on Microsoft.

Microsoft was straight with its fans it was bringing it in. Sony kept it secret.

MasterCornholio3666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

Sony never planned on incorporating Microsoft's DRM system in the first place. The vice president of Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed to the world in February that you could play games on the PS4 without an internet connection. This means that it would have been impossible for Sony to implement the same system as Microsoft. What happened is that Microsoft wanted to implement barbaric DRM policies on their system and all Sony had to do was announce their policies at E3 to hurt Microsoft.

Your not fooling anyone. Sony did nothing and used Microsoft's DRM policies to hurt them. If it wasn't for that you would lose your right as a consumer to share games with your friends, sell used games or buy them.

Like Yoshida said Vita has DRM. Death Ray Manta.

Kayant3666d ago

" but removed most of the DRM features, by patch, and lied they had nothing like this to get one over on Microsoft"

What? Loooooool so Sony all this time had a policy in place that stopped people playing games after 24 HRs, and didn't allow used games/rentals at launch.

Man I wonder what people have being playing all this time because it's surely not PS4's if they have to same DRM policy as MS was planning.

Of course DRM exists on PSN that's how they tie/verify your game license to your account. Literally almost every Digital based store has DRM. That doesn't mean they were going to have to same implementation as MS. They confirmed right after their reveal in Feb that no online connection was needed as wanted --> http://www.eurogamer.net/ar... http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

hello123666d ago

Master@

A video started circulating on March 30th, 2014 displaying an anonymous PS4 user irritated at his sudden discovery that his games could not be played without an internet connection. He attempted to play Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Sound Shapes, and Flower which indicated that these were all digital titles none of which were able to launch displaying a message stating “Cannot start the application. The PS4 is not connected to the internet and cannot verify the license for the application”

His answer excuses i thought the PS4 had no DRM full stop?
Shuhei Yoshida @yosp
Follow
@imJGott @sidshuman The E3 presentation was about disc based games, digital games have DRM since the beginning of PSN in 2006.

Really Master? He's admitting they were going to do it
SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida admitted to Famistu magazine this week that Sony changed its stance on DRM after hearing all the negative feedback stemming from the Xbox One. Prior to E3 2013, Sony had remained withdrawn regarding that topic, whereas Microsoft laid it all out on the table. It wasn't until the Xbox Media Briefing during E3 that we saw the scope of Microsoft's DRM scheme.

Obviously, Sony saw Microsoft's wounds as a time to pounce. Yoshida said there were many people who gave their opinions on that issue directly to him through Twitter before Sony made its presentation at E3 2013. He then admitted that – even though Sony doesn't typically define its hardware policies based on feedback – the subject became a very useful source in regards to what Sony needed to convey about its new console and how to do it.

SCE Japan Asia president Hiroshi Kawano chimed in, saying that Sony is now getting a very positive response. "For this system, we made a list of what people expected from us, debating over each point, with user feedback forming the main basis for the list," Kawano said. "The software makers are also telling us that they feel like they really make some fun stuff with it. A new platform always provides the basis for new forms of play, so I'd like to see it connect to a revitalization of the marketplace."

system software update (version 1.50) when you got this patch for PS4 all media gaming outlets reported this was to remove DRM features from the PS4.

OrangePowerz3666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

Second hand sales aren't loosing companies as much money as they claim and blocking used games isn't the way to go about it in the first place. They should try to get something worked out with Gamestop and the other retailers instead of trying the approach with the hammer. Besides if you product is a quality product and allows for enough replayabillity and you give consumers a game that they feel has enough value to keep you will see less copies as used games to buy.

As for Sony, I have both MGS and Flower and they launch without internet for me. Digital games have by nature DRM (except GOG) in order to make sure the user account who bought it plays it since all digital purchases are linked to an account. There is no other way to track digital content so if you expected digital stuff to not have any DRM at all you are foolish.

As for the firmware removing DRM, I know for a fact that this isn't correct.

Even if Sony was planning something I doubt it required people to have a person on the friends list for X amount of days before they could give away their disc based copy that they physically own to that person and only once before the disc is rendered completely useless.

MasterCornholio3666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

Reported for trolling.

You didn't need the day one patch on the PS4 to play games without an internet connection. What Yoshida said was for digital copies not retail ones. Microsoft's DRM affected both retail and digital copies.

You can't even defend the Xbox One without making some absurd lie about the PS4. Sony never planned on incorporating DRM into retail copies of PS4 games.

Adam Orth "Deal with it"

Kayant3666d ago

@KNWS

"system software update (version 1.50) when you got this patch for PS4 all media gaming outlets reported this was to remove DRM features from the PS4."

Loool you are so damn comical which is why does same outlets where magically playing games before the patch arrived also please provide links to such outlets.

You trying to connect dots to where their isn't they already said in Feb multiple times they didn't have the same policies as the rumored XB1's and not everyone listened to them.

"The E3 presentation was about disc based games, digital games have DRM since the beginning of PSN in 2006" - That right there proves what they said in Feb and what I showed above. They never had any initial of to adopting MS's always online/used games policies.

Hicken3666d ago

Where is this video? And why would Sony SAY way back in February 2013 that they were NOT going to implement any sort of draconian DRM, LONG before Microsoft even revealed their console, and then have that feature somehow still in their system?

How do you believe this one supposed rumor when there are millions who have had no such issues? Does that even make sense to you?

Do you even care if it makes sense?

Will you keep going on, perpetuating this nonsense?

If any gaming companies struggle because of the used market, they're probably doing it wrong. In actuality, used games do a lot more to further and support the industry than they do to harm it. You only say that because it's the opinion that fits with Microsoft's DRM-laden vision for the future.

And given how vague they were about everything up until the last moment, that hardly counts as being up front and open.

Geoff9003666d ago (Edited 3666d ago )

@MasterCornholio

Ubisoft, EA, and several other publishers wanted to stop the used games market, why? because the likes of Gamestop, Wallmart, Game (UK), etc all make massive profits on them.

A lot of stores 'buy', and when I say buy I mean give you in-store credit which is worth nothing, for your game, they then sell the game for 200%+ profit*

Oh and of course Sony wanted to do it, the big publishers stated the year before they wanted to do something about the used games market, it was something Sony and MS had the intention of doing although it back fired for MS so Sony decided to go back on it.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3666d ago
SaveFerris3666d ago

It may have been tough to explain, but it only required a flip of a switch to change it, huh?

Show all comments (24)
240°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

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.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7220h ago

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.

solideagle7h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18814h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga6h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21836h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga5h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan55m ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

purple1019h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

"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.

purple1017h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic6h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (26)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 17h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 14h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 11h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 5h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 6h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 2h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

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

blacktiger1d 14h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

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

Tacoboto1d 16h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 15h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 12h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 15h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 14h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier12d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)