The changing face of Xbox One: Another backflip for Microsoft's troubled console

Ninemsn games writes: A long list of backflips on some of its more controversial policies has seemingly changed the philosophy of the console, and perhaps even regressed the natural progression of the technology, which was initially introduced as an always-connected and engaging device.

[SignifiedSix91]

Move along, nothing to see here. Just the same ole crap everyday for the trolls to reap up.

[christocolus]

Thanks man, i almost clicked on it. it would have just been another big waste of my time reading through...

[badboy776]

Microsoft is backtracking way too much. Kinect should be the mandatory selling point of the Xbox One. The Kinect is the main difference Microsoft had to separate it between the PlayStation 4. Sales must be really bad!!!

[SignifiedSix91]

@badboy

Its not the only difference. There's Xbox LIVE, too. And we all know that, for multiplayer gaming, it'll most likely be better.

[christocolus]

@badboy
I do not feel sales are really bad..its actually doing better than the 360 did before launch ..imo ms is just trying to do what its fans are asking for.to change the opinion most gamers had since the rreveal and they have been doing a good job.i actually feel the new lady in charge may have alot to do with this new direction.I want the kinect to remain a vital part of the experience and not just some gimick that some devs will try out due to it not been packaged in every box..if ms decides to make a new sku available at 399 ,i would rather they reduce the size of the hdd than remove kinect entirely..just my opinion though.

[NatureOfLogic]

The dedesperation of these 180s should not be praised. Xbox fanboys cheering for Xbox One to be more like PS4 is very telling. MS recent decisions have little to do with what fans are asking for. Pre-orders, market share, polls and pressure the from negative media is what caused the 180s. Remember this is the same microsoft that said "no internet, get a 360" and didn't apologise. They saw sells predictions and lackluster pre-orders and tried to reverse everything to stop the bleeding of their fanbase. I don't like MSs gaming division after what they attempted( drm, arrogance and basically going after Wii's casual market), So I won't be supporting their console next gen.

[H0RSE]

Oddly, I don't see xbox fans as the ones primarily cheerleading for the X1 to be more like PS4. Xbox fans were likely going to get an X1 regardless. It was mainly the non-dedicated and on the fence gamers that found the X1's initial policies "evil" enough to drive them away.

[pompombrum]

^^ That's because a lot of Xbox fans have already lost the faith and moved on.

[christocolus]

@natureoflogic
i totally agree with you..i for one was going to get it never the less.and i know many who are going to do the same. The truth is that , i believe what marc said when he stated that he wished fans could get a hold of the console and try out kinect and the xbox one hardware to see what they are trying to do for themselves.ms cant wait for launch.i think they are even more hyped for launch than the fans..i know the console will do well and most gamers opinions will change after launch.

[FlunkinMonkey]

No, sorry, if you don't find it disconcerting at all that MS literally look like they don't have a clue what they're doing, and don't seem to have any faith in their business/design model, then maybe you should take another look.

I have never seen a company backtrack on a product in all my life, it's ridiculous.

[cyclindk]

Microsoft's blunders are mounting indeed...

Directionless really...

Zune
Surface
Xbone

What's next?

[RicardJulianti]

I wish the first post would be the same on Nintendo articles. The internet is becoming a disgusting place to be a gamer.

If you don't mind....I'm going to copy/paste your comment on trolly Nintendo articles that suggest the Wii U is dead or is doomed to fail or that Nintendo will be bankrupt etc etc. haha

[SignifiedSix91]

Go ahead, man! :)

[Agent-86]

MS has done so many 180's with the Xbox One, I'm starting to get dizzy. Someone pass me a bucket, I think I'm going to hurl. What's next? A Kinectless Xbox One? How about a name change? Xbox One was always kind of stupid.

[urwifeminder]

Just like to thank the sony fans once again.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Why do people keep acting like the "Sony fans" are who changed the Xbox?

[HammadTheBeast]

Because the pre-ordered PS4's and seeing this, MS $*** their pants.

[urwifeminder]

Well because they did.

[NatureOfLogic]

"noWhy do people keep acting like the "Sony fans" are who changed the Xbox?"

Because the same Xbox fanboys that were saying the were happy with the original Xbox One vision are now signing relief and claiming megaton at all of these 180 reversals.

[Saints94]

Hmm. People switch to the PS4 side because of what was implemented and it's "TEH SONI'S FAN BOIS".

Lol.

Microsoft making choices on their own.

#dealwithit

[urwifeminder]

Yes thankyou.

[maniacmayhem]

Can someone please explain why these flip flop articles are so bad? It seems all the changes are for the better. Would everyone rather have had the original policies in place.

[Fireseed]

Because the majority of the fanboys who write these articles are hoping that if they write enough of them that the mainstream consumers will hear them.

[NatureOfLogic]

And fanboys on the other side are hoping nobody notices that MS will screw you over if given even the slightest chance.

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

@maniacmayhem
The 'problem' with these articles are the damage caused to Microsoft's reputation (or whats left of it) regarding the xbox one.
The changes have made the console a more viable proposition to a wider audience but changes in policy and hardware are a risky business so close to release.
Microsoft may gain on the one hand but could lose on the other.

[Saints94]

It isn't, but people like to make mountains out of molehills.

[vigilante_man]

Because they don't know what they are doing!

They had a vision with XB1. Not anymore. If you keep changing your product week by week it shows you have no faith in it. If you did you would not change things.

Sony did all the research and asking developers what they wanted BEFORE they made the PS4

[DARK WITNESS]

all the changes are for the better...

it's just the diehard lemmings who can't bring themselves to admit they were wrong who are now the ones complaining about the changes.

MS came up with a load of shit policies and a console that I wouldn't say was crap, but it was very restrictive and not everyone liked what they saw.

The average xbox joe that didn't dig all these changes simply said their bit and voted with their money pre-ordereding the ps4.

The diehards were like, No but this is the future... Don't worry sony will have to have DRM... Family sharing OMG! PS4 won't get no 3rd party support because of no DRM... seriously some of the crap people were saying was just plain stupid !

Anyway, MS took one look at the pre-order numbers & projected sales Boom! All those fanboys were left looking like F"£%65heads !

so what do they do, Oh it's the droids fault!

[Ilovetheps5]

I'm still confused by this announcement. Every time I read it, it just sounds like they are reiterating the fact that you can turn off kinect in the menus. But, it sounds like it still has to be plugged in. I could be wrong, but that's what it sounds like to me in the message to IGN.

Could someone please tell me if I am wrong with this interpretation of the quote?

[OC_MurphysLaw]

It will function if kinect is unplugged.

[MasterCornholio]

You have a link for that because its new information for me.

Motorola RAZR i

[OC_MurphysLaw]

In the IGN ask anything.... Marc Whitten responds to a question about what if it breaks...

http://m.ign.com/articles/2...

"That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in,"

[Evilsnuggle]

Im sorry to tell XBOTS the truth MicroSCAM is in full panic mode. PS4 is all sold out even game bundles. And xbone has not sold out there pre-orders M$ would you not make all these 180 if xbone anywhere close to selling out that pre orders .

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I am happy for you that you have your ps4 preordered. I hope you enjoy it.

[plmkoh]

Perhaps the newest piece of news revealed by the article is

"Any functionality that relies on voice...won't work...That functionality includes Skype..."

Basically says if you turn off Kinect from the menu, you can't use Skype even if you just want to voice chat via your headset.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Video conferencing and screen sharing won't work not simple voice chat via headset.

[Jeff257]

Except they said back in May that party chat and in game multiplayer chat would both be using Skype to provide better connectivity. So now from their own words Skype will not work if you turn off Kinect. Really this is just another confusing message from Microsoft. Hopefully it would still work with a headset only. But who can know based on what they have said so far. I expect someone will ask that question in a few days and their will be some clarification. But they really need to work on being more accurate in their messages so they won't have to clarify something only after they have gotten bad press.

[skydragoonity]

MS needs to sell a kinect less xboxone & lower the price of the console. Only then will it be in competition with the ps4...

[Skynetone]

There making way for a price cut

[Scatpants]

Microsoft must be getting destroyed in preorders to be changing all of their policies like this. It reeks of desperation.

[AlexanderNevermind]

Of course their desperate. Its widely reported their losing NA and if they do their toast because they stand no chance in eu and japan against sony.

[vigilante_man]

If Kinnect is really that expensive we may see a new XB1 without it for as little as $350/£275.

They are not worried about covering their losses right now - MS can afford the hit. They are going for install base. If PS4 got too far ahead it would be "Game Over".

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

And they say 'a week is a long time in politics' Microsoft's daily xbox 'planning' and briefing sessions must look like the fuhrer bunker in Downfall.
I hope someone posts one on YouTube. This is pure classic comedy material.

[SynestheticRoar]

Soon their be guess what X1 with no kinect for 399. Super backflip.

[Avernus]

The decisions MS keep making shows they're playing catchup. It's all about business, and they realize their product could / should be better or more accessible.

Forcing people to have the Kinect isn't exactly consumer friendly, and it took them this long to see that people aren't blind sheep that they thought they were. People are actually seeing a better / cheaper product (in the eyes of consumers) and MS want a piece of the pie.

Simple. No fanboy comment needed to point out the obvious. MS has no idea what gamers want, and it's evident with the amount of things they continue to change. Changes for the better? Maybe, maybe not. XBOX One is losing its identity... not sure if that's a good or bad thing ;)

[Hicken]

Yeah, they may have had a clear vision for the Xbox brand's future, but it certainly didn't mesh with what the gamers of today want. Without that connection, the XB1 seems to just be... a device. For all we know, it may well end up being a toaster by the time all the changes are done and the thing actually launches.

[JohnS1313]

This is exactly why nobody should buy an Xbone. When a console is this close to release and they make this many changes it's going to be a big mess. Microsoft has no idea what gamers want anyway. If they did they would have got most of this stuff right from the start.

[FlunkinMonkey]

Funny how the MS supporters are now sighing in relief when they were previously praising the Xbox for it's 'ahead of the pack' approach to innovation with the kinect, and nearly all other 180 reversals with the One.

You guys are doing as many 180's as MS.

[CPTN MITCHELL]

@ pcbetter just because u are cursing like that tells me that u are a kid,how is xbone selling like hot cake when the ps4 is outselling it 4to1. Use your anger on microsuck and the policies they have.....