Microsoft revises Xbox One DRM policies

After facing considerable backlash from the media and gamers alike, Microsoft have made a U-turn on their DRM policies for the Xbox One. In a blog post released yesterday, Don Mattrick, President, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, detailed the changes that have been made in the new policy.

First of all, Microsoft has shunned the online check compulsion that was previously enforced on Xbox One gamers. The console was previously designed to connect online every 24 hours, which meant you couldn’t play offline. That limitation has now been removed, which means after a one time check you no longer have to stay connected to the internet to play the game.

The second change is the way you share games. Previously, sharing a game involved simply handing the disc over to someone but Microsoft made sure you couldn’t do that with some new draconian policies for the Xbox One. Now, however, you can share your games as much as you like, just as you would with the Xbox 360, except for games downloaded online for obvious reasons. Games are also region-free now so they can be played on any Xbox One, anywhere. Again, just like on the Xbox 360.

Microsoft’s sudden change of stance is amusing, if not surprising. After facing the brunt over the last month the company would have had to be stupid to go on with their previous policies, at least if they intended to stay in the business. One can’t help but wonder if these changes would have been made had Sony decided to play ball with Microsoft and implement similar restrictions instead of, you know, actually thinking in the interests of the gamers. Regardless of the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, the changes are welcome and makes the Xbox One a viable gaming console again.

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