Gamers scored a massive victory, Wednesday, when Microsoft abruptly gave in to the growing outcry over the Xbox One DRM system and announced that neither daily check-ins or an Internet connection would be required to play games on the next-generation console.
The company said its decision was a direct result of the huge uproar created by gamers, so if you were one of the many who took to the message boards or sent in an angry email to Microsoft, you can officially give yourself a pat on the back.
"You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world. So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One," said Don Mattrick, president of interactive entertainment business for Microsoft in an Xbox Wire post.
After months of speculation, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One in May and confirmed that the worst rumors about DRM protections were largely true: daily check-ins and an Internet connection would be required to play games and users' freedom to trade-in, sell or even lend games to their friends would be severely curtailed.
It did not take the company very long to relent.
"After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again," Mattrick said. "There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.... There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360."
In addition to widespread complaints from the gaming community, Sony was also quick to criticize the Xbox One for its now-mothballed DRM system, pointing out that the PlayStation 4 had no such features and cost $100 less.
