The Xbox One is a very different system now than when it was first announced, not only because it’s been beefed up, but because it is no longer the DRM machine that Microsoft envisioned.
Microsoft wasn’t expecting consumers to be as upset as their were with the original Xbox One policies, or that’s at least what Albert Penello shared when speaking to Rev3Games in a video interview. He said:
Was I surprised how negative the reaction was going to be? Yes. We were surprised at how vocal it was, we were surprised at the reaction and the assumptions that people had about what we were trying to do. So we did the famous ‘180’.
Surprisingly, such mechanics are commonplace on the PC platform where Amazon, Steam, EA Origin, and other very popular digital delivery solutions are in many cases much more successful than physical sales. These platforms utilize DRM of their own, and similar to the Xbox One they offer benefits in exchange.
As much as Microsoft wanted to bridge the gap between PC and console, the world wasn’t ready for it. Consumers are so used to being able to borrow games from friends and play single player games without an internet connection that the mere thought of losing any one of the perks of physical media is like a disruption in the space-time continuum.
Microsoft tried and failed, but don’t be surprised if it takes another swing in the future. Digital distribution is a major force in the industry, and the only thing holding it back from sheer dominance is console entertainment.
[Via]
