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[Durante]

Respect for Eurogamer. Let's see who else doesn't bend over too easily.

It would be interesting to get to the bottom of this, but we'll probably never know.

Actually, CBoaT confirmed that MS backed down from "always-online" to "online every 24 hours" because of the Orth fallout. So we pretty much do know.

 

[Ce-Lin]

This is an amazingly well-written piece, which is getting linked on my Facebook.

same here, I'm sure some of my friends who rarely visit gaming sites will "appreciate" this piece... at least it's some kind of wake-up call.

 

[Toki767]

Tell me when I can buy 3-4 copies of a game to give to friends for $60 on the Xbox One like I can with Steam. Then people arguing that this DRM is just like Steam might have a valid argument.

 

[strata8]

Way to miss the point.

Xbox One is largely a digital platform, not a physical one. In that way it's more similar to Steam than the 360/PS3 ever was. So I don't really see what "point" you were trying to make.

 

[ReaperXL7]

Well, honestly, I think its somewhat reasonable for them to want a cut because they basically lose potential sales with every used game purchase. MS's setup just takes it way too far.

A used game sale does not equal someone who would have bought the game new. I have purchased many games used becquse I had no idea if I would enjoy the game. I ended up liking it, so I bought the sequels new, or I purchased the DLC. That would not happen anymore, because I would be even more cautious about what I buy. If anything I should thank them, they will be cutting my spending on games down considerably.

I hope developers of new, and experimental ips are ready, because I feel their games will be overlooked even more for the "safer" options like proven franchises, or popular sequels when people can no longer return, or sell them. Remember how badly Mirrors edge did? It will only get worse.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Well, if you read between the lines it actually checks online every hour (to verify/block the friends visiting you) but blocks the games for the owner/primary accounts just after 24 hours.

That doesn't make any sense.

 

[Freshmaker]

If the xbox was digital only, would people be mad still about no used games etc?

GameStop would torpedo that console so hard.

 

[Eusis]

Respect for Eurogamer. Let's see who else doesn't bend over too easily.

Actually, CBoaT confirmed that MS backed down from "always-online" to "online every 24 hours" because of the Orth fallout. So we pretty much do know.

It really is amazing how completely audacious they've been. Makes me kind of wish that didn't happen just to see if some of the current defenders wouldn't be.

Then again 24 hours really isn't THAT much better.

 

[Windom Earle]

Respect for Eurogamer. Let's see who else doesn't bend over too easily.

Actually, CBoaT confirmed that MS backed down from "always-online" to "online every 24 hours" because of the Orth fallout. So we pretty much do know.

Wow, thanks for the update on that. MS, wtf.

 

[ReaperXL7]

GameStop would torpedo that console so hard.

they are currently selling IOS devices, tablets, and sold the PSP go. They are not against digital only.

 

[maquiladora]

Actually, CBoaT confirmed that MS backed down from "always-online" to "online every 24 hours" because of the Orth fallout. So we pretty much do know.

Ah, I didn't know CBOAT confirmed that. I'm guessing it was every 60 mins, pre-Orth.

 

[DGRE]

Yeah, I can guess. Microsoft releases a patch that disables the DRM, allowing games to be played without activation. Just like Valve has said they will do with Steam.

Do you really think they'd effectively brick millions of consoles just because the servers are "no longer cost-effective"?

What? Why not? Everything else they are doing is anti-consumer.

 

[Gen X]

It would be very interesting if a few big gaming websites actually refused to review Xbone games outright based on this information and if it rings true come launch day.

 

[patapuf]

It's certainly different from country to country but no, it's still incorrect.
CD keys weren't associated with anyone as there was no online activation involved and you needed the dics to play the game so you couldn't continue to use the game if you sold it. There was absolutely no problem to sell games, trade them, rent them, lend them to friends etc
And I rented a lot of PC games when my none of my friends had the game. It's simply not true, that you never could rent PC games.

You needed the Key for online gaming and cracking the game to run without a disk is the easiest thing in the world. It's even legal in a lot of countries.

Also, one could sell the game and continue to use the online profile effectively locking out the new buyer from MP gaming.

 

[KingSnake]

That doesn't make any sense.

With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library.

Of course, it could be the case that depending on who is logged in they are running different timers locally. But the simplest solution would be to check with the authentication servers hourly (if not often).

 

[Eusis]

Ah, I didn't know CBOAT confirmed that. I'm guessing it was every 60 mins, pre-Orth.

Or it was every 3 minutes like on the dev kits.

Come to think of it I wonder if this could've been a casualty of the Microsoft development style? Breaking everyone off into separate groups, not reporting to your direct higher ups but to tell them you're on a SECRET PROJECT, and just trying to keep from too much communication. I'm seriously thinking their current products are a direct casualty: they don't do enough proper research, they do their work with minimal input... by the time anyone knows and can comment perhaps it's too late, perhaps in a more open format the X1 wouldn't have any of this because it'd endanger expansion into emerging markets, or the TV focus would've been changed to more of a TV companion and being a comprehensive streaming platform. If this fails along with other Microsoft products I kind of expect an overhaul in how they approach development.

 

[Freshmaker]

they are currently selling IOS devices, tablets, and sold the PSP go. They are not against digital only.

They are reselling used iPads etc. They make nothing off software. They have nothing to offer PC gamers outside of Steam gift cards.

So they'd basically be selling a box designed to shunt away all their business to MS for a razor thin profit margin.

I really don't see the business sense of actively selling a Trojan horse like such a would be. That's likely why MS is still offering these fake physical games at retail in the first place. This is all just a means to cut retailers a slice of the pie so they don't reject it outright.

 

[strata8]

What? Why not? Everything else they are doing is anti-consumer.

There's a huge difference between what they're doing now (which does actually have some - if shaky - reasoning behind it) and disabling an entire generation of consoles at no benefit to themselves or anyone else.

 

[iMerc]

this news is definitely a major downer for the xb1, however IF there are games that i can't resist that can only be played on xb1, then i'll still be buying the system for sure.

For me it always comes down to the games available.

it's time for all you gamers to put your money where your mouth is... if you're not ok with their new policies, vote with your wallets; don't buy their systems. send them that msg.

it's easy to sit on an internet msg-board declaring your defiance about being 'done with ms', however when push comes to shove you end up buying their product anyway. your're defeating your own purpose.

for those who act in this manner, do you know what that tells corporations like ms? it tells them they can continue to incorporate these strategies, because aside from complaining like a baby on an internet msg board, nobody really does anything about it.
so they'll continue to develop these policies.

if you're that offended by their new strategy, then stick to your guns.
don't be one of those 'all talk' types.

for those who are fine with this strategy, there will be great games to look forward to playing.

 

[Lé Blade Runner]

I'm extremely OK with Steam, I want a digital future, I just want a good one. Microsoft's goal is to make sure they have every benefit of both digital and physical, with NONE of the boons to the consumer.

I want Valve's focus and ideals, and I want things run like they run it. I want a fleshed out, community driven games service, and Xbox doesn't really seem like they're about that. Every improvement seemed to go towards media, and that's cool, but it seems to have cannibalized the games portion.

Then, I want good treatment and pricing, and this is where Valve shines most. Steamworks, which is highly maintained itself and decentralized in a manner that allows publishers the option of completely cutting Valve out of the equation just to breed competition and better serve the customers. This is why you had dudes like Tony from Amazon running around, cutting deals with the pubs with no middle man.

With all this scuffle over high console prices, I'll still be leaning back while Steam, GMG, GG, Amazon, etc, etc, all try to bash each others brains in to deliver me deals year round. There's a reason it feels like there's some big sale or bargain going on perpetually on PC games: there is. Even on day one titles, for the past year, you've been able to easily pull them down at 50-60%+ off the past year or so ever since all this cutthroat business started taking place.

And of course, the final kicker, when I buy a PC game, there will always be some way to run it on my box. This is one of my most major reasons for being more comfortable with digital on the PC platform over consoles.

This is so well put that I had to quote it wholesale. I agree 100%. Steam is as much a business-model as Microsoft's Xbox Live is, but they are more consumer-friendly and superbly community-oriented. Gabe Newell is an avid gamer and a business-man, and he isn't in this just for the profit.

I am absolutely certain that I'm not going to buy an Xbox One, ever. PS4 is still a question-mark, but we'll see after E3.

 

[RobbieH]

Respect for Eurogamer. Let's see who else doesn't bend over too easily.

Actually, CBoaT confirmed that MS backed down from "always-online" to "online every 24 hours" because of the Orth fallout. So we pretty much do know.

It's the usual suspects. Kotaku, Jim Sterling, Marcus Beer, Klepek, John Walker.

 

[Ce-Lin]

lol someone during a sports radio show I'm listening to (Football, F1 and Tennis) said hey I'm reading about the new Xbox needing Internet to play (reading GAF at work, never gets old) and the other guy replied well I only play Call of Duty online so no big deal, I think I must reflect on that, of course people buying the Xbox One... the CoD crow... they need the Internet to play, they couldn't care less about it being always online or calling home every 2 days.

 

[mysteriousmage09]

Good to see them saying this is a bunch of bullshit.

 

[Sakujou]

finally.

i cant believe most of the gaming sites are bought by MS.

also i cant believe that even some gamers are arguing for microsofts favor.

i hope those guys who are constantly change all the good stuff into some cashmilking shit will get what they deserve.

read so much bullshit the last few weeks arguing why used games and always on will benefit us....

 

[Dash Kappei]

nvm

 

[Igo]

Way to miss the point.

Actually, when stuff like steamworks/gfwl end up tying your physical game to a digital account it's pretty much the same thing. Too many publishers do this shit and it's killing my willingness to purchase PC games.

 

[DGRE]

There's a huge difference between what they're doing now (which does actually have some - if shaky - reasoning behind it) and disabling an entire generation of consoles at no benefit to themselves or anyone else.

No benefit to themselves? Keeping the servers running would only continue to cost them. Being able to disable them would force gamers onto the next generation. Sounds beneficial for them.

 

[Draft]

Why is no one bashing Steam, they are doing the same thing for years.

Because people hate Microsoft and love Valve.

 

[mclem]

But at purchase you are buying the license to play them on your machine... not to own them. This is how it's always worked with digital content on consoles.

That doesn't mean it's right. On consoles or on PC. I see little reason to treat physical content as different from digital content in terms of users' rights with it.

 

[Krilekk]

Excellent, good on eurogamer for not playing along with this shit.

But they know just as well that nothing will stop it from happening on consoles. ITunes, Steam, Appstore, there's no way around the digital only future. The only reason X1 still has a disk drive is so retailers are willing to sell the console. Everything about X1 says they want to be digital only NOW. The 24 hour check is probably due to piracy. They cannot use their banhammer on offline consoles so this is their solution.

 

[burnfout]

 

[Fistwell]

So what's polygon got to say about all this? "awesome, more please"?

 

[kevcampbell]

Eurogamer is massive in the UK i am pretty sure of it so this could hurt MS for sure, not that nobody would notice it hurting MS but surely articles like this will not help MS sell more xbox ones thats for sure

 

[Ashes]

Hey, smiling is good for you.

There is no need to be upset. Don't buy the product. If a significant amount of the core do not buy the product, core developers will chase ghosts in an empty room. Publishers will fire core developers not delivering sales. And platform holders will have fire sales. And everything will be all right in the world.

But let's face it. They've won already. Millions and millions of people pay for xbox live gold. And millions and millions of people will buy the xbox one console going forward. I read the mainstream press, and none of this is getting out, all that much.

This will be old news at next year's E3. The longer it goes on, the more desensitised we will be, and the more okay we will be with it. People don't like change, but we will adjust and 'take it' just as the kotaku article said.

And it is like the ripple effect. People won't suddenly stop buying Halo. And friends will want to play with friends on xbox live gold. Microsoft just need to wait it out. At least that is what I suspect is being said in meetings.

Of course, there are cautionary tales. The Gamecube happened. And the Wiiu is happening. Heck Sony was a clear number one last generation, and they are 1 of 3 now. And I don't see how any of this is getting more of the core to 'jump in', so growth is out of the window for now [where the core is concerned], and the smart shareholders with their ears to the ground, will know about the grass roots movement - The gaming media rejection, as well as the core fanbase rejection.

That IGN survey. The youtube backlash. The twitter campaign. The gaming media editorials. They add up. Welcome to the social networking universe, Microsoft. Smile, why don't you?

 

[ramparter]

In the end, we will smile but they (MS) won't.

 

[Clunker]

Pretty much.

You're paying for permission to play a game for up to 24 hours, with the indefinite promise of refreshed permission at each interval. Your resell rights are either gone or restricted.

Between those two things, the concept of ownership is gone.

You know, I've been disgusted with Microsoft's whole approach to the Xbone, and I've thought all of their actions have been terrible since the rumors began flying ... This is one of the most succinct, simple, and depressing summaries of the situation.

 

[Simply Sami]

Not being a prick.

But why aren't the American press like this? I think most the European press are slating Microsoft rightly for this. Where as American press are kissing their ass still.

 

[Facism]

gets tiring reading the same old

"BU BU STEAM"
"BU BU I DON'T BUY USED"
"BU BU MY INTERNET IS ON ALL THE TIME"
"BU BU THIS DOESN'T AFFECT ME SO I'M OK WITH IT"
"BU BU I DON'T MIND REDUCTIONS IN MY RIGHTS"

 

[Fistwell]

People won't suddenly stop buying Halo.

And yet they suddenly stopped buying god of war and gears. Series fatigue happens.

 

[Cyborg]

Dear Microsoft,

If I fcking pay for a game, its mine! I decide what I do with that game.

Do I
1. sell it
2. borrow it to a friend
3. Trow it away

Its MY fcking choice! I paid for that product.
Do you expect used-cars dealers to do the same? Yeah you can start the fcking used-car if you buy it at an select dealer or borrow it to a friend if hes has the same bloodtype!

This policy is insane!!!!!!!!

 

[OuiOuiBa]

No benefit to themselves? Keeping the servers running would only continue to cost them. Being able to disable them would force gamers onto the next generation. Sounds beneficial for them.

Yep. If a game ends up not being available anymore, it may be transferrable to next-gen for a fee or be bought once again altogether on a new platform. That is a huge benefit for publishers / platform holders.

 

[Ashes]

And yet they suddenly stopped buying god of war and gears. Series fatigue happens.

And more besides. As I said, plenty of cautionary tales.

 

[j0hnny_385]

Dear Microsoft,

If I fcking pay for a game, its mine! I decide what I do with that game.

Do I
1. sell it
2. borrow it to a friend
3. Trow it away

Its MY fcking choice! I paid for that product.
Do you expect used-cars dealers to do the same? Yeah you can start the fcking used-car if you buy it at an select dealer or borrow it to a friend if hes has the same bloodtype!

This policy is insane!!!!!!!!

You and your silly little first sale doctrine. You don't own the game. You own a LICENSE to play the game. Duuuhhh.... #dealwithit

 

[Lé Blade Runner]

Hey, smiling is good for you.

There is no need to be upset. Don't buy the product. If a significant amount of the core do not buy the product, core developers will chase ghosts in an empty room. Publishers will fire core developers not delivering sales. And platform holders will have fire sales. And everything will be all right in the world.

But let's face it. They've won already. Millions and millions of people pay for xbox live gold. And millions and millions of people will buy the xbox one console going forward. I read the mainstream press, and none of this is getting out, all that much.

This will be old news at next year's E3. The longer it goes on, the more desensitised we will be, and the more okay we will be with it. People don't like change, but we will adjust and 'take it' just as the kotaku article said.

And it is like the ripple effect. People won't suddenly stop buying Halo. And friends will want to play with friends on xbox live gold. Microsoft just need to wait it out. At least that is what I suspect is being said in meetings.

Of course, there are cautionary tales. The Gamecube happened. And the Wiiu is happening. Heck Sony was a clear number one last generation, and they are 1 of 3 now. And I don't see how any of this is getting more of the core to 'jump in', so growth is out of the window for now [where the core is concerned], and the smart shareholders with their ears to the ground, will know about the grass roots movement - The gaming media rejection, as well as the core fanbase rejection.

That IGN survey. The youtube backlash. The twitter campaign. The gaming media editorials. They add up. Welcome to the social networking universe, Microsoft. Smile, why don't you?

This is also a very good post. I think this has been Microsoft's long-term plan all along: if the Xbox Live is ( and continues to be ) a success, we can slowly add up stuff that gives us more and more control over the consumer, and the consumer will be so entangled in our service that he or she will just bite it.

I did most of my gaming on Xbox 360 this past generation. I've racked up what I would consider a decent amount of gamerscore ( over 30,000 ), and most of my friends have Xbox Live Gold. But I'm not bitter or clingy, and I'm ready to move on. And so, by the way, are my friends. Most of us are waiting to see what the PS4 has to offer. Only two of my 15 real-life friends on Xbox Live will continue to support the brand.

 

[Monty Mole]

.

Edit:

And to all Steam and iTunes and Google Play comparisons.
How often do you buy $60 games on those platforms?

If MS sells the next Halo for $9.99 then of course this is fine and dandy.

What new big budget AAA game ever releases at $9.99 on Steam? Also you'll find plenty of good deals on XB1 games at retail just like you do with any other console.

 

[VVV Mars VG]

Lots of people reading this and then saying that they are opting for a PS4 instead. I wouldn't mind seeing the PS4 comparison because by and large many of these same questions still haven't been officially answered.

 

[Steroyd]

Looks like someone isn't getting a 1 on 1 interview with Microsoft.

So this is come down to at what price the publishers set the game to be, not if the game it self can be traded or not?
If XBOX ONE game can be bought at 20 USD like STEAM, would it be receives the same backlash?

Yes and no.

It'd be one of the advantages that would be accepted for the strict rules, but that merely glosses over the other stuff that your console can still get bricked if the servers on Microsoft's end crash, Sim City wasn't acceptable on PC, it'd be an amazing shitstorm if it happened on a console.

 

[Woo-Fu]

Hey Brad, is Eurogamer full of frothing Sony fans too?

 

[Jburton]

Why is no one bashing Steam, they are doing the same thing for years.

Because you don't pay anywhere near the same prices for games on Steam, they are not restricted to one box, they do not charge for online, they have excellent sales that mean you can buy AAA games for example much cheaper than you can used games at GameStop.


Some quick examples why.

 

[j0hnny_385]

What new big budget AAA game ever releases at $9.99 on Steam?

Brand new Steam games are $60 (or 59.99EUR here where I live). Guess what? I hate that. Luckily, sites like GMG offer me the ability to get those games for 20-35% off day one (and I rarely buy brand new games day one). I haven't seen that for MS or Sony this gen and I doubt this will be available on next gen.
Fun fact: 99% of those games go on massive 50-75 (sometimes even higher) SALES at a later date. Meanwhile, XBL GoD games are usually 50-60 EUR fixed, because apparently, we pay for the convenience (!?!?!)

Also you'll find plenty of good deals on XB1 games at retail just like you do with any other console.

We're talking about digital releases, not retail. I seriously doubt we'll see "Steam-like" sales on XBL or PSN.