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[dmr87]

Not that big of a deal, but news nontheless.

One of the first things we did was to try and run our custom HDTVTest test pattern disc on the machine, but we discovered that the Xbox One does not play Blu-ray movie (BDMV) content from recordable BD-R discs. We tried both single and dual layer discs of various brands and types to rule out media incompatibility, and none would play. This is not the fault of the drive, but is a designed-in software limitation – one of the stringent DRM policies that apparently has made it into the finished product. Microsoft’s own support site mentions that:

The Blu-ray player on the Xbox One console only supports mastered Blu-ray discs and DVDs.

We don’t intend on paying to have 1000 copies of our internal test pattern disc professionally replicated just to get past this silly lockout system, but it is nice to know that Microsoft are so concerned about our test patterns being illegally copied without our permission that even we are not allowed to view them. As a result, we had to find content on store-bought films that we could use to assess the performance, and fortunately we also had the excellent Spears & Munsil v2 Blu-ray Disc with its multitude of tests.

Contrary to the official suggestion, the Xbox One does play DVD-Rs.

This also means that home-produced Blu-ray Discs – wedding videos recorded to BD-R, for example – will not play (although admittedly this content is rarer now since most home-produced content is online). Want to calibrate your HDTV and all-in-one media playing console using a burned copy of the freely downloadable AVS HD 709 disc? You’re out of luck.

Most seriously of all, if independent studios ever release niche “Burn on Demand” content on Blu-ray recordables (such as Warner Home Video are doing now on DVD via their Warner Archive series for niche content that they deem not profitable to manufacture the traditional way), the current iteration of the Xbox One will not be able to play this legitimately purchased content. Newsflash, Microsoft: the people who are ripping and illegally copying Blu-ray movies are generally too cheap to pay for blank discs and Blu-ray burners anyway, so are pirating via downloads. (We did try copying our patterns to a USB memory stick, but the Xbox One can’t currently play video from these, either).

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/xbox-recordable-201311293478.htm

 

[Ouren]

oh microsoft, never change

 

[gkryhewy]

I had actually forgotten until now that BD-R was a thing.

 

[Nerdkiller]

I can only assume that the same can be said about BD-RE (re-recordable BD), right?

 

[NobleGundam]

oh microsoft, never change

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

 

[dark_chris]

Console returned

 

[Iacobellis]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

Doubt it. There will always be a way.

 

[Ethelwulf]

oh microsoft, never change

Always charge?

 

[CambriaRising]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

Heh, hardly.

 

[H_Prestige]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

No it doesn't.

 

[Kumubou]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

If it gets to that point, it's not going to prevent a goddamn thing. If the Blu-ray drive is compromised, there's nothing stopping it from reporting falsified media flag information. Never mind if the system internals themselves get hacked and the check is just completely removed. It's just another instance where the only people getting hurt by DRM are legitimate customers.

 

[Respawn]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

You wish

 

[smr00]

If this was the early 00's where i backed up my movies on disc i would be kind of upset i guess? But i backup all my blu-rays digitally on external drives and those drives are on my WDTV set top box.

I guess for people who pirate blu-rays or backup on disc for some crazy reason this is a bummer.

 

[Storm360]

This sucks, two of my PC's have Blu-ray drives and stuff like the footage from vacations etc has been burned on the BD-Rs before giving it to family members


This doesn't effect piracy of games at all tbh, I don't even think we will see pirated burned games, they'll all be hacked to read off the hard drive or something instead.

 

[batman2million]

Can the PS4 read them? or the 3?

 

[Storm360]

Can the PS4 read them? or the 3?

3 does, I haven't tried the 4 but I assume so.

 

[LittleJohnny]

This is the first version of the Blu-ray app, no? I would hope an update would address this, that is if enough interest for BD-R playback arrises.

Question, does XBO support AVCHD playback? probably not at this point, otherwise BD-R playback is absolutely needed.

 

[dmr87]

Strange thing is that Microsoft says: 'only supports mastered Blu-ray discs and DVDs', yet DVD-Rs still works.

 

[Rich!]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

I guess USB and HDD loaders don't exist.

If the XBone is cracked, BR R discs would never be used anyway. Look at the Wii - USB loaders are used instead.

 

[MOPP 4]

Wouldn't surprise me if Sony did the same. Any official word if PS4 can read it?

 

[entremet]

Recordable BR-D are so ultra niche, this isn't anything big.

Piracy was big on the 360, so I'm guessing they're being super paranoid.

 

[liquidtmd]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

Since piracy on Xbone is only hypothetical at this stage, whose to say potential custom firmware won't allow ripped games playable via USB HDD

EDIT: beaten like the Wii's security team 7 years on the trot

 

[GameAddict411]

What about the PS4? i remember that the PS3 could.

 

[dragonelite]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

Nah Microsoft pretty much has to offer external hdd support if they dont sony will.
No easier way to put data on a hdd if its external.

 

[StalkerUKCG]

I guess USB and HDD loaders don't exist.

If the XBone is cracked, BR R discs would never be used anyway. Look at the Wii - USB loaders are used instead.

USB and HDD loaders are very different from flashed drive firmware.

The 360 Piracy scene went years without USB or HDD loaders. The vast majority still does.

Flashing custom firmware to the drive to skip the authentification check is a much simpler process than getting the console to run unsigned code.

While this wont fully prevent piracy the fact that it seems to be at a software level independant of the drive firmware means it's put a dent in piracy techniques.

 

[Zombie James]

What about the PS4? i remember that the PS3 could.

http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps4/videos/videodisc.html

 

[satam55]

Can the PS4 read them? or the 3?

3 does, I haven't tried the 4 but I assume so.

This is the first version of the Blu-ray app, no? I would hope an update would address this, that is if enough interest for BD-R playback arrises.

Question, does XBO support AVCHD playback? probably not at this point, otherwise BD-R playback is absolutely needed.

Wouldn't surprise me if Sony did the same. Any official word if PS4 can read it?

What about the PS4? i remember that the PS3 could.

Supported disc formats on PS4:

http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps4/videos/videodisc.html

 

[jett]

How strange.

 

[KarmaCow]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

It's like adding a 1 to your password to make it more secure.

 

[Gen X]

They make discs in the shape of hearts/cards/stars?

 

[Monty Mole]

It's one way of getting around any potential piracy loopholes

Spoiler

until the hacked drive firmware releases

.

 

[clem84]

Doubt it. There will always be a way.

Of course there will be a way but it just makes it harder for regular Joe to pirate games.

 

[dazzlerazzle]

although admittedly this content is rarer now since most home-produced content is online)

REALLY? I can't remember when was the last time I've uploaded my homemade sex tape to youtube :<

 

[Miles Quaritch]

REALLY? I can't remember when was the last time I've uploaded my homemade sex tape to youtube :<

You burn your homemade sex tapes to BR?

...

I use memory sticks, much more convenient...

 

[M3d10n]

You burn your homemade sex tapes to BR?

...

I use memory sticks, much more convenient...

It won't play those either. Maybe if you upload them into SkyDrive...

 

[NobleGundam]

Doubt it. There will always be a way.

Heh, hardly.

No it doesn't.

If it gets to that point, it's not going to prevent a goddamn thing. If the Blu-ray drive is compromised, there's nothing stopping it from reporting falsified media flag information. Never mind if the system internals themselves get hacked and the check is just completely removed. It's just another instance where the only people getting hurt by DRM are legitimate customers.

You wish

I guess USB and HDD loaders don't exist.

If the XBone is cracked, BR R discs would never be used anyway. Look at the Wii - USB loaders are used instead.

Since piracy on Xbone is only hypothetical at this stage, whose to say potential custom firmware won't allow ripped games playable via USB HDD

EDIT: beaten like the Wii's security team 7 years on the trot

Nah Microsoft pretty much has to offer external hdd support if they dont sony will.
No easier way to put data on a hdd if its external.

It's like adding a 1 to your password to make it more secure.

In due time anything digital can be hacked.
Im just saying the xb1 drm prevents piracy.
But how long will it last we just have to wait.

 

[liquidtmd]

REALLY? I can't remember when was the last time I've uploaded my homemade sex tape to youtube :<

Just do it with Kinect on, Xbone got you covered

 

[H_Prestige]

In due time anything digital can be hacked.
Im just saying the xb1 drm prevents piracy.
But how long will it last we just have to wait.

The ps3 runs BD-R from day one, but I don't see people running burned ps3 games. The OS had to be hacked for that to become a possibility.

This DRM only hurts legit users. It's not adding any extra hoops for pirates.

 

[hokagespit]

REALLY? I can't remember when was the last time I've uploaded my homemade sex tape to youtube :<

You burn your homemade sex tapes to BR?

...

I use memory sticks, much more convenient...

usb drives then i hide them in the case of my oldschool giant 500gb external.

no one on gaf can come to my house now

 

[coldfoot]

?

It's smart. Prevents pirated games playing on the Xb1.

Not even close, PS3 plays BD-R's yet no one has been able to hack the Blu-ray drive to this day. PS3 pirates instead hack the firmware (thanks to Sony's broken RNG) and play games off of HDD.