Wednesday, Microsoft released an update on their Xbox One website regarding said system. The heat the company took for it's DRM, constant net connection, 24 hour check ins and blocking of used games sent the message loud and clear that the Xbox One was a console that few had any interest in. Much to gamers surprise, Microsoft caved and threw all that nonsense out the window. While it made me proud to see gamers the world over showing Microsoft that they were not going to put up with such restrictive features, I've come to realize that the Xbox One is not in the clear. Far from it, in fact.
Many gamers are still looking at Microsoft with their arms folded and scowled faces. Believe it or not, I think that's perfectly understandable. Some of you may be asking "Why?" I mean, they gave us what we wanted, a next gen console with no DRM. Used and borrowed games have life on the Xbox One. What's the reason to still be up in arms? The fact that Microsoft was willing to run gamers down with a steamroller and implement such limiting features to begin with, that's why.
I'm as happy as the next guy that the Xbox One won't block used games and you don't need a constant connection just to play Forza Motorsport 5. If the net connection gets faulty, you won't have to worry about your game being interrupted and having to resort to reruns of the Golden Girls to pass the time (not that there's anything wrong with that). But for a lot of gamers, removing the things that made the Xbox a raw deal isn't enough to welcome Microsoft back with open arms. Make no mistake, Microsoft got rid of the things that made us loath the Xbox One because we didn't leave them with any choice. There's the saying, you always have a choice, but let's be real here. Microsoft was screwed. Had they stuck to their guns, they would have gotten slaughtered in the coming console war. Sony was considering doing the exact same things with the PS4 that Microsoft was doing before they backed out. But since Microsoft was foolish enough to charge full steam ahead, they came out looking like Cuban cigar-smoking suits, counting their money (which they probably are) while Sony looks like saints that truly cares about what the gamers want. It's the fact that Microsoft was so eager to blow that huge puff of smoke in the face of gamers while looking so smug that has gamers still keeping their backs turned on the Xbox One. For a lot of gamers, the damage is done.
Then there's the Kinect, which is still required and is on at all times. The Kinect is more than likely the reason the Xbox One is $499, which makes it the most costly of all three next gen consoles. Go with Sony or Nintendo or both and you get cheaper systems that aren't always spying on you.
Again, I'm glad Microsoft gave gamers what they wanted but at the same time, I can see why a lot of gamers still have their noses turned up at them. If Microsoft was willing to go such a disastrous route in the first place, what's to stop them from doing something similar or worse down the road?
I felt the pissing and moaning over the DRM stuff is useless. Microsoft was just acting a head of its time. Eventually, all console gaming will be the way Microsoft was going to do it. PS4 was just trying to cash in. Now that Microsoft backed off, it's back to the pure core of console gaming; the exclusive games, and by the looks of E3, XBoxOne has a way better line up.
ReplyDeleteBut everything will eventually work like Steam any way. Microsoft will do it. Sony will do it.
Most certainly didn't feel the DRM was useless. I think the majority of console gamers aren't ready to make that move or even have the desire to make that move.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty simple: If you're going to have things be like Steam, why not just get a PC and actually use Steam.
ReplyDeleteDoing that for a console just isn't going to fly at this time.
Steam also has an offline mode, wheras Micro had their 24 hour check-up.