The Xbox One did not get off on the right foot. Announcing features like 24-hour online check-in, region lock, no game lending, and DRM policies, it suffered massive fan backlash. Losing most of the pre-orders to Sony’s Playstation 4 and trying to win them back, Microsoft last month announced that it would be reversing all of its policies, famously dubbed as the “Xbox 180.” Gamers would be able to trade, lend, resell and rent games; and the Internet check-in and regional restrictions would be removed. In return, however, some of the good features of the Xbox One would be lost as well, namely the sharing of all of your digital library with up to 10 friends.
Now, a petition has been signed by gamers demanding the Xbox One they were promised at E3. As of the time this article was written, the petition had more than 6.5 K supporters. The petition, “Microsoft: Give us back the Xbox One we were promised at E3” at change.org, states that customers were uninformed of the policies that Xbox One offered and railed against it because Sony took advantage of them at the opportune moment. Here’s what it states:
This was to be the future of entertainment. A new wave of gaming where you could buy games digitally, then trade, share or sell those digital licenses. Essentially, it was Steam for Xbox. But consumers were uninformed, and railed against it, and it was taken away because Sony took advantage of consumers uncertainty.
We want this back. It can’t be all or nothing, there must be a compromise.
I believe the petition is completely valid as Microsoft’s PR surrounding Xbox One was awful, focusing only on the entertainment qualities and the upcoming games of the new console, not focusing enough on the advantages of the new policies of the console. And Sony coming out with no DRM policies and no used game restrictions on the Playstation 4 along with its $100 cheaper retail price won gamers’ hearts and pre-orders.
What do you think Microsoft should do now? Having once completely changed its policies to please the gamers, would Microsoft appear weak in front of its customers? Personally, I wish for family sharing along with no DRM or used game policies and, if that happens, it would definitely make me click that pre-order button.
Xbox One launches November 2013. Share your thoughts and views on family sharing, DRM policies, and the Xbox One.
