Xbox One-80: Microsoft reverses decisions on DRM and used games

A lot of people were quick to complain about the Xbox One and it’s Always-On DRM requirements and game sharing restrictions, but it looks like the big wigs in Microsoft have had a change of heart after making some fresh announcements.

You talked, they listened. That’s according to President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, Don Mattrick, which is actually a little ironic seeing as only the other week he said people with no internet and people who wouldn’t be able to play an Always-On DRM device should buy an Xbox 360. Check it out here. Don released a statement on the Xbox.com website yesterday evening. You can read the statement in full over here, but just in case you can’t access the Xbox.com site (there’s been a lot of traffic for obvious reasons) here are the important bits:

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24-hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.
• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

It’s certainly good news for gaming fans, however, you can’t help but feel like the damage is already done. We’ll have to wait and see when the next-gen consoles come out at the end of the year.