Microsoft just laid the hammer down!
1.) The Xbox One has to connect to the internet once every 24 hours in
order to play games. Live TV and blu-ray movies can still be viewed.
2.) The Xbox One will permit the selling of used games only at
participating retailers. Like Sony, Microsoft is leaving this up to the
publisher.
3.) You can't loan or rent games at launch, but Microsoft says they are
looking into the possibility of this.
4.) You can lend or give a game to a friend as long as they have been
on your friends list for at least 30 days and this can only be done
once.
5.) Microsoft says you are in control of what the Kinect sees and hears by
setting privacy options.
6.) Game discs are used to install the game but not to play them. Once
the game is installed you can access the game from any Xbox One
console once you log into your account.
7.) You can allow up to ten people to log into your account and play your
games from any Xbox One console.
Out of all the bad announcements, the one thing I do like is that once a game is installed, you can log into any other Xbox One console and play your games without having to have the disc. Now that being said, there are a lot of things that don't sit well with me (and many others). We can pretty much say that the Xbox One has to always be connected. In order to do all the online gaming, video chat, media streaming, etc. you have to be connected to the internet. Nobody is going to connect their Xbox One once a day and then disconnect it. What the hell would be the point in doing that? Microsoft has even said that the Xbox One was designed to be online in order to access all its potential and features. For me personally, I have high speed internet and always have my consoles connected. So this isn't a huge deal, but there are many people who don't have high speed internet or even internet at all. Those people are screwed. Or what if your internet goes down for a day or two? Or what if the Microsoft servers are down? I just don't like the fact that you have to connect or check in to play games.
I also don't like that you can lend or gift a game to a friend who has to be on your friend list at least 30 days, and that it can only be done once! That just isn't good to me. I also don't like that renting games isn't possible at launch and that Microsoft is "looking into it." So as of now that's a no go. The whole "leaving the used games up to publishers" isn't super clear either. I know Sony has stated they are leaving it up to the publishers too. Publishers are the people who are going to want to block used games so they don't loose money. So is leaving it up to them basically saying that we won't be able to play used games or that if we want to there will be an additional fee? I guess if the publishers want it that way we're going to have to or just not buy that particular game.
Microsoft has also canceled their post E3 conference media interviews. It could be that they are trying to avoid the mixed announcements and details their officials gave after the Xbox One reveal back on May 21st. Now that they dropped this info on us it may be for the best. I would think that there is going to be some tension in the air at their E3 conference on Monday (6/10/13). Sony has been pretty upfront about no DRM, not having to be online always, and used games. However, it still seems that Sony has been holding some cards back. Some people are pissed at Microsoft, some are still supporting them, and some are speculating that when everything has settled there won't be much difference between the Xbox One and PS4. I am not counting the Xbox One out, but I am disappointed with the direction Microsoft has gone. We can all hope that things will be very clear after E3 and that we will know officially how things will work. One thing is for sure. It's going to be interesting!
Written by: Alter Ego 83
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