Microsoft surprised by 'how negative' reaction was to Xbox One DRM

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Microsoft's director of product planning Albert Penello says the firm expected controversy over its original always-online Xbox One pitch, but was surprised by "how negative" the reaction was.

"If I had to go back and wish that I could rewind time and redo one thing, that would be the one thing," he told Rev3Games, admitting flaws in the firm's messaging.

"I think with time, people have understood what we were trying to do, and in fact I'm sure you've seen it with the fans. They were saying, 'God, I wish some of this stuff would come back'," he said, likely in reference to the axed Family Sharing plan that would have allowed gamers to share all their games, digital or retail, with friends.

"People got in their minds that what we were trying to do was evil or anti-customer when, in fact, we were looking at what Steam does, we were looking at what iOS is going, we were looking where the customers were going and saying 'I think we can actually give you a better all-digital experience."

"So was I surprised that people had a reaction to it? No. I mean, we knew it was going to be a controversial decision. Was I surprised how negative the reaction was going to be? Yes," said Penello.

"We were surprised at how vocal it was, we were surprised at the reaction and the assumptions that people had about what we were trying to do. So we did the famous '180'."

But Penello insists that an all-digital future is imminent. "Nobody debates there's going to be a world, whether it's this gen, or next-gen, that discs are going to go away, it's gone away in just about every medium," he said.

"I think if anything we thought it was going to happen sooner than the customer. We took a hard stance on it.

"I hope that in some point in the future some of those cool features - some of the Family Sharing, the household sharing stuff, the games are always with you - we want to bring that stuff back."

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/428147/ms-surprised-by-how-negative-reaction-was-to-xbox-one-drm/

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"Microsoft surprised by 'how negative' reaction was to Xbox One DRM" :: Login/Create an Account :: 128 comments

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thecaniac17Posted:

ODST It wasn't just about how the reaction was to DRM, it was Microsoft's reaction to the initial reaction that pissed off everyone again.

You can't just ignore your customer's response back in May or April then continue into June through E3 as though nothing bad was ever said about the Console's DRM crap. Microsoft didn't change until after the first sales report of pre-orders, like hell if they care about the consumers.

There is absolutely nothing surprising from the negativity thanks to their PR people dancing around key questions during E3 and being rude to anyone who was on the fence about whether connection was a must at all times. They give a camera that must be plugged in at all times right before a report that says they worked in hand with the NSA.

Yeah, absolutely nothing surprising about this outrage for the past few months (sarcasm implied).


My thoughts exactly, lol. Moving to a gaming world without disks may be the future but look at it this way. On the Xbox 360 if you go under games on demand and try to buy a game you'll notice how jacked up the price is. I wanted to see how much the X-Men Origins Wolverine game was and it was $30. Found a used copy at GameStop for $8 (something like that). I'm sure that if gaming went completely digital you'd see much of the same thing, games that have been out for a couple of years and haven't seen much of a price drop. Microsoft is a greedy company and there's plenty of evidence to support that. The people can believe what they want to believe but they have to look at it from a different angle.

Scared_of_WaterPosted:

iMob Personally, I don't see why everyone freaked out. I would love to get rid of these disks. Sure, I can't play them on my friends Xbox but being honest, what friend of yours wouldn't already have the game? I just don't see why everyone is freaking out so much.


You could of played them on your friends xbox. When you downloaded your GT you would of had access to our whole game library from your friends xbox.

Dr-PonyfilePosted:

DavidDo0M
Dr-Ponyfile @DavidDo0m I am not saying that the Kinect is useless in every aspect. What I was trying to say was not a lot of poeple have embrassed the Kinect Sensor and whats the point in having to pay the extra whatever amount for the sensor and only using it once disconnecting it and letting it gather dust I udnerstand that this is an option that people have chose not to use the kinect but I still think there should be an option where you can buy the console without the Kinect and save yourself some money, but they can't as Microsoft claim it is an Important part of the infrastructure.


For the exact reason I outlined. If you merely have the option to buy the Kinect, many people won't. Game developers will know this and thus won't code neat kinect features into their games. However, since the Kinect is included in the price of the console, game developers KNOW that every Xbox One owner also owns a Kinect, meaning they will be more likely to factor in the Kinects abilities when creating their games. As more games utilize the Kinect and it's uses become more innovative. More people will start warming up to the Kinect, even those that are firmly against it. I mean, what Call of Duty fan is going to pass up the chance to "lean from cover" in game by literally leaning to the side in your chair? If you are one of those gamers, like myself, who physically leans with your controller around sharp turns in racing games, just imagine how awe inspiring it will be to have your console recognize the lean in your posture and have that movement effect your gameplay. This is just scratching the surface of what the Kinect is capable of. I was anti-Kinect myself before I realized it's potential. I believe we will soon see some truly amazing and innovative ideas coming to life through the Kinect sensor. However, this will only come to fruition if the developers start creating with the Kinect in mind, and that will only happen if they know, for certain, that we all have a Kinect. Even if you don't use it, they know you have it tucked away somewhere. Meaning they could add a feature so neat, it could make you want to dust off that Kinect sensor and give it a whirl.

Just my opinion. I for one am excited to see what new, innovative and breath taking advances the next gen consoles have in store for us. Even if that means leaving the Kinect turned on. I don't have any Federal or State secrets. I'm not a mob boss. I don't believe I am important enough for anyone to take the time to spy on me. I suffer from no delusion of grandeur. I know you never mentioned "spying" but others will, so I included that final thought.


I can understand where you are coming from regards to the Kinect with the developer and stuff there are a lot of poeple who are firmly against I for one am not firmly against it I just need to see a lot of improvements with it and I didn't meantion spying because as you stated I am not a mob boss nor do I have any secrets. Danm I live in the UK one of the most watched countries in the world covered by CCTV it just gives the "Fanboys" so to speak ammunition aginst each other.

ChromeModzPosted:

Bottom Line Is, DRM Will Always Be Anti Consumer.

ODSTPosted:

It wasn't just about how the reaction was to DRM, it was Microsoft's reaction to the initial reaction that pissed off everyone again.

You can't just ignore your customer's response back in May or April then continue into June through E3 as though nothing bad was ever said about the Console's DRM crap. Microsoft didn't change until after the first sales report of pre-orders, like hell if they care about the consumers.

There is absolutely nothing surprising from the negativity thanks to their PR people dancing around key questions during E3 and being rude to anyone who was on the fence about whether connection was a must at all times. They give a camera that must be plugged in at all times right before a report that says they worked in hand with the NSA.

Yeah, absolutely nothing surprising about this outrage for the past few months (sarcasm implied).

PesPosted:

Personally, I don't see why everyone freaked out. I would love to get rid of these disks. Sure, I can't play them on my friends Xbox but being honest, what friend of yours wouldn't already have the game? I just don't see why everyone is freaking out so much.

DavidDo0MPosted:

Dr-Ponyfile @DavidDo0m I am not saying that the Kinect is useless in every aspect. What I was trying to say was not a lot of poeple have embrassed the Kinect Sensor and whats the point in having to pay the extra whatever amount for the sensor and only using it once disconnecting it and letting it gather dust I udnerstand that this is an option that people have chose not to use the kinect but I still think there should be an option where you can buy the console without the Kinect and save yourself some money, but they can't as Microsoft claim it is an Important part of the infrastructure.


For the exact reason I outlined. If you merely have the option to buy the Kinect, many people won't. Game developers will know this and thus won't code neat kinect features into their games. However, since the Kinect is included in the price of the console, game developers KNOW that every Xbox One owner also owns a Kinect, meaning they will be more likely to factor in the Kinects abilities when creating their games. As more games utilize the Kinect and it's uses become more innovative. More people will start warming up to the Kinect, even those that are firmly against it. I mean, what Call of Duty fan is going to pass up the chance to "lean from cover" in game by literally leaning to the side in your chair? If you are one of those gamers, like myself, who physically leans with your controller around sharp turns in racing games, just imagine how awe inspiring it will be to have your console recognize the lean in your posture and have that movement effect your gameplay. This is just scratching the surface of what the Kinect is capable of. I was anti-Kinect myself before I realized it's potential. I believe we will soon see some truly amazing and innovative ideas coming to life through the Kinect sensor. However, this will only come to fruition if the developers start creating with the Kinect in mind, and that will only happen if they know, for certain, that we all have a Kinect. Even if you don't use it, they know you have it tucked away somewhere. Meaning they could add a feature so neat, it could make you want to dust off that Kinect sensor and give it a whirl.

Just my opinion. I for one am excited to see what new, innovative and breath taking advances the next gen consoles have in store for us. Even if that means leaving the Kinect turned on. I don't have any Federal or State secrets. I'm not a mob boss. I don't believe I am important enough for anyone to take the time to spy on me. I suffer from no delusion of grandeur. I know you never mentioned "spying" but others will, so I included that final thought.

BotchPosted:

Why is everyone even mad at the developers? The console hasn't even been released yet :/

Dr-PonyfilePosted:

Graceland This would of happened but kids these days gotta ***** and cry about ****.


Now this comment is not really needed. It wasn't just "Kids" a lot of core gamers did not like the idea and as for the cry about it. No people where expressing their opinions about it and complaining its called Freedom of Speech.

Slade_WilsonPosted:

This would of happened but kids these days gotta bitch and cry about shit.


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