Xbox One's online DRM "could have been fine", says Xbox co-creator

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The man who led development on the very first Xbox console has chimed in on the Xbox One's past and present fortunes, observing that the console's original online policies might have been workable, had Microsoft "fixed" them rather than dropping the whole scheme.

"I think the digital distribution/DRM thing could have been fine if they had just used Steam as their model," former vice president of game publishing Ed Fries commented in an AMA last week. "But they proposed something that wasn't like Steam and wasn't good for their customers.

"Then when people complained they completely got rid of it instead of fixing it to be what people want. Hopefully now that they have more time they will fix that mess."

Many players and industry figures welcomed the policy change, but others were critical. "This sensible decision will help to lance the boil of criticism that Microsoft has received," observed TIGA's Richard Wilson as part of a roundtable conversation with OXM.

BAFTA games chair Harvey Elliott was less pleased, commenting that "I'm disappointed that the digital download features like game sharing and lending to your friends are being dropped - it's not completely clear why this couldn't co-exist with the removal of online DRM for physical media, and [the features] would help Microsoft lead how gamers manage their digital content."

According to Epic Games man Cliff Bleszinski, the policy might have survived had Microsoft "handled" the backlash better. "Microsoft tried to and ultimately couldn't have it both ways," he wrote. "You can't still have discs and then expect everyone to embrace digital. And, fundamentally, if you take something away that a consumer has been used to without some seriously smooth handling they're naturally going to get upset."

Where do you stand on the matter, now that the dust has settled? A number of Xbox One fans have started a petition to restore certain digital licensing features. At the time of writing it has 29,005 signatories.

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Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.totalxbox.com/74410/xbox-ones-online-drm-could-have-been-fine-says-xbox-co-creator/

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"Xbox One's online DRM "could have been fine", says Xbox co-creator" :: Login/Create an Account :: 42 comments

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PashtunPosted:

ODST
-CP The problem is that the public is uneducated. Anyone who has Steam knows this would have been for the best, but the uneducated masses still somehow get what they want (even when they are completely wrong).


The online DRM would have caused games to only be purchasable by disk or in the marketplace. The disk would've been a one time use and then became a key card to be able to play that single game every time you wanted to play that single game. You would have to physically change disks to play content that was fully downloaded to your console. The only other option would have been to buy from the marketplace which has almost no sales or has terrible ones. The original policy was similar to steam except that the key to the game was a physical key (the disks) and only one person could own it at a time causing you not to be able to sell or buy a used game. If Microsoft would have gone full digital and been modeled similar to steam, rather than half-a** the migration to eventual digital only like they planned, everything would've been good.
Those of you who say that if the Xbox One had DRM, it would have steam sales are completely wrong. The only place you can buy games digitally would be the Microsoft games store. Microsoft can charge any price they want since they have a monopoly one you. There is no competition. Steam on the other hand has huge sales because PC users can choose if they want Steam or Origin or whatever. They both compete and have competition that is why Steam has huge sales. Getting rid of the DRM was the best for the Xbox One but I would like to see it otherwise because I the Xbox One is the cancer of gaming.

MissPosted:

I think they should have fixed it, MS would have gotten a lot of better criticism and happier fans. Most are now switching to the PS4 for little things like that.

Scared_of_WaterPosted:

They should of really pushed it, focus on the positive and tell people to get over the negatives.

raefonPosted:

really, they are still going on about DRM. Its done and dusted just move on already.

ODSTPosted:

-CP The problem is that the public is uneducated. Anyone who has Steam knows this would have been for the best, but the uneducated masses still somehow get what they want (even when they are completely wrong).


The online DRM would have caused games to only be purchasable by disk or in the marketplace. The disk would've been a one time use and then became a key card to be able to play that single game every time you wanted to play that single game. You would have to physically change disks to play content that was fully downloaded to your console. The only other option would have been to buy from the marketplace which has almost no sales or has terrible ones. The original policy was similar to steam except that the key to the game was a physical key (the disks) and only one person could own it at a time causing you not to be able to sell or buy a used game. If Microsoft would have gone full digital and been modeled similar to steam, rather than half-a** the migration to eventual digital only like they planned, everything would've been good.

tellPosted:

FaIIen The plan was amazing, but children freaked out and they didn't even fully understand it.
I defiantly agree with you dude!

-CPPosted:

Say People are missing the point Microsoft is not like Valve/Steam, they have awful sales if any when Steam has tons that are great.


That has absolutely nothing to do with this at all. You are just another person who doesn't understand what this means. Please stop trying to spread your ignorance.

-CPPosted:

The problem is that the public is uneducated. Anyone who has Steam knows this would have been for the best, but the uneducated masses still somehow get what they want (even when they are completely wrong).

SayPosted:

People are missing the point Microsoft is not like Valve/Steam, they have awful sales if any when Steam has tons that are great.

mysticalrainbowPosted:

FaIIen The plan was amazing, but children freaked out and they didn't even fully understand it.


I agree, having the Xbox One like Steam would have been awesome! There was potential for a lot of innovation.


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