One of the most tragic chapters xbox history is the launch of the Xbox One. Upon learning that the console will integrate DRM, which internet connection required, users did not wait for criticism. Microsoft ignored the signs and looked down on its consumers, a decision that would have cost them hundreds of millions of dollars and ensured leadership in the Xbox 360 generation.
While Phil Spencer came to the rescue and Xbox made a full recovery, the specter of DRM is still present. The recent outage of Xbox Network services revealed that Microsoft has not solved one of its main problems.
Thousands of users who turned on their console to play this weekend have encountered numerous error messages. xbox network failure this affected the purchase of content and the ability to play any game, including those that you purchased and installed earlier.
Although the decision was made, it sparked debate over risks associated with an “always connected” future where we don’t own anything unless the server can confirm it.
How does Xbox DRM affect your games?
The DRM problem on Xbox consoles has several facets, as mentioned by the respectable Modern vintage gamer. One side, digital purchases require authentication to verify that you own the content. The games you buy from the Microsoft Store are associated with your user account and require you to sign in to your console in order to play them.
it’s the same backward compatibilitywhich requires an internet connection to download the latest Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. If you’re offline, you can install them from disc, but they won’t play until you sign in to verify. The only physical games that can be skipped and enjoyed offline are native games for Xbox Series X, the only console with a tray for them.
Not only games require validation. The first time you set up your console, you need to connect to the Xbox network., a mandatory requirement. In basic options such as changing the language, you will also have to connect, since this feature is region-specific.
According to the support page, the console can only use the following options when offline (or if the Xbox network fails).
When your Xbox is offline, you can:
– Watch TV
– Sign in to your profile (but only if you’ve previously signed in while online)
– Change console settings (except profile settings and parental controls; content controls will stay in place while you’re offline)
– Play games (assuming you set this console as your home Xbox or you have a game disc)
– Save game clips and screenshots
– Earn Achievements (however, offline game achievements and screenshots have limited storage space, so you will need to go online from time to time to sync them)
Xbox Support Page. https://support.xbox.com/es-MX/help/hardware-network/connect-network/using-xbox-one-offline
The dangers of a connected future
As services become more mainstream and digital downloads replace physical formats, the problems this creates need to be revisited. Content verification is required for subscriptions such as Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus.but for the games you buy and install on your device, it should be different.
Microsoft requires not only constant verification of purchased content, but also disks or their consoles. If the Xbox network goes down tomorrow, games you bought or consoles that you haven’t activated will become useless. This would be a replica of the death of Games for Windows Live, the service that affected sales Grand Theft Auto IV on Steam.
Microsoft not only you need to update your DRM policybut also be more transparent with your consumers. After the disputes unleashed by the Xbox One, the technology company canceled the permanent connection and assured that we can play any game. The 2013 policy focused on disc games and attempted to address the sale of used content.
While you can run any current-gen game on an Xbox Series X console, the physical format will soon disappear. The Xbox Series S, an all-digital console, has proven to be a Trojan horse for Microsoft to outsell the PS5 and Nintendo Switch.
Times are changing and rules need to be adapted. Microsoft has been hard at work building an image of a company that listens to its consumers, but deep down it has stepped up a DRM policy similar to the one that caused the loss of an entire generation of consoles.
At the time of writing, Microsoft has not issued any press releases regarding outages to its services, nor has it issued an apology to its consumers. Xbox Support Twitter account confirmed that the problem is still hidden for some users.
Source: Hiper Textual
