Microsoft Listens: XboxOne Reverses Course On DRM Policies. No Online Check. 1-Time Online Setup Still Required. Lending, Renting, Borrowing Disc-Based Games Same As On Xbox 360. XboxOne Is Region-Free

#Xbox180

Microsoft listened and XboxOne has reversed course on nearly all of the stifling DRM and XboxOne Used Games policies that have drastically hurt Microsoft’s image since they announced the system.

Now however, the playing field between the PS4 vs XboxOne has been drastically leveled, as many of the core issues keeping people from buying the XboxOne have now been scrapped.

But has the damage already been done? Has Microsoft’s reputation already been tarnished?

The XboxOne will NO LONGER require a 24-hour Internet check. In fact, no online checks period are required on XboxOne. The only time you are required to be online is during the initial system set-up. So you will still require an Internet connection to verify your system when you first purchase it. Still, this is a huge change from before.

All games can be played offline forever, no online requirement. You can play offline games without an Internet connection and it won’t ever interfere with your offline game.

You can now lend, borrow, rent, trade, etc. XboxOne games just like you can do on current-gen systems. This is HUGE news, as it means Microsoft has completely abandoned their “verified retailers only” trade-in and used games policies. #consumerwinsbig

Not only that, but XboxOne will be REGION-FREE. Which is huge.

Last but definitely not least, some of the cool XboxOne features previously announced appear to have been scrapped due to these changes. It sounds like you can no longer share your entire game library with up to 10 friends or family from any XboxOne. Although no confirmed, Microsoft simply said some of the cool features previously announced have been altered due to these changes. I’ll bet that is one of them.

All in all, the consumer backlash against Microsoft and towards Sony has forced the American giant’s hand in reversing their strict DRM policies and their draconian control of the Used Games market. This means very good things for GameStop, Blockbuster, Redbox, GameFly, and your ability to trade, borrow and lend games to your friends and family. However it also means that developers will not be getting additional revenue from selling used games. Which means they may have to make cuts elsewhere.

But let’s all be glad that Microsoft listened to fans and changed course. It is proof positive that a big enough outcry from consumers, and voting with the almighty dollar, can indeed move mountains.

Here is the official press release from Microsoft and President of Interactive Businesss for MS, Don Mattrick:

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

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.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

SystemWars Resetted

 

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag E3 2013 Stage Demo, Trailer, Floor Footage, Press Conference Gameplay Walkthrough Trailers and Videos

Surfing on a boat! Arrr!

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is definitely one of the most highly anticipated games of 2013. The game builds on Assassin’s Creed III‘s engine, while taking the theme of the game into pirate-territory with a focus on the ship-battle and boat exploration gameplay that made an appearance in AC3; and expanding it to an entire game.

Here is the Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag E3 2013 Press Conference Gameplay Walkthrough Video.

While the new pirate focus is really cool material to be mined for a videogame, much less an Assassin’s Creed title, the game definitely doesn’t feel as innovative or as big as AC3; as the game essentially looks the same.

I found myself bored with the pirate gameplay, as even though you are a pirate, it just feels like you are on a ship… At least, that’s the impression I got.

Here is the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag E3 2013 Trailer.

Even so, the game is being taken in a lot of new directions. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has a new protagonist in Edward Kenway, a British pirate and member of the Assassin Order, and descendant of Connor from Assassin’s Cred III. It will feature three new main cities with a large part of the game set in Cuba. The cities include Havana, Kingston and Nassau; with influence from the Spanish, British and local/surrounding area pirates. All told the game will feature over 50 locations to explore, both on land and via naval ship that you can command (You can also hijack and steal other ships and engage in ship-on-ship warfare).

Ubisoft has also taken Assassin’s Creed IV in a much more open-world direction with the 4th installment, and it will be much less scripted and linear than AC3. Hunting both on land and in water via harpoon has also been added, with the hunting system expanded. In addition, the player’s ship can now be upgraded, and underwater gameplay has been added. Meanwhile, recruiting allies, a feature from Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, returns in AC4. All of this should be good news to AC fans (also, improved crouching!).

Multiplayer will also return. Details in this Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Video Interview:

Here is a look at Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Multiplayer Gameplay in this E3 2013 Floor Footage Video.

Watch all the videos for much more information on this AAA title that will be hitting this year for virtually all platforms. The game will be released on October 29th in America, October 31st in Australia and November 1st 2013 in Europe on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and WiiU. The game will then hit later this year, likely in November or December, for XboxOne and PS4. Covering just about all the bases except handheld.

Regardless of where you stand on the Assassin’s Creed series, and whether or not you think the yearly annual installment system is making the franchise stale, you have to admit that this game is looking pretty awesome. And I would be surprised if it wasn’t another big hit for Ubisoft. It is a bit surprising that the game is being given a numbered title; but the fact that it stars a new main character, with a new storyline and new pirate direction, make the new numbered title a good fit.

Here are the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Stage Demos showing lots of gameplay and details from the game.

Assassin’s Creed IV GameSpot Stage Demo

Assassin’s Creed IV Machinima Stage Demo

Assassin’s Creed IV Rev3Games Stage Demo

Soooo much…. videeeeoooo…..!

 

Mirror’s Edge 2 XboxOne PS4 PC Announced. Coming When Its Ready! Trailer Videos (E3 2013 EA Press Conference)

The first-person fighting looks amazing.

Mirror’s Edge 2 PS4, XboxOne, PC was announced and shown with an impressive trailer as the send-off for Electronic Art’s E3 2014 Press Conference.

Faith is back! She returns from this underrated gem of a series that didn’t sell well, but I think the sequel will be huge. People recognize that Mirror’s Edge 1 was a absolutely fantastic game, and one that they should’ve bought. All those people who missed out on it, will definitely pick up this sequel.

Especially given how awesome the first-person fighting looked in the new trailer. However they didn’t show much of the parkour, which surely will be a huge part of this sequel just like the fist game.

All-in-all, awesome announcement, especially given that they pointed out that Mirror’s Edge 2 will be released “when it’s ready” :P

It’s also worth noting that platforms were not announced, but surely it will be on PS4, XboxOne and PC when it’s finally announced.

 

Star Wars Battlefront Returns. XboxOne, PS4 Or PC? No Details Revealed (E3 2013 EA Press Conference)

Star Wars Battlefront next-gen announced.

Star Wars Battlefront returns! It’s back, but on XboxOne, PS4 or PC? We don’t know as details weren’t revealed, only the words “Star Wars Battlefront”, words that fans have been waiting and clamoring for, as they wait for their favorite online game to return.

No details on the game were revealed, nor anything else. But hey, it’s a great development.

 

Dragon Age 3: Inquisition Announced (XboxOne, PS4). Open World Action RPG With New And Returning Characters. E3 2013 Trailer Videos (EA Press Conference)

Official artwork for Dragon Age 3.

DragonAge 3: Inquisition has been announced for XboxOne and PS4 as the third entry in the Dragon Age series. For the first time, Dragon Age will enter open-world gaming in a title that features both new and returning characters from the series.

Sadly no gameplay from the game was shown, but a CG trailer built for fans was shown at EA’s E3 2013 Press Conference.

It will be released in Spring of 2014 by BioWare and EA.

 

Metal Gear Solid 5 XboxOne Stuns Audience (Microsoft E3 2013 Press Conference). One of the Best Trailers of All Time

Flat out incredible looking.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain for XboxOne made it’s Microsoft E3 2013 Press Conference debut and absolutely stunned the audience with one of the greatest trailers of all time. At least one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen.

Every single aspect of this game (remember Keifer Sutherland Voices Snake) was impressive, from the voice acting and story, to the cinematic nature, to the INCREDIBLE gameplay. Metal Gear Solid 5 takes the franchise into an open-world for the first time and absolutely blows games like Elder Scrolls out of the water when you see the ways Snake can sneak through the environments.

At one point in the trailer he rides on a horse in an expensive desert environment past a group of guards and makes it past them unseen, by hugging to the side of the horse! Absolutely awesome. The gunplay, the close quarters combat, the phenomal graphics… this game just looks incredible.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be released likely in 2014 for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and now XboxOne. The XboxOne version shown is the first time we’ve seen the fact that MGS5 is coming to a next-gen platform, but it will most-definitely, assuredly, be hitting the PS4 as well. It will likely get announced later today at Sony’s E3 2014 Press Conference.

 

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt XboxOne Announced. Uses SmartGlass. Trailer Videos (E3 2013)

Don’t forget about Witcher 3!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to XboxOne with some exclusive features, including full support for SmartGlass support.

The game, which is the latest from Polish developer CD ProjektRED, is the close of The Witcher trilogy and is the first open-world game in the series. This game looks incredibly impressive. Don’t forget about The Witcher 3 which is an easy game to get lost in the shuffle, but is an incredibly well polished and epic title of high pedigree that should not be missed.

And the Press Conference footage of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on XboxOne is definite proof of that!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be released in 2014 for XboxOne, PS4 and PC.

 

Project Spark XboxOne E3 2013 Trailer Videos. Create Your Own Games Using Voice and SmartGlass. Like LittleBigPlanet On Crack

This game looks incredible for creative types.

Project Spark for XboxOne was announced at Microsoft’s E3 2013 Press Conference as Microsoft’s answer to LittleBigPlanet or RPG Maker, which looks like these games but ON FREAKIN’ CRACK.

Project Spark is a “game creator” platform where players are able to easily shape and build worlds and share them with their friends. But unlike the aforementioned games, this game is a third-person action game, where players can easily mold the world as they see fit using simple voice commands, where you can say “mountains” or “forest” and can even change the daylight. You can also use smartglass or the controller, and mold by simply moving the stick. Drop enemies in, and immediately drop your player Clark in and you can start playing.

You can also mold and change enemies on-the-fly, and have a buddy co-op with you and change and mold the world as you are playing it!

The details are somewhat murky but just watch the video and you’ll see exactly how this game plays. Another fantastic AAA killer-app for XboxOne. Mighty impressive!

 

Battlefield 4 XboxOne Gameplay Shown. 60fps, DLC Will Hit First On Xbox. E3 2013 Microsoft Press Conference Video Trailers

Battlefield 4 may dethrone Call of Duty this year.

Battlefield 4 XboxOne was shown on stage at the E3 2013 Microsoft Press Conference and looked absolutely stunning. The graphics are truly next-gen and a huge leap above anything previously seen.

All of the FPS action you desire was shown in visceral form, and vehicle gameplay both underwater and in the air is possible in this online FPS, as online multiplayer gameplay was shown.

I’m not even a FPS fan and this game was also mighty impressive. The graphics are absolutely incredible, as are the physics and effects. At one point he shoots a giant jet loose from the bolt holding it in place, causing it to slide across the giant, crazy aircraft carrier he was fighting atop as all kinds of crazy explosions and action was taking place around the battle cruiser. He even jumps off the cruiser and into the ocean…

Mighty impressive! Even more impressive was the fact that the game was running at a smooth 60 Frames Per Second with uncut gameplay directly from the XboxOne. When you play the game, it will look just like that.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft had more technical difficulties during this part of the show and the Battlefield 4 trailer almost didn’t start… there was no sound just like with Crimson Dragon. Thankfully they were able to reboot it, and the host did a good job keeping his composure, even though you could tell he was incredibly frustrated. Someone got fired today…

Battlefield 4 will be released not only on XboxOne, but also on: PC, PS3, PS4, and even Xbox 360 on October 29th 2013.

 

Panzer Dragoon XboxOne Title Crimson Dragon Announced. Made By Developer Of Phantom Dust, Panzer Dragoon Orta

Next-gen Panzer Dragoon basically? Sign me up!

Crimson Dragon for XboxOne is an all-new Panzer Dragoon game by the developers who created Panzer Dragoon Orta for the original Xbox and Phantom Dust for original Xbox.

It’s unclear if this is an actual new entry in the Panzer Dragoon series or if it is a spiritual sequel, but it looks and plays exactly like a Panzer Dragoon game and looks absolutely awesome!

Sadly there was a MAJOR technical difficulty moment at Microsoft’s E3 2014 Press Conference where the sound for this trailer cut out ENTIRELY. Which really, really sucks. I’ll post the trailer, with sound, as soon as it’s available.

Crimson Dragon looks to be another fantastic XboxOne exclusive.