Xbox One

When news that the dormant, beloved Killer Instinct brand would once again see the light of day during Microsoft’s E3 press conference, there was a moment of not-so-surprising satisfaction. …
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Microsoft’s Kinect based shooter Crimson Dragon is now set to feature asynchronous multiplayer gameplay. Polygon made the discovery during a hands-on demo, when it was revealed that gamers can …
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The ubiquitous multi-platform Unity engine is officially coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows-powered devices. Unity and Microsoft announced their strategic collaboration during the annual Build Conference, reports …
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The folks looking for headset accessory with their Xbox One will be in for a nasty surprise — there isn’t one. Ars Technica reported that among the list of …
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A group of fans have launched a petition requesting Microsoft restore the Xbox One to its originally intended state, reports IGN. The petition was organized on Change.org – an …
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Xbox One will now feature an overhauled achievement system that will emphasize community collaboration. Microsoft’s Cierra McDonald outlined plans for the Xbox One’s new achievements system, detailing new …
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During Microsoft’s E3 conference this year, a new-and-improved Minecraft was announced for Xbox One. While this new version boasts bigger worlds and bigger multiplayer, the announcement left many gamers …
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The first punch of the next generation of fighters has been thrown, by a classic franchise returning in top form.
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It isn’t very often that our voices are heard, but it looks like Microsoft has been listening to consumer outcry, and has decided to remove most of the DRM features from the Xbox One. This info has been confirmed, and we’ll update this post as soon as the official details come from Microsoft.

Update: Xbox Wire has updated the Q&A confirming the reversal of the Xbox One’s DRM policies, originally reported by Giant Bomb. Here’s the official quote:

“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.

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You’re angry, and I can understand that. You didn’t much care for Microsoft’s announcement last month that its next-generation console, the Xbox One, will feature oppressive DRM measures. The once-every-24-hours online check-in when playing on your own console and the once-an-hour check-in when playing on someone else’s is only slightly less draconian than what the public was fearing would be announced. On top of that, publishers will also have the option to limit gamers’ ability to buy, sell and trade used games.

The anger is based on the gaming public’s deduction that Microsoft’s goal is to minimize the used game market on the Xbox One. And while it does not appear poised to put forth any mandates to make that happen, it will be giving publishers, itself included, a host of new tools that will make it possible to achieve that goal. It would seem, then, that the public is right to be angry. It’s right to remain angry, too.

On Monday of last week I took my seat at University of Southern California’s Galen Center and watched as Microsoft talked about precisely what it said it would at E3: the games. That’s great, because the games are ultimately — or should be, at least — the main reason anyone decides to invest in a new gaming platform. It’s also bad, though, because it meant the platform holder did nothing to assuage gamer fears of an ironfisted Microsoft crippling the used game market.

That evening, rival Sony held its own press conference in which Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Jack Tretton all but sat Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business President Don Mattrick over a dunk tank and handed the audience softballs. Forget about bad. Things were now looking terrible for Microsoft.

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