Microsoft: Changes to Xbox One DRM policy and offline usage

Since officially unveiling their next-gen console, Xbox One, at E3 Microsoft has faced significant backlash from gamers and non-gamers alike from all over the world. From its price point ($499, $100 more than its rival console PS4), to its DRM policy (no used games allowed) and necessity to be connected to the Internet at all-times, Xbox One wasn't giving fans what they wanted, while Sony and PS4 certainly were.

As a result, early presale numbers were indicating that PS4 was outselling Xbox One by as much as 2 units to 1 -- a truly remarkable number. With PS4 looking so appealing to gamers and Microsoft unveiling a brand-new Xbox 360 the same day as the Xbox One (The Stingray), it seemed like the gaming world saw no need to invest in an Xbox One come its release in November.

Nothing was going well for Microsoft, which is why they've decided to finally listen to its customers.

In a statement released yesterday, Microsoft said that they have "heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback" before announcing some, really, necessary changes to Xbox One before it gets completely blown away by PlayStation 4. Here are the changes they announced:

These will be welcome changes for fans who have been asking for them since E3 two weeks ago. Although predicting an all-out distinction of Xbox One would never have been wise, these changes sure do seem to be great ideas for Microsoft. They've proved that they can walk the walk and not just say they're all about their customers but actually prove it.

That being said, it will be interesting to follow presale numbers from here on out to see if the Xbox One can make up for lost ground.

[Source: Microsoft]