Xbox One DRM Policy Reversal May Benefit Microsoft?

Xbox One DRM was unpopular from the get-go, but Microsoft has listened to Xbox One fans and reversed the decision.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Xbox One DRM policy was one of several changes Microsoft recently announced.

The original Xbox One DRM policy would have required an internet connection even for offline gameplay. The Xbox One DRM software system would check in with Microsoft once every 24 hours in order for the Xbox One to function. People who didn’t like the Xbox One DRM policy, or who didn’t have internet access, were told to just buy a Xbox 360.

The Xbox One DRM policy reversal affects several things, including Microsoft saying, “An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games.” Game discs will still be required to play after the install, though. Gamers will be happy to hear the Xbox One DRM policy will be like the Xbox 360, with “trade-in, lend, resell, gift and rent disc based game” functioning like you’d normally expect.

As in, no more fees for used games. This change to the Xbox One DRM policy in particular is making GameStop and Gamefly happy since their business models rely on used games.

This is one area where Microsoft will lose a lot of money due to changing their Xbox One DRM policy. Xbox One used games will be a huge portion of the overall video games industry. GameStop even claims used games sales generate $1.8 billion a year for the rest of the video game industry when gamers trade in their games for new ones. But in general game developers and publishers don’t profit at all from used games unless they have in-game purchases or alternative purchase models. This is the main reason Microsoft designed the Xbox One DRM as it originally was, but despite many game developers wanting this Sony wouldn’t play ball.

Forbes believes the Xbox One DRM policy reversal may actually benefit Microsoft by saving them money. Microsoft previously announced the number of Xbox One servers would be increased from 15,000 to 300,000. Forbes thinks that “now that check-ins are no longer required, Microsoft may not need to add to their current server expenses.”

Quite frankly, you don’t need that many servers for the previously proposed Xbox One DRM check-in system. More likely, the server increase will be due to Microsoft positioning the Xbox One as the one place for entertainment, with a larger focus on streaming TV services from Microsoft. So it seems doubtful they’ll save money this way. Forbes also points the threat of a DDOS attack, but the current Xbox Live user log-in system already has that vulnerability.

But, at the end of the day, any money Microsoft made from the original Xbox One DRM policy probably would have been lost if the Xbox One proved to be unpopular due to these decisions.

What do you think about Microsoft reversing its Xbox One DRM policy?