[Ryan57]

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.

From Microsoft themselves.

[Ryan57]

CVG now also reporting it. Gathering pace...

[Shaun]

was wondering why i was low on eggs... guess they're on their faces.

[Tom4784]

I reckon it might never have had these features to begin with, if it's true then I think they were just testing the waters. It would explain the rather bizarre business choices they've made so far.

[Brother Leon]

Obviously it is true. Doubt they are stupid enough to stick with it lol.

[Ryan57]

It's true: "As a result of feedback from the Xbox community, we have changed certain policies for Xbox One reflected in this blog" More soon...

From a journalist at VideoGamer.

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Obviously it is true. Doubt they are stupid enough to stick with it lol.

Wouldn't say it was that obvious, tbh. They were defending it hugely.

Edit: Officlal. http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa

OMFG! Welcome back, Microsoft. Welcome back.

[Ramsay]

Still gonna stick with the PS4, but at least there can be some sort of competition now

[Ryan57]

Xbox One isn't backwards compatible but it is BACKTRACKWARDS compatible.

Damn, where is that kid gif where he seems to go like 'ooooohhhh' at an awards ceremony.

[Brother Leon]

Will probably end up buying an xBox sometime next year too then. At least if my Little & Older brothers stay xBox fanboys it won't be a useless console and I'll use it now and then lol.

[Ryan57]

Chuffed tbh. Intended to, hopefully, get one at some point anyway. However, it makes things much tougher to decide on now.

[Scarlett.]

Still gonna get a PS4, backpedaling doesnt excuse them from being arseholes.

[King Gizzard]

Too late

[Black Dagger]

Meh, they are still wankers and I hope PS4 trounce them, I know I'll be getting a PS4.

[Scarlett.]

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.

From Xbox.com

[Tom4784]

Yeah I'm sticking with with PS4, it's still cheaper with PS+ then an Xbox One is without Gold.

I may get one eventually though if there's some interesting exclusives, the only game I'd truly want to play on it atm is Killer Instinct.

[Ryan57]

Was just going to post that, Chewy. Beat me to it. Will update the OP.

[Scarlett.]

Yeah, I might get one in a few years too, I think this is a good thing for both consoles, it reintroduces competition to the console market. I think most people will stick with the PS4 now though.

[Ryan57]

Fantastic news. Need competition. Still undecided on which to get on launch, provided I get either at release.

[Niall]

Now that they've retracted the ridiculous DRM, the XB1 actually sounds quite good. All the cloud options they're implementing within the next generation of Live for the console make it seem quite appealing.

That said though, I'll still be going with Sony because I've always preferred the PlayStation and quite frankly, I'll never trust Microsoft again now.

[Ramsay]

yes i'm happy. competition is always a good thing

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

does kinect still have to be connect all the time though?

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Scott

does kinect still have to be connect all the time though?

Yep, the whole thing seems like a bit of a PR gambit, they announce something outrageous and draw attention to it, making sure everyone is looking at Xbox, then miraculously change their minds while everyone is still looking, making it look like they're the good guys.

[Blink_Me]

It's all a ploy so they can say, "oh, we listened to the fans."

[Niall]

Okay well it seems that along with this, they've dropped all those fancy new cloud-based game storage features. Now I'm completely disinterested again.

[Wildcat!]

Microsoft changed there mind for now. I wouldn't doubt it if they changed there mind again.
After making a bunde for a few months, they can easily revert back to their initial plans.
You would have to be dumb not to realise that.
Plus they are not doing it for the consumers, more than likely, they got pressure from shareholders, to remove all that nonsense after Microsoft's stock dropped hard.