Microsoft is facing negative feedback about DRM requirements of its upcoming Xbox One console
Since unveiling its new console last week, Microsoft has faced a firestorm of criticism regarding the Xbox One and its rumored restrictive digital rights management requirements. According to a manager in Microsoft"s Xbox division, however, the company is listening.
In a comment on his blog, Larry Hryb, director of programming for Xbox Live, said Microsoft is "fully aware of what"s going on." Hryb"s response was in regard to a comment that said "the entire world is watching Twitter explode" and that "the campaign for no DRM is in full swing." The comment cited a campaign started by gaming website NeoGAF on Sunday that requested Twitter users use a variety of hashtags to inform Sony and Microsoft of negative user stances on DRM issues such as a persistent Internet requirement that has yet to be clarified.
"I am also working on a few things to address it," Hryb wrote in response to the user. "I can"t say much more right now. But we are listening."
Microsoft has been fuzzy about what exact requirements users will face with the Xbox One in regards to an Internet connection and how the console will handle the purchase and sale of games. In a statement on an official website, the company has said the console "does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet." Comments from Microsoft executives when the console was announced indicated the device would need to periodically access the Internet as a kind of verification service.
Phil Harrison, a corporate vice president of Microsoft"s Interactive Entertainment Business, told Kotaku the requirement may be as often as once per day, though Microsoft representatives later said that was a "potential scenario" and no specific time period requirement has been announced yet.
The backlash to Microsoft"s DRM plans comes just two months after EA faced similar responses following the launch of "SimCity," which was plagued by server issues that left owners unable to connect to the Internet-required game. EA"s chief executive resigned just two weeks after the game launched.
Source: Major Nelson | Image via Microsoft