Games Thirst – Amazing Life
They’ve messed up really bad, haven’t they?
Way before Xbox One was revealed on May 21st, 2013, we knew that the console had some very unpopular features through major leaks, yet Microsoft pushed through. We knew the console needed to be always connected to play games, banned the sale, loaning or gifting of used games, and was completely region-locked. Yet, even after reading all the negativity online and knowing how gamers resisted such moves, Microsoft pushed on with its strategy.
But after Microsoft’s event on May 21st failed miserably to excite gamers, and its own people were giving confusing answers and Xbox One DRM features, things took a turn for the worse, and the bad news about Xbox One became more pronounced. It did not help that the entire reveal of the console was based on its TV features, and little was said about videogames which, we thought, the console was primarily made for.
At E3, Microsoft promised to deliver the goods — the games! Finally! But even after having an awesome presentation, Sony stole the show when it revealed that PS4 would not block the sale of used games, didn’t require an internet connection to play online, and would cost $100 less than Xbox One.
After E3, Sony’s high went to all-new heights, and PS4 preorders topped virtually all retail charts — and still do today. The bad news about Xbox One made its way to the mainstream media, with popular Late Night personality Jimmy Fallon decrying Xbox One’s DRM restrictions on live TV.
Xbox One, it seemed, was doomed to fail, and fail hard. But a light bulb was switched on in Microsoft, and the company made one of the most impressive and drastic u-turns in business history, throwing out over five years of planning and strategy by declaring that all the Xbox One’s DRM features were to be thrown out the window, and everything in terms of game sharing would work just like they did on Xbox 360. Since then, MS has been on an apology tour of sorts, even going as far as making Kinect non-mandatory for gaming, although the peripheral still comes bundled with every Xbox One console, adding an extra $100 to the machine’s price.
So there’s been a change of heart at MS, or maybe a change of attitude because preorders were looking weak. Either ways, Microsoft has made strides in making Xbox One more friendly, and that’s because they need you to purchase the thing.
So here’s the question, then, after all these changes, can Microsoft win you back? If not, what can they do?
Share your thoughts!
