'Sony forced Microsoft's hand, not the internet whining', - Bleszinski

4.5
Gears of War designer and former Epic Games man Cliff Bleszinski has said it was Sony - and not "the internet whining" - that pushed Microsoft to withdraw its strict Xbox One used game DRM policies.


Microsoft today announced the complete withdrawal of the Xbox One's controversial used game restrictions and internet requirement for online license checks once every 24 hours - policies which Bleszinski bullishly defended on multiple occasions.

The platform holder said the changes came "as a result of feedback from the Xbox community," handing vocal internet communities a victory of sorts in their backlash against the corporation's original plans. But Bleszinski says it was Sony's largely DRM-free PS4 - and not the voice of the community - which forced Microsoft into the policy changes.

"Sony forced Microsoft's hand, not the internet whining," said Bleszinski via Twitter.

The designer also commented, "At the end of the day many hardcore dislike what was attempted. You can't do well in that space with many of your core unhappy. Especially when users have a choice. The nature of capitalism encourages competition and Sony played into that."

The original DRM proposals would have brought with them the infrastructure for Microsoft to channel some of the money made from used game sales back to publishers. But with that prospect now seemingly gone, Bleszinski believes publishers will only accelerate their efforts to maximize profits using DLC, micro transactions and "tacked on multiplayer".

"Brace yourselves. More tacked on multiplayer and DLC are coming," he said. "You're also about to see available microtransactions skyrocket.

"You're going to see digital versions of your favorite games with added 'features' and content to lure you to digital over disc based. 'Do whatever it takes to keep that disc in that tray' is the mantra of developers in a disc based world," Bleszinski went on.

"I want *developers* who worked their asses off to see money on every copy of their game that is sold instead of Gamestop. Fuck me, right?" he commented.

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/415453/sony-forced-microsofts-hand-not-the-internet-whining-says-bleszinski/

Related Articles

Comments

"'Sony forced Microsoft's hand, not the internet whining', - Bleszinski" :: Login/Create an Account :: 72 comments

If you would like to post a comment please signin to your account or register for an account.

lilrichard22Posted:

Ice_Rink Internet whining? He said that to us? **** you blez-whatever the **** your name is, im never buying another gow game from this freak.


this is exactly what he meant. whining

FrogPosted:

It was probably a mixture of both with forced the decision.

SakiPosted:

Oasis Ermmmm doubt this very much, the threat of lost sales, the community and alot of false rumours going around caused them to stop - think and evaluate the options.

Not some two bit on a viral video making jokes.


That's basically it, the threat of lost sales. Not because you, your friends, you friends friends and everyone in your state complaining about it. M$ could give two shits about it's community. It was forced, PS4 was DRM free, and XBone wasn't. Not only but it's $100 more and requires connect. Which console would have been the obvious choice? They **** up, and they knew it, it had nothing to do with the community.

234Posted:

Internet whining? He said that to us? **** you blez-whatever the **** your name is, im never buying another gow game from this freak.

GossipPosted:

It was definitely the internet and little kids crying

lilrichard22Posted:

It's competition. The way rivals fight is lowering prices, produce more content, and keep consumers happy. It's a good thing. If it wasn't for Microsoft, I honestly think the PS4 would be way more expensive.

BossHaugPosted:

Could not agree more with the GoW designer.
Microsoft does not care what the internet or consumers want. Exactly why Windows 8 had no start button, hopefully Windows Blue reverses that though. If Sony had the same restrictive policies the X1 did Microsoft would not have changed a thing. Microsoft realized though Sony would sell a sh*t load more consoles being cheaper and less restrictive so to stay competitive they had to change.
Personally I see this as win because I really didn't want to switch to PS4 and now I've got good reason to stay with Xbox.

For once, thank you M$.

POLYSICSPosted:

It was more of the consumers' whining, if anything, because if it was only Sony forcing Microsoft to change things, then more things would've been changed and not only the parts that people were complaining about. It's both; don't ignorantly point fingers.

OasisPosted:

Ermmmm doubt this very much, the threat of lost sales, the community and alot of false rumours going around caused them to stop - think and evaluate the options.

Not some two bit on a viral video making jokes.

slapshot101Posted:

A million dollar company and a billion dollar business is not something to be messed with, it has a lot more weigth then a few teens on the internet.


Latest Downloads

Latest Tutorials