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

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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/

Comments

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

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KatsumiPosted:

Well sony did push Microsoft by an amazing amount. But put into consideration that they are both businesses that are competing against each other. What sony did was only a logical business decision

HezPosted:

Still though I'm getting the PS4!

BeetPosted:

-Fallout
shadow1 Sony was probably hard on microsoft because they wanted a real competition. What microsoft did at E3 was terrible. I'd sony was helping them by pushing them hard so it wont sell less than the wii u.


Are you stupid? Sony has always fell behind in the war because of online, they will always be in competition, and ps4 wasnt being hard on them, they were being disrespectful and calling them out. Theres a differnce between disrespect and being hard on someone.


And I thought what microsoft was doing was disrespectful.

Vancouver_CanucksPosted:

So Sony dont really care that Microsoft have done this then.

And to people going on about the hacking, it happened about 2 years ago and has been made safe again, they will obviously make security much tighter on the PS4 because they will expect more people to get it and they cant have millions of users without protection.

ZombrPosted:

After Sony announced that they wouldn't put a restriction on games (calling out Microsoft), Microsoft should have said "And there will be know down time, even if a bunch of hackers try and take us down".

aNaughtyCubanPosted:

-Fallout
shadow1 Sony was probably hard on microsoft because they wanted a real competition. What microsoft did at E3 was terrible. I'd sony was helping them by pushing them hard so it wont sell less than the wii u.


Are you stupid? Sony has always fell behind in the war because of online, they will always be in competition, and ps4 wasnt being hard on them, they were being disrespectful and calling them out. Theres a differnce between disrespect and being hard on someone.


Disrespectful? Have you seen how many views the videos have that are of Sony "calling Microsoft out"? It was a brilliant way to get publicity, to get the name of their console out there and to send a bold message that says "Hate what Microsoft is doing? We're doing the opposite". This is all a business game.

TehHamburgerPosted:

shadow1 Sony was probably hard on microsoft because they wanted a real competition. What microsoft did at E3 was terrible. I'd sony was helping them by pushing them hard so it wont sell less than the wii u.


Are you stupid? Sony has always fell behind in the war because of online, they will always be in competition, and ps4 wasnt being hard on them, they were being disrespectful and calling them out. Theres a differnce between disrespect and being hard on someone.

shadow1Posted:

Sony was probably hard on microsoft because they wanted a real competition. What microsoft did at E3 was terrible. I'd sony was helping them by pushing them hard so it wont sell less than the wii u.

ExoticWolfsPosted:

NinjaWizard I don't think it was just Sony, part of it could of been.


Yea, I think the same exact thing.

oohPosted:

Glad this was done, though some of the features before sounded really nice, wish more people would have understood what they were going for.