Xbox One Changes–No Internet Required!

With all the recent criticism from many, many gamers, Microsoft has done a 180 with the new Xbox One in regards to the always on internet connection and their used games stance. Now, after a one time set up online, when using physical disc media you will no longer be required to check in at least every 24 hours. Second – you can loan, trade, resell, give away your games as you want. No more restrictions there.

Did this make me reconsider an Xbox One purchase? It took me from a “probably not” to a “I’ll definitely consider it”. My last concern – Kinect. As an owner of the original Kinect, I can say that it’s a hell of a great device. Or, it was. For the first month I used it extensively. After that, it’s use waned and eventually gathered so much dust I am unsure if it even still works. You can’t deny that it’s a great accessory to the Xbox. But, I just don’t use it. I probably won’t use it on the Xbox One, either. I won’t be talking to my Xbox (unless it responds in a Jarvis-esque voice, ala Iron Man), I’ll continue to use the controller.

This is a GREAT move for Microsoft. They saw the huge backlash of their customer, they saw the reaction to the competition, and the moved. They admitted their mistake and corrected it.

The last thing I hear people bringing up – price. If Microsoft could hit the $400 price tag, that’d be great. But, it won’t be the deciding factor for me. $500 is a lot of money, but the Xbox One is a lot of machine. As far as media capabilities go, it could replace my HTPC. I am still waiting to hear if it supports various HD codec’s.

So, my PS4 preorder may get moved to something else. Thank you Microsoft for listening to your customers on this one. You made at least one Xbox fan very happy today!

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.