Microsoft abandons controversial plan to restrict Xbox One sharing

In an unexpected move Microsoft has abandoned its controversial plans to restrict the sharing of Xbox One games, and additionally has dropped daily online authentication requirements for its forthcoming console.

In a statement released on the Xbox website yesterday, Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, wrote that the company had listened to "candid feedback" from gamers. His explanation read, "You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world."

With the new console release this November, users would not need system authentication online every 24 hours – a requirement thought to have been introduced as a digital rights management measure. According to the statement, "After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again."

Also, plans for restricting the sales of pre-owned titles, as also the sharing of games among friends, had been cancelled and there would be no limits on gifting, re-selling, sharing or renting Xbox One game titles. In addition to the reversals, Microsoft would also be removing regional locks on Xbox One games, which meant titles bought in one global territory would work in all others.

The software giant has also changed its used games policies.

The Xbox One earlier, envisioned users not needing to use a game disc beyond the initial install, however, doing so meant the ability to loan or rent games would not be supported at Xbox One's launch in November, as purchasers of the disc would then need to transfer the game's license to someone else.

Backtracking on those policies, Microsoft today said there would be no limitations to using and sharing games, it would work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

The changes would nevertheless substantially affect what were to be some integral features of the Xbox One. For instance, the ability of games being tied to a user's account rather than a disc had been much touted, meaning a user could log onto any Xbox One, anywhere, and access his or her games.

The announcement today also ends the Xbox One's ambitious family sharing plan, published reports point out. Marc Whitten, Microsoft's vice president of Xbox Live, speaking to video game site Kotaku, said changes to the company's family plan had been killed.

Microsoft earlier touted the ability to let upto 10 members of a family to log into any Xbox One and play from the shared games library, and though Microsoft was to detail yet exactly how the larger family sharing options would work, such options were centered on the Xbox One's ability to no longer depend on a game disc.