The following article posted on CNN explains that Microsoft reversed their decision based on consumers complaints of its policies. If you missed what those were I'll run through very quickly:
1. 24 Hour check in or you lose your Xbox Live Username
2. Kinect Camera is always on (watching you, Odyssey anyone?)
3. You better have internet access or tough sh***
4. Games will be purchased along with a code that you will need to activate in order to play your game, if you bring your game to a friends house, your friend will need to pay a fee in order to play it on their Xbox console, thus borrowing a game is no longer allowed.
5. Only a few participating game stores would be allowed to trade in games but others won't - this was going to be decided by game developers
6. Unable to play Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One game so you have to play them all over again
It has been confirmed that Microsoft has removed those policies and essentially is making the Xbox One function just like the Xbox 360 as far as the policies and regulations are concerned. Games will be allowed to be played with other Xbox One consoles, no additional fees are required, so you can lend your game to a fellow friend/family.
Internet access will only be necessary in order to keep your Xbox operating system up to date, but you won't need it to play video games.
The only things that haven't changed are the following:
1. Xbox One will still cost $500 - $600 - depending on the size of the HDD
2. Kinect will still come with your purchase of the console, so there is no refusal of it if you're not a fan of it. This will be their "reason" to charge you the high price that is currently confirmed to be.
3. You'll still need a Gold Membership in order to play multiplayer games online and download content for those games etc.
This action demonstrates that we the consumer have a voice and it can be heard. If we demand things, even with the threat of boycotting their merchandise, they will listen or they will lose out.
PS4 was going to my choice but I might just get Xbox One....Maybe?
The only thing that's making me think twice is that its odd that they would make this decision now, but who knows they can always flip the switch on us while we have it, and we will have no choice at that point to follow their policies or get rid of the Xbox.
Let me know how you feel about this news and share your take on it!