CONFIRMED - Microsoft doing a 180, DRM policies have been reversed

We all raged, they felt it. Microsoft flipped the table with their new policies. All DRM issues like requiring internet connection every 24 hours and their policies in used games have been DROPPED. You can see the official statement below and the new changes to their policies. 

Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future.

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One.

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.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

• 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.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions.

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray.

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.

Mircosoft made the official announcement of the change here. The world is back to normal again. The DRM that concerned gamers since day one of Xbox One's reveal has been dropped and this is great news. You rarely see a company do a big change like this.

So let's clarify once again which policies have been changed:

• No more always online requirement
• The console no longer has to check in every 24 hours
• All game discs will work on Xbox One as they do on Xbox 360
• An Internet connection is only required when initially setting up the console
• All downloaded games will function the same when online or offline
• No additional restrictions on trading games or loaning discs
• Region locks have been dropped

With that out of the way. How does the Xbox feel now?

[Source: GiantBomb, GameInformer]

The Last of Us Out Now, Steelbook Editions Available at Netopia

X-Play launches The Last of Us, Naughty Dog’s latest game available in select Netopia Branches. One of the highest reviewed games of this year is out and is ready to be spent by your hard-earned cash. In case you missed out on pre-ordering The Last of Us, X-Play Online Games, Inc. released Steelbook Editions of the game priced at P2595 at the folloing Netopia branches:

• Robinson’s Manila
• Robinson’s Galleria
• SM Mall of Asia
• MRT Guadalupe
• Greenbelt
• SM North EDSA
• SM Megamall
• Lucky China Town Mall
• SM Batangas
• Shoppesville, Greenhills
• SM Iloilo
• Robinson’s Bacolod

So wow, Netopia sells video games now, I honestly had no idea. That's actually pretty cool. i myself have yet to pick up a copy of The Last of Us because damn you, ToyCon 2013. But I've heard nothing but good things about it. The Steelbook looks pretty sweet too and I am a huge sucker for Steelbooks. If you've been craving for the Steelbook Edition of The Last of Us, this is the perfect chance to get one.

E3 2013: The Evil Within - Survival horror's comeback?

The Survival horror genre has seen better years. It was once a genre that was in par with everything else, but now we live in a world filled with action, first person perspective, and high fantasy, with the horror genre taking a back seat showing itself mostly on the indie side. Thankfully, a group of talented folk wants to change that.  Bethesda has teamed up with Shinji Mikami(creator or Resident Evil) to create The Evil Within; their attempt to bring back the real meaning in a survival horror game. So far, it looks promising from afar.

GameSpot E3 stage demo - Evil Within 

During the whole E3, the demo shown below is the only gameplay shown in almost all outlets. Bethesda and Tango seem to be only talking about the game only at a certain point, which is fine since we get to finally see the game in action.

Everything he said gives me hope that they might just do what they set out to gain from this title; the return of survival horror into the spotlight. The setting is pretty generic for a genre like this. An investigator named Sebastian and his partner go a gruesome mass murder. Their investigation results them entering an asylum and of course, it turns out to be a really bad idea.

One thing that caught my attention is that the gameplay will put the player in positions were you will need to make the best out of your surroundings and really conserve what you pick up along the way. Guns blazing won't always be the best choice anymore with the limited ammo, which got me excited, because that restriction alone puts a lot of emphasis on the word "survival" in survival horror. not only that, the tension will always be high.

The Evil Within - Live Action teaser trailer

Sadly, there's no demo that has no interview or commentary. I was hoping one comes out soon so we all can experience the atmosphere of the game, because if there's one thing that's important with a game like this, it's the scary atmosphere. The teaser trailer really gave us the idea that it will be scary, disturbing even, so I shouldn't be that worried.

The Evil Within is set for next year for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.

Xbox One Region Locked - Will Not Work Outside of 21 Launch Countries

Were you considering getting a Xbox One? Interested in the exclusive games that it had to offer? Didn't mind the 24-hour check-ins and used game restrictions? If you live in the Philippines, Microsoft won't even let you. At least not just yet. According to a disclaimer on Xbox.com regarding pre-orders for the Xbox One, the next generation console will only be supported in these countries on launch:

Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Ireland

Italy Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Russia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States

In addition to only being supported in these regions, the disclaimer also states:

Xbox One games are for activation and distribution only in specified geographic regions.

Twitter user Robert Hallahan wanted to confirm this issue and tweeted @XboxSupport, the official Microsoft Xbox Twitter account. A representative on the account confirmed the disclaimer's text. You can check out the full twitter conversation here.

If you were thinking of importing the console, that wouldn't work either. You would have to wait until the console and it's games are available in your region.

Source: [International Business Times]

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Dual Destinies Goes Digital

The fifth installment in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney series is set to see only a digital release outside of Japan. The reason for this is due to the lack of sales for the series. Simply put, not enough people were buying the games. Ace Attorney producer Motohide Eshiro commented on Capcom's decision about a digital only release.

“The reason we are releasing the game as digital only is not primarily due to a lack of retail support. One of the main reasons we went for a digital version is it will be more convenient for the users. We felt that if someone will be interested in Dual Destinies they will want to get it right away, and if we offer a digital version, instead of going to a store however many miles away, they can just download it directly to their 3DS.”

He also mentioned that by making this a digital only release would mean that the English version would come out sooner. Fans were displeased about a digital only released but hey, at least we're getting the game. I hope they decide to do the same with Ace Attorney Investigations 2. I've played all the Ace Attorney games except AAI2 and it's left in my objecting heart.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Dual Destinies comes out in fall of this year for 3DS on the Nintendo eShop.