Remember the Xbox One reveal? Remember the backlash to the 24-hour verification check? Remember how Sony blew the doors off of E3 when they announced that they had no new DRM plans for the PlayStation 4? Well, it turns out that after that conference, Microsoft considered their solution to be – wait for it – to remove the disc drive from the Xbox One altogether.
Phil Spencer, head honcho of Microsoft Studios, spoke with OXM regarding this interesting idea, exposing that the notion was alive even through the middle of 2013:
Obviously, after the announcement and E3, there was some feedback about what people wanted to change. There was a real discussion about whether we should have an optical disc drive in Xbox One or if we could get away with a purely disc-less console.
Clearly, they eventually figured out that the disc drive was not what people wanted to change, and our prayers were thankfully answered when they pulled a 180 on the 24-hour DRM check altogether.
It seems a bit alarming that Microsoft hadn’t completely made their minds up on the physical components of the system even some five months before its initial release. And in light of that, it’s kind of incredible that the launch has gone with so few hiccups. Sure, there’s evidence of a notable difference in power between the Xbox One and its direct competition, the PlayStation 4, and Microsoft doesn’t seem to be winning that battle. But regardless, the failure rate has been rather good so far – again, apparently not as good as the PS4’s, but a far cry from the near-25% failure rate of the Xbox 360.
Unfortunately, this is just more evidence of the tone-deaf quality of Microsoft’s decision-making throughout the development of this console. Would-be customers weren’t upset that the Xbox One had a disc drive. They were upset that, through the proposed 24-hour DRM check, their ability to play any of their games – online or offline – was not only dependent on their own internet connection, but Microsoft’s as well. Those recent Xbox Live outages could have bricked Xbox Ones around the world if this plan was intact.
And no, Mr. Mehdi, it wasn’t simply a matter of reading comprehension. We understood quite well what was happening.
Fortunately, the whole story has a happy ending. The Xbox One has a Blu-ray disc drive and they have dispensed with the 24-hour DRM check. All-digital consoles are likely inevitable, but at least the industry now has time to sit back, take a breath, and plan a bit better before taking the plunge.
Last Updated: January 3, 2014
JJ's horrible secret (John)
January 3, 2014 at 08:10
That would not have been a very clever move. Seeing as how a lot of people watch those discs they call DVD’s that have movies on them.
DrKiller
January 3, 2014 at 08:49
DVDs? Why so 2006 bro?
JJ's horrible secret (John)
January 3, 2014 at 09:14
Collectables.
Ryan Dunmore
January 6, 2014 at 12:56
I used to think the same but now all the collectibles do is collect dust.
JJ's horrible secret (John)
January 7, 2014 at 12:02
I take quite great pride in mine, kind of a showpiece that I can still use. Call me old school.
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 08:20
“near 25% failure rate of the Xbox 360” My word I had no idea that it was that high! Image Dell laptops had that failure rate? Or even Volkswagen. At least they finally adopted Blu-Ray so there’s no holding game developers back anymore. Heck maybe XBOX players can finally get a release of Metal Gear solid 4?
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 3, 2014 at 08:29
It was irrationally high, hell the hard drive in my Xbox 360 has given up the ghost, so yeah, there’s another failure 😛
Took over 3 years to fail though.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 3, 2014 at 09:26
At one point I believe it was 33% failure rate.
My third Xbox360 just gave up the ghost a couple days ago.
btw MGS4 still one of the greatest games ever made. And MGS3.
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 10:12
I preferred MGS3 what with the camouflage and food you had to eat to survive.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
January 3, 2014 at 17:39
You must be the first person to agree with me on that.
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 18:27
LOL great minds and all that.
Brenz
January 3, 2014 at 08:26
What a bunch of fucking idiots, its amazing how much stupidity can be gathered in such a small space (similar to our parliament i guess).
I look forward to the demise of Xbox at the hands of Sony, see ya suckers.
Umar of The Rebellion
January 3, 2014 at 08:32
Lol again….MS cannot dictate what we want. They should realize and all digital future, while inevitable , is still not possible in a large chunk of regions … They wana cut out the disc drive but force kinect….god….I’m gonna just play 8-bit tv games for the rest of my life than have to deal with these tossers…we all know…it might be all happy times now…but just you wait till that DRM firmware patch comes..the ya’ll be screwwwwed
Brenz
January 3, 2014 at 08:36
As long as Sony continues to look after the gamers, I dont give a shit what the Xbox fanboys have to go through, their stupidity for choosing that console.
But, if Sony decides that their new gameplan will be to fuck the gamers, thats when I go master race and become a raging pirate.
Umar of The Rebellion
January 3, 2014 at 08:39
I’m going Nintendo, screw these big companies, though I have faith in Sony (for now, Mark Cherny’s sweet ass voice is keeping me a beliver) . I will go the pc route too, only, they don’t get all the type of games I like which is why I don’t do PC no moar
Brenz
January 3, 2014 at 08:47
I really do like some nintendo titles, theres just not enough to warrant buying the console, well for me anyway.
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 08:49
Nintendo needs third party support as in two years ago.
Brenz
January 3, 2014 at 08:51
This is true, unfortunate that it hasn’t happened yet.
LollydaLolDragon
January 3, 2014 at 09:04
As fun as Nintendo are, there’s only so many Mario based games one person can own..
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 3, 2014 at 09:15
Yeah, and Geoff has them all
Umar of The Rebellion
January 3, 2014 at 08:55
They really do..well, if they can release the new zelda and metroid it will keep them going for a while till they get thier act straight
Umar of The Rebellion
January 3, 2014 at 08:56
Yeah, I know. My reason for buying a wiiU is it’s got some great games AND it’s backwards compatible , as I didn’t have a wii, I gots tons of games to play
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 3, 2014 at 08:47
I picked up Deadly Premonition & FFVIII during the Steam sale 😀
Umar of The Rebellion
January 3, 2014 at 08:54
Hell yeah!!! Enjoy deadly premonition…what a wierd and wonderful experience
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
January 3, 2014 at 08:36
I have said it once, and will say it again… Thank goodness for Steam… Yeah it is down at the moment, but i can still play all ma Gamez 🙂 Besides, what is the draw in the latest Gen of Consoles? Blu Ray? Nah got it, Full HD ? again.. got it…
Once there are worthwhile games released, then mayybee, but still not paying 6+K for a console
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 3, 2014 at 08:46
…..your grand plan to take over living room entertainment… and you seriously considered not having a disc drive…. someone went full retard.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 3, 2014 at 08:51
Hopefully someone gave them a PK to wake them up.
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 08:57
Yeah, they checked the preorders for the XBOX ONE and went uh-oh
LollydaLolDragon
January 3, 2014 at 08:51
TBH MS could stick a 8 track, or Beta Max in their consoles.. the Fanboys would still buy that shit up like its free weed at a Cypress Hill Concert..
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 3, 2014 at 08:52
People still listen to Cypress Hill and know what Beta Max and 8 Track’s are?
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 08:54
Hammersteyn
January 3, 2014 at 08:52
Well the XBone is as big as a Beta Max.
DrKiller
January 3, 2014 at 08:55
I wonder if that Xbox 360 add-on thingy will still happen for the Xbox One..
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 3, 2014 at 09:30
MS’s main problem is that they don’t look beyond the US borders. For a US citizen it makes sense since they can get high speed internet with Netflix and do all the Digital downloads of games they want to…
For us and many other countries this isn’t a thing.
Gavin Mannion
January 3, 2014 at 09:52
They also forget that there are places in America where high speed internet isn’t really a thing… not to mention things like oil rig workers and people on deployment in the military
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 3, 2014 at 10:03
It is kind of amazing that they do forget these things really… So many high-paid “smart” people messing up THIS badly… It just makes me laugh.
I mean I am not in the industry or even as “smart” as all these guys and I could just see the very obviously mistakes… Anyway… just weird
kimplix
January 21, 2014 at 17:06
Oh now that would of been a huge failure to the company and the Xbox one