It seems a week wasn’t long enough for this reporter to sit and think about the flood of news coming out from the big names in the video game industry at E3 in LA. The biggest news of E3 came before and after it seemingly. Today (June 19, 2026) in an article on their website Xbox Wire Microsoft announced some big changes aimed at silencing the criticism of many fans over the Xbox One. In a stunning reversal, Microsoft announced the Xbox One will not require a once a day connection to the Internet as well as big changes to their Digital Rights Management (DRM) policy.

“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,” said Don Mattrick, President, Interactive Entertainment Business, in the release.

The release went on to say there will not be limitations for sharing and using games, and that consumers can expect the same policies in this regard as are currently in place on the 360.

News of the new system’s restrictive Internet and DRM policies sent the fan base into a frenzy since it broke in May. Many 360 owners claimed they would not be buying a new system because of these policies, and Microsoft listened. The release specifically talks about the input from consumers as the reason for the policy changes.

It can be assumed that software companies could still use restrictive access codes just as they do today on the 360 and PS3, although very few have chosen to so far. This news should effectively put Microsoft back on an even playing field with Sony and Nintendo for the next round of video game consoles as long as the new Kinect camera doesn’t prove to be too intrusive.

Read the Xbox Wire release here: http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/update