Ever since their Xbox One reveal in May 2013, Microsoft has tried to remedy their slew of unpopular design decisions plaguing the console. From DRM to Kinect, millions of gamers demanded Microsoft remove these features and focus on games. Now, more than a year later, Microsoft is finally doing just that; and yet, the gaming community offers no respite.
When Microsoft first announced that the Xbox One requires an internet check-in every 24 hours, they caused an uproar. This backlash in consumer ‘feedback’ (if you could even call it feedback) was so severe that they reversed their decision mere months later, albeit a few confusing months later, just after E3 2013.
Despite this, the Xbox One still bundled with Kinect, a peripheral Microsoft was adamant would remain in the same box. This, too, caused many gamers to refuse buying an Xbox One, based on a myriad of reasons ranging from privacy concerns to the fact that they’ll never use it. When they removed it and announced their cheaper Xbox One, which you can now find bundled with a few of their best titles so far, gamers belittled them, stating that the drop in Kinect and price still wasn’t enough.
So when will it be enough?
The unfortunate reality of Microsoft’s situation is that they are doomed to repeat this cycle of being lamented for changing. Gamers attacked them for their original vision of including DRM, Kinect, and TV programs – now, after they removed all these things to focus on the games, they’re being accused of back-flipping on their promises and having no integrity.
The latter is fair enough, when you take into account that Microsoft gave many final statements regarding the Kinect’s involvement and their focus on an ‘all-in-one’ console. However, it becomes less fair when the majority of gamers weren’t happy with that original vision in the first place. So what would you have them do? Would you rather they stick with the ‘anti-consumer’ vision they painted last year? Or would you rather they listen to what the consumers want and don’t want, and adjust their console so it’s friendlier and more appealing?
The problem with those who are consistently angry at Microsoft, no matter what they do with the Xbox One, is that they complain through all of it – through the DRM, through the Kinect, and through their inevitable removal.
Microsoft and the Xbox One are doomed to never be fully accepted into gaming society because, quite simply, the community is never happy. The Xbox One can never win, or close the gap in sales, because of the community – they’ll angrily point out some feature or policy they don’t agree with, then criticize Microsoft when they stop doing it. They weren’t happy with Microsoft’s original vision, and they aren’t happy now that it’s a distant memory. As a result, the Xbox One won’t succeed until they let it.
So make up your mind. When will you be happy?