Xbox's One online policies certainly have cause their fair share of controversy for the next-gen console.
While the device may not require an internet connection 24/7, the system does require the user to check in once every 24 hours in order to play their games, effectively freezing out gamers who cannot follow this requirement. This, combined with the Xbox One's region locking, means that many gamers in international markets will face serious challenges playing the system.
The Xbox One's disclaimer page features some strangely worded phrases that would indicate that those in unsupported markets will have to make do without an Xbox One. For example, a requirement for the Xbox One is "A Microsoft account and an account on Xbox Live in an Xbox One-supported Xbox Live country/region". In addition, under the list of the system's supported regions, Microsoft has this to say:
"Xbox One games are for activation and distribution only in specified geographic regions. See game package and/or retailer product information, for each game's specific geographic regions."
Microsoft, responding to questions from The Verge about this policy, had this to say about their region locking/online requirements:
"At this time, we have announced Xbox One will be available in 21 markets in November this year and additional markets later in 2014. Similar to the movie and music industry, games and other content must meet country-specific regulatory guidelines before they are cleared for sale - which means that games will work in the broad geographic regions for which they have been cleared, much as today with Xbox 360. While the console itself is not geographically restricted, a user's Xbox Live account, content, apps and experiences are all tied to the country of billing and residence," the company said in a statement.
This effectively means that, initially, only 21 countries will be able to use the Xbox One, and anyone else not in those countries will be unable to (or have to buy the region locking free PlayStation 4). Countries that are not listed on Microsoft's website include Poland, China, and Japan. Even traveling gamers who bought or registered their Xbox One in their supported home countries will not be able to use the Xbox One if they leave these select countries.
Microsoft will most definitely lose international support for their device, especially if they do not expand their list of supported countries quickly. It will be interesting to see how well the PlayStation 4 does in the unsupported markets, and if Microsoft is able to make up for this policy.
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