Xbox One DRM rumours re-surface after Call of Duty: Ghosts offline issues, Microsoft replies

News by Dave Cook Contributor

Published on Nov. 11, 2013

Xbox One DRM concerns appeared again over the weekend after one gamer got his paws on a console and copy of Call of Duty: Ghosts ahead of the machine's November 22 launch. It was claimed that the shooter couldn't be played offline, and Microsoft's Albert Penello has now stepped in to address the matter.

Twitter user Moonlightswami was among a few gamers who received their Xbox One console early via US retail chain Target. He then took to his feed to discuss his experience with the device.

We reported on premature Xbox One sales through the link. Microsoft caught wind of the slip-up and then banned all consoles from Xbox Live temporarily as a precaution.

While the ban applied to Xbox Live online features, Moonlightswami found that he couldn't play Call of Duty: Ghosts offline either:

Just a quick update, with my temporary console ban in place, I CANNOT play Ghosts offline. It requires online, and the ban prevents Live.

— #1 Source 4 XBOX ONE (@Moonlightswami) November 11, 2013

To be fair, I do not know if I can play Ghosts offline if I was not banned. I am banned, and right now I cannot do anything. That is all.

— #1 Source 4 XBOX ONE (@Moonlightswami) November 11, 2013

Word of the issue spread to NeoGAF and Microsoft's Albert Penello took to the boards to address concerns over offline play restrictions. "We still have two more weeks before launch - the console is in a pre-release state. We are doing regular updates - I personally took one a few minutes before he posted. His build is now old. This is why we were saying we didn't want people on early - it's not done yet.

"This behavior is only because we are in pre-release. When we launch, console will work exactly as you expect today on 360. For sure this has nothing to do with requiring a connection. There is no "DRM removal" in the Day One update because none of the consoles were ever built with that stuff in it. This also has nothing to do with COD. The Day One update just brings the SW up to date with the latest versions vs. what's on the box. But there is no 24 check in, that's for sure."

It follows Penello's admission that the Xbox One day one patch is not "really an optional thing."

Time will tell if there are offline restrictions in place, but given Microsoft repeated affirmation that there aren't, it seems like there should be no problem come launch.

What do you think?

Via OXM.