Xbox One: 24-Hour Online Check No Longer Required, Used Games Policy Reversed

Xbox One Changes

Gamers weren’t happy with Microsoft’s restrictive features for the Xbox One when they were first announced.

At first, the console would require a 24-hour online check-in just so you could play single player games and take advantage of the console’s online/offline features. Games bought for the Xbox One could only be tied to one system once they were downloaded to you Xbox One, therefore eliminating the practice of used games and sharing games with others.

Now, both of these restrictive additions to Microsoft’s gaming console seem to have been aborted. Microsoft posted up a blog entry that was full of good news – you don’t have to be online to play your games offline and you’ll be able to share games with your friend by just handing them over!

Here are some of the details straight from Microsoft:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games

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.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today

There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360. In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions.

One thing gamers should know is that the Xbox One has to connect once in order to get the console to work. A day one patch for the console will have to be downloaded, a fact that Xbox chief product officer Marc Whitten spoke about with Game Informer:

There’s always been a plan to have a day one update for Xbox One. It’s just the difference between the hardware schedules and the software schedules. We’re just being clear that it still exists.

Don’t forget to pre-order your Xbox One Standard Edition HERE!

Don’t forget to pre-order your Xbox One Day One Edition HERE!

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