Gamers were unable to play games on the Xbox for days. Microsoft was struggling with server issues. Now there is criticism of the copy protection and the measures taken, with the indication that PS5 and Nintendo Switch supposedly do not have these problems. But is that really true?
Those who wanted to play games on their Xbox Series X or Xbox One last weekend (May 6 to 8) could not start their games in the most frustrating cases. Thousands of players in Europe and North America were affected.
The cause of the issues seems to be server problems at Microsoft. These issues are allegedly now resolved, but users are still dissatisfied. In particular, there is criticism of the copy protection that Xbox games are supposed to rely on.
User claims that PlayStation and Switch are not affected
What kind of issues were there? Since May 6, there have been problems with the Xbox Network. Many players in Europe and North America reportedly have issues playing both Game Pass games and digital purchases. Additionally, there are conflicting statements about whether disc games were also affected or not.
Those who follow the Twitter account of Xbox Support could also note that streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ were affected on Xbox too, not just games.
Microsoft has stated that they addressed the problem and that everyone should now be able to play without issues.
What was actually the cause? However, many users are still upset and criticize Microsoft for its DRM policy. There is a strong belief that it must be related to the digital rights management of the Xbox. Microsoft has not specifically named the problem.
Furthermore, the Twitter account Does It Play? explained that most titles on Xbox require a “DRM check-in.” However, he did not mention any specific games and only stated, ‘Trust us, we have tested it.’ But he has not provided a list of games.
The Twitter account goes even further and writes: ‘On PlayStation and the Switch, there is no such thing [the Xbox problem] at all.’ And in another post, he adds: ‘PlayStation and Switch do not have the problem.’
The PS5 also uses a nasty always-online copy protection
How does it look for the competition? All three consoles, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, generally offer an offline mode. If you turn off the Wi-Fi or do not have internet access, you can still play your digital games. However, it is a prerequisite that you have activated your console as the “primary console.” This is because the license for the game is then stored on the console.
However, if you want to use your license on multiple consoles or share the Game Pass, you cannot play the games offline.
But other consoles are also affected by similar server issues like the Xbox. For example, if you want to play Diablo II: Resurrected on PS4/PS5, you need to connect to the server before you can play offline. Thus, Diablo II is one of the first games to use such “check-in DRM.” This applies to both the digital and retail versions. Many users do not like this (via reddit.com).
The new Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation also relies on special online DRM, so a large part of the game is not available to you if you want to play offline or if the server is unreachable.
Similar requirements apply on the Nintendo Switch. If you have purchased digital games, you can also play them offline on your Switch. Although the Switch tries to connect you to the server, it usually takes you directly to the main menu.
Generally, the developers behind the games are responsible for deciding which protective measures they choose for their games. If more developers or publishers increasingly rely on such “check-in DRM” technology, then many games may not function in offline mode in the future.
Discussion about copy protection evokes memories
Is the discussion completely new? Microsoft had already attempted to integrate such “check-in DRM” on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One in mid-2013. You would have had to reactivate your games every 24 hours to be able to play them on your Xbox at all. However, there was strong backlash from players and media, and Microsoft stated that they had decided against it (via news.xbox.com).
Many users feared that such a copy protection would ultimately end the used game market. Being able to resell games used has long been a thorn in the side of developers, as they do not earn any money from that.
Copy protection is a constant topic in the community: Copy protection and its annoying side effects are always a huge topic among players. While developers want their software to be protected and take complex measures to do so, players just want to enjoy their games:
Dying Light 2 brings a controversial “feature” just before release, sparking a huge discussion
