Shuhei Yoshida from Sony admitted that the public outcry and backlash Microsoft endured over the Always Online DRM of the Xbox One was ‘a very useful source’ for the company when it was finalizing it’s own DRM and user ownership plans.
During an interview with the well respected Famitsu magazine, Shuhei Yoshida (who is SCE’s Worldwide Studios president) told how it wasn’t the single deciding factor. Instead, it acted as a sign pointing out they were going in the right direction.
“There were lots of people who gave their opinions on that issue to my Twitter account before E3,” he said. “It’s not that our hardware policies are decided strictly based on user reaction like this, but when we were thinking about what we had to bring across and how to bring it across, it was a very useful source.”
SCE Japan Asia president Hiroshi Kawano added, “As of now, I feel like we’re getting a very positive response. For this system, we made a list of what people expected from us, debating over each point, with user feedback forming the main basis for the list. The software makers are also telling us that they feel like they really make some fun stuff with it. A new platform always provides the basis for new forms of play, so I’d like to see it connect to a revitalization of the marketplace.”
Hiroshi Kawano also spoke out on Tetsuya Nomura’s unveiling the newly branded FFXV. “He received a wonderful reception at the conference, and that’s something that elates us as well. People sometimes tell us that Japanese games are falling behind and so forth, but I think his presence signified that that’s just not the case. We also want to provide gamers with a wide variety of games, and that’s something that Japanese producers are good at. I think their presence will grow larger going into the future.”
Rumors have it (and they are only rumors) that Sony had not decided it’s DRM policies until very close to E3. However, after seeing how both the public and press smacked Microsoft on the head every chance they had, I’m sure they feel better about the decision. The winds are turning slightly in MS’ favor, with polls showing players are more open to the Xbox One since MS removed the Always Online DRM.
However, there is no doubt that Microsoft are still hurting from their early stance. Many gamers believe that MS only changed their policy due to being forced. Where as Sony had ‘gamers best interests at heart’.
