Game news Xbox makes life even easier for gamers! Launching a game without internet, finally possible?
Published on 09/20/2022 at 20:19
For a long time, DRM has raised many questions in the video game world, which makes it a real sensitive subject. But things are changing on the side of Microsoft, which wishes, as far as possible, to do more and more for its players.
What does DRM mean?
First of all, for those who don’t know, DRM is an abbreviation of Digital Rights Management, which might translate to digital rights management in French. It is a technological device which aims to secure and control the use of any digital medium subject to intellectual property through encryption.. For example, it is applicable to DVDs by restricting playback to a previously defined geographical area.
In the field of video games, several platforms such as Steam or Origin already use this system. On his side, Microsoft has also opted for this solution on Xbox in order to carry out an authenticity check each time the game is started.. Indeed, like Forza Horizon 5 or of Resident Evil Village, it was impossible to launch a game, even solo, via the disc without the console being connected to the Internet. But it seems that this page is regarding to turn within the Redmond firm…
No need for internet anymore
We first owe this discovery to Hikikomori Media, a YouTuber who is responsible for analyzing the characteristics of certain consoles. Indeed, following the last update of his Xbox Series, the latter finds that the internet connection in question is no longer required to launch a game.
Microsoft has not yet communicated directly on the subject, so you have to turn to Twitter to read a response from Eden Marie, engineer at Xbox:
Yes, this is true since the 2206 update. We examined data since Series X|S launch & determined the online compatibility check isn’t needed in the vast majority of cases for Xbox One discs. Some games may still need to be updated online following install to ensure the best experience.
— Eden Marie (@neonepiphany) September 19, 2022
Yes, this has been true since update 2206. We have reviewed data since the launch of the X|S series and determined that online compatibility checking is not necessary in the vast majority of cases for Xbox One discs. Some games may still need to be updated online following installation to ensure the best experience.
Microsoft would therefore have indeed revised its DRM constraints downwards following judging that online verification was not necessarily essential., at least for Xbox One games. However, likeHalo Infinite for example, an internet connection remains essential in certain cases where the game needs to download certain data or future updates.
This is good news that will delight all owners of Xbox Series X / S.