The saying “you can’t please all people all the time” seems to be particularly applicable to Microsoft’s Xbox One.

Firstly, an outcry from users compelled the company to backtrack on its original digital strategy for the next-gen console, and discard a confusing Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme. This, however, meant that some of the niftier sharing features, such as Family Sharing, were also shown the door.

Now, a petition has been started asked Microsoft to reverse course yet again and go back to its original Xbox One plans.

The petition, which has currently reached 26 135 supporters, explains that the Xbox One was meant to usher in a “new wave of gaming” where you could buy games digitally, then trade, share or sell those digital licenses. It further points out that this would have made it essentially a Steam for Xbox, and asked Microsoft to return this functionality and deliver the Xbox One that was originally promised.

Mistakes, missteps and miscommunications

In light of this, Microsoft’s chief product officer Marc Whitten, made a candid admission to IGN that the company had “made mistakes” communicating its original policies to users from the outset.

Whitten continued that the company needed to work on enabling people to understand what the system is all about. “The thing that’s really gratifying is that people are excited about the types of features that are possible, and it’s sort of shame on us that we haven’t done as good of a job as we can to make people feel like that’s where we’re headed,” he continued.

In an interview with the site, he elaborated that the company needed to talk more about what it was doing. Indeed, Whitten hinted that there may have been an erroneous perception about its intent.

“When I read some of the things like that petition, from my perspective we took a lot of the feedback and, while Xbox One is built to be digital native, to have this amazing online experience, we realized people wanted some choice. They wanted what I like to call a bridge, sort of how they think about the world today using more digital stuff,” he added.

Turn and turn again

He continued by explaining that Microsoft added to the Xbox One’s feature set by providing physical and offline modes in the console. “It isn’t about moving away from what that digital vision is for the platform. It’s about adding that choice. Frankly, I think we need to just do more to let people see how the console works, what they’re going to be able to do for it. I think a lot of the things they’re wishing for are frankly there,” he continued.

With regards to the Family Sharing feature, which enabled players to share their digital library with their family and friends, Whitten also hinted that this may not be gone and forgotten. “If it’s something that people are really excited about and want, we’re going to make sure that we find the right way to bring it back,” he said.

To the point

To our minds, the biggest problem the Xbox One had at its launch was the inevitable comparisons that would be made with the PS4; while vague messaging on Microsoft’s part played right into Sony’s hands.

While Sony’s console won applause and appreciation for showing itself as being an open platform that wouldn’t lock users into regions or DRM, the Xbox One by comparison came off as being the console that took a dim view of its users, treating them like potential pirates from the outset, or at least, so it seemed.

Exactly what the Xbox One will, or won’t end up being is still a bit up in the air, and that unfortunately speaks volumes about the uphill battle Microsoft faces in the months ahead with regards to clarifying why exactly gamers should buy into its newest console. One thing is for sure: Microsoft is running out of time, particularly as the year speeds its way to the critical holiday season ahead.