Will Family Sharing Return to the XBOX One?

[Absolute Dog]

According to an article published yesterday regarding the potential return of 'Family Sharing' Microsoft states it's removal was based off of consumer feedback for other features they needed to make room for and not because of the mindset  "...we're going to take our toys and go home", as offered by Xbox One chief product officer Marc Whitten. Read the full article below from videogamer.com.

 

Xbox One Family Sharing will return if consumers want it, says Microsoft

 

Publish Date 15/07/2013 - 12:32pm GMT+1

 

 

The feature was removed when Microsoft did a U-turn on its Xbox One policies.

 

 

When Microsoft pulled a complete reversal on its Xbox One policies, one of the casualties was the much-anticipated Family Sharing feature. But the feature may well return at a later date if consumers want it, Xbox One chief product officer Marc Whitten has told IGN.

 

"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," Whitten said.

 

He continued: "We believe really strongly in how you build a great experience on Xbox One for me as an individual, but also for my family. Family Sharing is a great example of how you do that with content. I think you're going to see us, both with examples like that and with other things, keep pushing on how that's something great. An example is some of the stuff we're doing with what we announced around Gold, where other people in the house get the advantages of Gold when I'm a Gold member. You're going to see us continue to push in those areas."

 

Family Sharing allowed users to share their game library with a group of 10 friends and family, and was one of few Xbox One features which had people excited.

 

Regarding the decision to remove it, Whitten said it was a matter of making room for the other features consumers were asking for.

 

"We took some feedback and realised there was some stuff we needed to add to the program," he said. "To add it to the program, we had to make room, just from a pure engineering perspective, to be able to get that work done. So taking Family Sharing out of the launch window was not about 'we're going to take our toys and go home' or something like that. It was just sort of the logistics of 'how do we get this very, very clear request that people really want, that choice, and how do we make sure we can do an excellent job of that, get to launch, and then be able to build a bunch of great features?'"

 

Whitten concluded: "You know, if there's anything I think that Xbox 360 has proven, it's that we're super committed to this constant cycle of improving the experience and the software, and it's what we've been doing for 360 for the past seven years, and it's certainly where we're going to go with Xbox One."

Xbox One releases in November.

This post has been promoted to an article

[Tommy]

I just think people need to make up their minds.

[RedStarRocket91]

For all of its many, many flaws, the Xbox One actually had a very good idea in Family Sharing. If they were able to bring this back, it would give them an actual, clear advantage over the PlayStation 4 provided the associated restrictive DRM didn't come with it, and would go a long way to giving customers an actual reason to buy the Xbox One, as nobody in their right mind is going to complain about being able to spend less on games.

[SternuS]

Making room? For what? All we wanted was to NOT put something into it (DRM, always online etc.), how come they had to take off the Family Sharing? Well, I guess we'll see it returning as Firefight did in Halo 4....

[Is not JL]

I think it'll be nice to have it back, but I wouldnt be running around asking for it as I dont have a epic want for it.

 

 

Although, it does mean free stuff. 

[BeckoningZebra1]

Microsoft needs to make a choice and stick with it. If they can't do that release two console bundles so that we decide individually.

[Vangelis]

I doubt this will happen. Family sharing seems to only benefit us. I don't see how they could make more money from it. It seems like a bad business idea.

[Choot 'em]

Microsoft needs to make a choice and stick with it. If they can't do that release two console bundles so that we decide individually.

Now this is one of the best suggestions I've heard so far! Even with the reversal of the policies, the Xbox One is still being shipped with those policies intact, hence the "one time connectivity" to the internet to install the "patch". Cost should NOT be an issue. Give the consumer the choice to decide which "version" of the Xbox One they wish to have when connected for the first time. This could also work with the option to purchase the Kinect.

 

Think of it as an "All digital version" (without patch/ with Kinect) $499 and "Standard version" / $399 (with the patch/ no Kinect). In my opinion this would potentially win back Xbox owners who have jumped ship or are unsure which console to purchase.

 

Very nice suggestion Zebra!

[Absolute Dog]

Making room? For what? All we wanted was to NOT put something into it (DRM, always online etc.), how come they had to take off the Family Sharing? Well, I guess we'll see it returning as Firefight did in Halo 4....

You clearly got the gist of the story. lol I simply can no longer believe anything MS says about the XBOX One. Like Beckoningzebra1 said above, make packages for 2 or 3 variations if you are that indecisive after this much time.

[SternuS]

Microsoft needs to make a choice and stick with it. If they can't do that release two console bundles so that we decide individually.

 

Yeah that would solve the problem, and basically it's like what every industry is doing all over the world, there are different versions of the same car, different versions of the same TV, etc.

Too bad it'll never happen, you know... Micro$oft...

 

You clearly got the gist of the story. lol I simply can no longer believe anything MS says about the XBOX One. Like Beckoningzebra1 said above, make packages for 2 or 3 variations if you are that indecisive after this much time.

 

It's too late, they revealed to be weak, they've changed their minds twice just because a bunch of people said it was crap. Don't get me wrong, it WAS crap, but they could've changed things more...slowly, they shouldn't have done a U-turn this fast.

[DocSpartanO07]

I don't see how saying "Family sharing could be implemented later" is a second U-Turn....just stating its could be on the table if people want it.

 

The Family Sharing was the biggest thing I was looking forward to with Xbox One, well, that got ruined. Simple fact is, you cant have DRM free data and not have it stolen. It has to be protected somehow. Not saying the original plan was the best idea. Just tired of people acting like MS is the devil for wanting to prevent people from stealing it's product.

[SternuS]

I don't see how saying "Family sharing could be implemented later" is a second U-Turn....just stating its could be on the table if people want it.

 

I misspelt, I meant the first U-turn. This is not a U-turn, this is hypocrisy.

Edited August 3, 2013 by SternuS

[heraymo]

I doubt this will happen. Family sharing seems to only benefit us. I don't see how they could make more money from it. It seems like a bad business idea.

Family shareing was a way for your family to demo the game then buy it from them thats how they were going to make there money.