Much of the controversy specifically revolves around disc-based games and single-player digital games. These games technically wouldn’t have to access the Internet to run or play, but Microsoft’s systems still required many of them to “phone home” to complete access. We have an explanation of how Xbox DRM works here, but the rules aren’t always clear. Many games that shouldn’t have active DRM often do, but that looks set to change. Confirmed by Xbox head of engineering Eden Marie earlier today, as of Xbox version 2208 (fixed by Marie), Microsoft has reduced the number of DRM check-ins for Xbox One discs, although there may still be requirements to update the first day, especially in scenarios where the full game is not available on the disc itself. Yes, this has been the case since update 2206. We’ve looked at data since the launch of the Series X|S and determined that the online compatibility check is not required in the vast majority of cases for Xbox One discs. Some games may need to be updated online after installation to ensure the best experience.September 19, 2022 See more DRM is always a controversial issue, but undeniably necessary in this day and age. With zero DRM, publishers would potentially lose millions of dollars in scenarios where users share content illegally, which could lead to a less viable gaming industry. On the other hand, when overly aggressive, DRM can seriously degrade the user experience. PC-based DRM like Denuvo is known to slow down PC game performance, and of course online check-ins for games that aren’t even online due to their functionality are annoying in situations where you have limited internet access . These updates to the Xbox Dashboard should alleviate some of the pain with Xbox DRM systems. Games you get through subscription services like Xbox Game Pass will still require internet access to verify your subscription is active, of course, but for many disc-based Xbox One games, some of those irritations the DRM have now been reduced.
