Let's fake a deal | This Week in Business
gamesindustry.bizThis Week in Business is our weekly recap column, a collection of stats and quotes from recent stories presented with a dash of opinion (sometimes more than a dash) and intended to shed light on various trends. Check every Friday for a new entry.
Earlier this week, we looked at Microsoft's decision to block unlicensed third-party peripherals from working on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and asked what kind of impact that would have on unlicensed accessibility devices (potentially devastating) and the impact it would have on Microsoft's fig leaf excuse for the move, cheaters (next to none).
Today we're going to ask a different question about Microsoft removing functionality of its game systems a decade after launch and once users have come to rely on it: are they even allowed to do that?
The short answer is yes.
Hold on…
I'm being told 100 words is a little short for a column, so I guess it's time for the longer answer.
Let's look at the Xbox Software License Agreement, the legalese you agree to simply by using your Xbox console, Kinect sensor, or any authorized Xbox accessory.
Why are we looking at a software license agreement when the issue is Microsoft removing functionality from the hardware? Because you might technically own the hardware because you bought it from the store, but the same cannot be said of the software that makes it anything more than a sad conversation piece for any room in your house without a TV.
QUOTE | "The Xbox Software is licensed to You, not sold. You are licensed to use the Xbox Software only as pre-installed in Your Xbox Console or Authorised Accessory, and updated by Microsoft from time to time. You may not copy or reverse engineer the Xbox Software."
The capitalization of "You"
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