Gamestop at first didnt even take MS preorders, then they started taking them and capped it stating there was high demand. After MS dropped DRM Gamestop was overjoyed and applauded them for finally accepting that there is a used game market and remarkably the preorder numbers started to be lifted citing increased demand (even though Microsofts shipment numbers were lower.). Gamestop didnt need to cap anything, they were holding MS by the nuts. They admitted long ago that Sony had higher shipments and Microsoft with higher demand to boot. Microsofts azure DRM network would've caused gamers who paid for used games to pay a fee, which completely threatened Gamestop and dropped their stock levels.

“The very first thing I thought was that gamer won, yet again,” he told Forbes. “We knew, but I don’t think the rest of the world knew how passionate the gamer was about the buy/sell/trade model. [Sony's E3 Press conference] was a shot heard round the world. Microsoft heard that, they listened to that, and they changed their policies. I think it took a lot courage to do what they did.”- Bartel of Gamestop

Also followed by...

"Stern Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia reiterated a buy rating on Gamestop stock yesterday, though the Street recently downgraded from “buy” to “hold.” The stock has seen a 5% increase so far today."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2013/06/14/gamestop-president-tony-bartel-believes-used-games-playback-will-play-key-role-in-next-gen-console-war/

In other words because MS dropped DRM, Gamestops stocks rose because MS was responsible for Gamestops stock dropping in the first place.

Other links

http://www.thetechgame.com/News/sid=4747/c=182636/gamestop-applauds-microsoft-for-xbox-one-drm-revision.html

Actually thats not correct.  Games that come with day one patch mean that the changes needed could not be added before the Gold master is sent to production.  People forget their is a huge machine that goes into getting software and hardware into your hands.  Usually they have a process and timeline.  Missing those timelines would be very costly because a lot of marketing, hardware and software allocations and money spent is wrapped up in the process.

From my experience, I believe MS had to scrap a good portion of their OS security.  The 24 hour check was probably deeply integrated with how the X1 was made.  Just removing such a piece probably would introduce a hell of a lot of code especially if the security touched a lot of the OS when running games.  MS not only changed the DRM but they had to change how games would run since you had to install the game first.  It was not setup to run from disk as once installed you could literly throw the disk away.

Trust? It is weird that you'd trust ANY corporation.

But let me get this straight.....you trusted Microsoft when they were the monopolistic mega-entity of the 90's, you trusted Xbox after it only lasted 4 years, you trusted 360 after the RROD thing, but this just goes too far. Doing policies that were cancelled a month after they were announced. Trust bond broken.

You aren't the first Ive read say something like this. I just want to point out how silly that sounds, that this subject is the last straw when it never even came to pass.

They fired Don, changed their polocies, and even cancelled the Xbox Entertainment division to focus back completely on games. You don't need a PR conference to baby you and hold your hand. They changed through their actions and you don't need a PR spokesperson to tell you that

lalalalalallalalalalaalalalalal buthurt pumpkins.

- Moderated, Carl

Offcourse I believe that whoever is #1 can and will be lazy and more self serving. You'll see some of that in the coming years ;)

But my point is that one and the other go hand in hand. The capitulation of circumstances forced them to listen and give options. Layoffs = we screwed up. You don't need a PR statement to tell you that.

Actually yes, it does. Everyone has to make their own mistakes to learn. Life doesn't work like that where someone learns a lesson merely by observing someone else learning it. It always sticks better when its more personal.

Actually, since MS's mistakes never actually made it to the consoles launch, it technically isn't worse then PS3's early woes....which did make it to launch.

All corporations want us to believe the customer are #1. Some are just better at smoke and mirrors then others. Point being, whatever the motivation, we can both agree that MS is now listening to their consumers.

How was MS response or how timly they reacted not fast.  E3 2013 was June 11 - 13.  MS made their policy change June 19th.  How fast do you think it takes to completly change your policy and direction for a product that was years in the making.

I also have to say that the 2 scenerios are not equal.  Sony only needed to provide a disc for a game, MS has to throw out basically everything they wanted to do which I am sure cost them millions.  If we are going to compare scenerios that could be on the same level then the PS hack would be it.  It took Sony 2 weeks before they confirmed there was a hack and that customer info was compromised.  Both scenerios cost both companies millions.

When you have kids, you learn this point big time.  My wife and I always wonder why our son must experience his own mistakes even thought we have told him and showed examples before he listen.

Cutting the PR crap, they are merely part of a hierarchy and it was their job to stay behind their product and what it stood for at the time. Until authorized otherwise, they shouldn't have been allowed to raise doubt about their business model.

"can't flip a switch" = It will take some time but it can be done. Hey, even one week is more time then "flipping a switch". I'm sure MS had many working long hours to remedy that asap

"the console was built around it" = Technically that isn't a lie. MS still believes the console is at it's best with Kinect attached, espcially when voice commanding your TV/media.

"Xbox One is Kinect. They aren't separate systems" = They wanted solidarity in their SKU lineup and not seperate userbases like 360 kinect did.

The quotes are more about their vision then physical hardware limitations. You just have to brush up on PR speak to get the real message.