Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), a company determined to move away from its core and into devices and services, should be ashamed of itself. In what can only be viewed as an epic fail, the company announced today that when its latest generation Xbox is released, the machine will not work out of the box. Microsoft will release the Xbox One on November 22nd, but for those interested in actually using it they will need an Internet connection for about 15 to 20 minutes in order to download a “Day One” patch in order to access basic apps or play games.
Xbox One: One day system update
“Functionally, you will be able to do very little without taking the day one update,” said Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s senior director of Xbox product management Albert Penello in an interview with Engadget recently. When asked by Engadget what the $500 machine would do without the patch his response was quite succinct, “Nothing. You need the Day One update,” he said.
For the tens of millions who are planning on purchasing the Xbox One, this must certainly give them pause. For those who are potentially debating the merits of purchasing the new PlayStation 4 rather than an Xbox One, certainly this comes as horrible news for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). Essentially selling a $500 paperweight is just bad publicity. If I were personally on the fence between the two gaming platforms, Microsoft may have just made my mind up for me.
Microsoft comfirms Penello’s comments
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) confirmed Penello’s comments to The Verge. “An initial, one-time system update is required for your Xbox One to function,” says a Microsoft spokesperson.
That’s not to say that Microsoft is alone in these out of the box issues. Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758), who will release its PlayStation 4 at roughly the same time, has announced that you will need a “Day One” patch in order to play Blu-rays or DVDs. However, unlike the Xbox One, the Playstation 4 will play games immediately, and let’s face it, that’s what these two machines are meant to do at the end of the day.
“You’re gonna need to take this update. It’s not gonna be really an optional thing,” adds Penello, noting that a lot of the new apps come with the update. While it’s only 15 to 20 minutes, we live in a society obsessed with immediate gratification. The fact that Microsoft doesn’t realize this could be a portent of further failings as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) moves forward.
