Microsoft details how Xbox One game-sharing will work

With the lead-up to Xbox One, there was initial controversy, mostly surrounding the "always-on" feature, or potential for it. After the official announcement detailing the console, the company did an about-face, resulting in the "Xbox 180" nickname. The problem was, this not only took away potential DRM concerns, but also some rather cool features that many were looking forward to.

Today Major Nelson laid out the plans to fix this for the many customers who wish to have this service. Thanks to the vocal few, the features will now come at a price.

"Everyone in your home can share digital games with each other. Your Xbox One can become your virtual game library filled with digital games that different people in the home bought. Anyone can pick any digital game on your Xbox One, sign in with their own gamertag and play – even if the owner is not signed in. Like physical media, you can also play many digitally downloaded games without being online, although experiences will be best when connected to the internet and Xbox Live. Finally, when you purchase a digital game, you can start playing even before the entire game downloads", Xbox Live chief Larry Hryb.

Customers will be able to play their digital games, even when signed in from another console, though this will require an Xbox Live Gold membership. Hryb also states that current Xbox 360 customers who are Gold subscribers will have their membership automatically transferred to the One, and can even be logged into both consoles simultaneously.

"With Xbox One everyone in your home has a personalized account, which will enable powerful and personal experiences, and that’s one of the reasons why we wanted to create Home Gold. It means that your account and your gamertag are truly yours", Hryb points out.

This latest announcement should (mostly) satisfy all customers. More details can be found over at Major Nelson. Now, it is a matter of waiting until November for your console to arrive. Hopefully, you pre-ordered to avoid the holiday shopping nightmare.