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Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

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Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#11

Post by gnabgib »

Also: "Xbox's new policy – say goodbye to unofficial accessories from November" (79 points, 79 comments, 17 hours ago)[0], "Xbox is ending support for unauthorized controllers" (3 points) [1], "Microsoft May Drop Support for 'Unauthorized' Xbox Controllers, Accessories" (2 points), "Microsoft Appears to Block Unofficial Third-Party Accessories on Xbox" (1 point)[3], "Microsoft is cracking down on unofficial Xbox gear" (3 points)[4]

[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38066858 [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38065269 [2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38070427 [3]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38073269 [4]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38076461

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#12

Post by 0x500x79 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #9
0x500x79 wrote: post #7

I think that this is a response to the rising usage of the Cronus and/or other controller modification tools that give players advantages (cheats). For example one of these "Mods" for Cronus state that they are: a dynamic, fully-automated Anti-Recoil system that transforms your in-game character into a laser-guided juggernaut we've affectionately dubbed as [BEAM] Battling cheaters in video games is a never-ending cha…

Heuristics that identify inhuman inputs.

This has always been my thoughts as well, and it seems like they have the data required, but I always think they are worried about some false positive issues. These companies should have the resources to build deployable models for this.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#13

Post by harry8 »

0x500x79 wrote: post #7

I think that this is a response to the rising usage of the Cronus and/or other controller modification tools that give players advantages (cheats). For example one of these "Mods" for Cronus state that they are: a dynamic, fully-automated Anti-Recoil system that transforms your in-game character into a laser-guided juggernaut we've affectionately dubbed as [BEAM] Battling cheaters in video games is a never-ending cha…

They've gone into every xbox owner's house and destroyed their property with prejudice. 3rd party controllers, all of them, including all never used to cheat become non-functional and worthless.

At that point I don't give a flying fig what excuse they are using. Neither should the law when it comes to wanton destruction of property. Property rights are a thing!

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#14

Post by pests »

flipdot wrote: post #3

Does this mean the end of custom accessibility controllers?

This might be a sad day. Ben Heck has been making accessibility controllers for as long as I've been on the internet and I know the last few videos he's done on those have been based off a third party controller.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#15

Post by codeTired »

0x500x79 wrote: post #7

I think that this is a response to the rising usage of the Cronus and/or other controller modification tools that give players advantages (cheats). For example one of these "Mods" for Cronus state that they are: a dynamic, fully-automated Anti-Recoil system that transforms your in-game character into a laser-guided juggernaut we've affectionately dubbed as [BEAM] Battling cheaters in video games is a never-ending cha…

No, they are not doing this to stop cheaters. It might be a nice side effect. They are doing it because money.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#16

Post by hirvi74 »

What a load of trash. What MSFT is saying is, "We want you all to only buy our controllers."

With most games having crossplay, what "console experience" even exists anymore? Making people buy expensive ass controllers so they can be worked by someone with a cheap mouse and keyboard is not the "console experience" people want.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#17

Post by hirvi74 »

gretch wrote: post #5
flipdot wrote: post #3

Does this mean the end of custom accessibility controllers?

Sounds like it will be the end of 3P accessibility controllers yes. Xbox has invested extensively in their 1P solution though: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/controllers/xbox-adap... It's modular and programmable

And more importantly, all the money goes to Microsoft.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#19

Post by 0x500x79 »

codeTired wrote: post #15
0x500x79 wrote: post #7

I think that this is a response to the rising usage of the Cronus and/or other controller modification tools that give players advantages (cheats). For example one of these "Mods" for Cronus state that they are: a dynamic, fully-automated Anti-Recoil system that transforms your in-game character into a laser-guided juggernaut we've affectionately dubbed as [BEAM] Battling cheaters in video games is a never-ending cha…

No, they are not doing this to stop cheaters. It might be a nice side effect. They are doing it because money.

Possibly, I think the math on number of people that currently purchase controllers that will be blocked in the future is a very small amount of money compared to the possibility of losing that revenue to other gaming sources if that is the reason.

"Preserving console experience" really feels like corporatespeak to say "cheaters" without saying the devices in question (because then it raises visibility to those devices).

I think the "doing this for money" is the people who are currently not gaming due to rampant cheating in games like R6S, Apex, COD, etc.

Re: Xbox will block third-party controllers to "preserve the console experience"

#20

Post by 0x500x79 »

harry8 wrote: post #13
0x500x79 wrote: post #7

I think that this is a response to the rising usage of the Cronus and/or other controller modification tools that give players advantages (cheats). For example one of these "Mods" for Cronus state that they are: a dynamic, fully-automated Anti-Recoil system that transforms your in-game character into a laser-guided juggernaut we've affectionately dubbed as [BEAM] Battling cheaters in video games is a never-ending cha…

They've gone into every xbox owner's house and destroyed their property with prejudice. 3rd party controllers, all of them, including all never used to cheat become non-functional and worthless. At that point I don't give a flying fig what excuse they are using. Neither should the law when it comes to wanton destruction of property. Property rights are a thing!

It is not all 3rd party controllers. It is "unauthorized accessory" controllers which excludes devices that are part of the "designed for Xbox” hardware partner program.
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