Microsoft plans to release a new Xbox update in the coming days to fix a bug that prevents some console gamers from playing their purchased games.
Persistent server issues that surfaced on May 6 prevented some Xbox Series X|S users from launching their downloaded games. This also affected Xbox Cloud Gaming, as well as new purchases from the Xbox Store. Users who tried to load games reportedly encountered an error screen telling them to connect to Xbox's online servers. However, when they tried to do so, they found that they couldn't.
Unexpected server downtime has effectively kicked many players out of their game library. Even users who tried to launch single player games offline were unable to do so. They report that they are facing an error screen that forces them to connect to the Xbox online servers, when it was impossible to do so.
Although the issue has apparently been resolved for some console owners, many are still reporting problems connecting to Xbox servers and loading their purchased games. Microsoft has provided updates on the technical error since the problem first surfaced, suggesting that it was fixed at some point. But it wasn't long before he recognized that there were still problems and was investigating.
Microsoft has now said that it hopes the issue will be fully resolved soon.
"We have seen a significant improvement in the issue that was preventing some users from buying and launching games," the Xbox support account tweeted. "We expect a full mitigation in the next few days with the release of a new update."
DRM issues
Disgruntled gamers have responded to Xbox Support in droves, complaining that they can't launch their library of purchased games. They're understandably upset that their console has stopped fulfilling its primary function and can currently only be used to run third-party apps like YouTube instead of playing video games.
"Looks like I have an expensive brick..." one Xbox owner tweeted, along with a video showing the error screen that prevented them from playing Destiny 2 and Fortnite.
"Thanks Xbox. Literally can't do anything right now," another tweeted, showing off his stellar library of Xbox Series X games that had become inaccessible due to server failure.
The issue highlighted Microsoft's overly strict DRM (digital rights management) policy, which forces gamers to connect to Xbox's online servers even if they want to play offline. You can usually play downloaded games even when you're disconnected from the Internet by setting the console as your "Home Xbox."
But something is wrong this time. Even those who played with this setting were banned from their game library. Something seems to have gone wrong with the console's online connectivity requirements.
As VGC points out, does he play? - which is dedicated to verifying the DRM requirements of games - says that the problem is exclusive to Xbox. While Microsoft console cannot play games without connecting to Microsoft servers. The PS5 and Nintendo Switch do not have such strict requirements.
“If the PlayStation servers go down for good tomorrow, every single player game you have will be almost permanently offline (as long as the console is working and the account was linked),” he said. "There's a small subset of titles that won't."
When it comes to Xbox, he continued, "nobody wins, especially Xbox fans when EVERY catalog ends up being inaccessible."