After a firmware update at 11pm last night, Xbox One owners in China are reporting their consoles are no longer region-locked, according to Haogamers. Owners of Xbox Ones sold in China can now play the international versions of their favorite games.
It was widely assumed that all game consoles to enter China after the recently-lifted ban would be forced to limit players to region-locked content. They would do so to comply with local laws concerning content censorship and regulatory approval. That assumption was proved wrong when Sony launched the PS4 console in China region-free in March.
And now Microsoft has followed suit. The company hasn’t made an official announcement regarding the update yet, but the move will definitely be a boost for the Xbox One if it sticks. While games sold locally in China will still approved and altered to meet regulations, players could theoretically still buy games from overseas.
MyDrivers, a Chinese website reporting on the update, says it confirmed the Xbox One’s region-free status by installing international versions of Halo: Master Chief Collection and Grand Theft Auto 5.
We have not yet confirmed whether the update affects online play and downloadable content (DLC). If the Xbox has indeed been fully unlocked, Chinese players would be able to play the games online with players from other countries.
(Source: Haogamers)
Editing by Steven Millward
(And yes, we’re serious about ethics and transparency. More information here.)
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
