Microsoft will block he pirated games on Windows 10? – ZDNet France

As part of its “One Windows” policy, Microsoft introduced on August 1 user agreements and privacy policies unified. They normally bring more transparency in the rules. But some users worried passages

One of the clauses of the contract of use. – Covering services such as Xbox Live, Bing, Cortana, Office 365, onedrive, etc. – A priori gives the publisher the ability to block games using counterfeit / pirated and unauthorized devices

The contract states:

“We may automatically check your software version and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware devices. “

Tom Warren of The Verge notes, however, that Microsoft had already using this practice on Xbox by broadcasting updates for its console blocking the use of certain devices or pirated games.

By developing more and more of its products on the same Windows 10 kernel, which the OS of the Xbox One, it is not, at first glance incoherent for Microsoft all unite around a user agreement.

What is still unclear is whether “One Windows” and unified conditions of use will lead Microsoft to transpose policy already in force on Xbox to all terminals under Windows 10 (PC, tablets, phones …).

There is one major difference between an Xbox and eg a PC or a tablet. Microsoft is both the manufacturer of the Xbox and the editor of its operating system. This is however not the case on PCs, tablets and smartphones, and Lumia off area.