Xbox One digital features like game loaning may return

Xbox One was announced with a suite of since-cancelled features like digital game loaning, which may make a return, Microsoft's Phil Spencer has said.

Gamespot asked Spencer about features like family sharing and game loaning, which were axed when gamers reacted badly to the concept of an always-online, DRM-driven console platform. The executive's response gives some hope for those features making a comeback, despite Microsoft' startling u-turn.

"We are now fully heads down on thinking about and building out the future of our digital marketplace to enable what people would expect, and hopefully some things that will delight them beyond their expectations," Spencer said.

"I know when I say this I always get beat up, but I think some of what we were trying to say last summer was right."

Although Microsoft is now committed to retail and offline gaming, Spancer said the company believes in "a digital future" for the Xbox One.

"We understand what games you own and who you are and how you move around and who you might want to loan rights to your games or gift your games to," Spencer said.

"We totally believe in that future. And any other marketplace you play in, these kind of mechanisms are out there."

He's right - think of Steam's family sharing feature.

Thanks, GamesIndustry.