Microsoft responds to Sony's "shifting message" comment

Microsoft has responded to Sony's "shifting message" comment that executive Andrew House made during the company's presentation yesterday at Gamescom.

Speaking with Eurogamer, Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer said he can't control what others say.

"Other people will do and say what they're going to say. Fine. We're running our program," Spencer said.

During the tail end of Sony's Gamescom presentation, House said, "While others have shifted their message and changed their story, we were consistent in maintaining policies and a model that is fair and in tune with consumer desires."

Microsoft has reversed multiple policies for the Xbox One since its formal unveiling in May. Spencer said these policy shifts are not detrimental, but rather a strength, and a sign of the company's ability to adapt and evolve policies based on consumer feedback.

"The two-way conversation that we have with gamers is critical," Spencer said. "If we weren't able to listen then I don't think we're really creating the ecosystem that means people want to come into the platform."

At E3 in June, Spencer responded to the backlash surrounding the Xbox One's since-reversed policies regarding DRM and connectivity, saying, "This isn't a sprint."

"The reaction, I think, is complete when the product is on the shelf and it has a price and it has a content library and consumers vote," he said at the time. "And that's the date I'm looking forward to."

The Xbox One launches in November for $500.