The Right To Repair movement is a piece of legislature designated to provide consumers the right to modify the hardware they purchase at their own accord through more user-friendly regulations. This ranges as anything from jail-breaking electronics, modifying one's cellphone, and automobile repairs. More information about their goal can be found at their repair.org site. 

The video game industry is no stranger to this, as independent developers and technicians have been the lifeblood of the home brew market, ROMs, SCART cards and all-purpose devices like Raspberry Pi. But when it comes to home console/device repair, the companies like Sony, Apple, and Microsoft never allowed parts to fix disc readers or power sources. Even Nintendo issues flat out account bans and denial of access to the eShop for jailbreaking a Nintendo Switch.

According to Grist, it looks like Microsoft is reportedly aiming to make it easier for consumers to repair devices by forming a partnership with the non-profit company As You Sow. After negotiations that have been taking place since June, Microsoft complied to look into "analyzing social and environmental benefits" of making device repair easier. The pluses of providing repair parts may have an impact on consumer waste, as many will just buy a new console. This makes Microsoft the first major tech company to acknowledge the movement.

This sounds rather promising, though it is worth remembering Microsoft has been a part of lobbying that has tried to quietly kill Right to Repair. One of these included allegedly agreeing to STEM education and denying sales of Surface t... in Washington if the Right to Repair bill passed back in 2019. Perhaps Microsoft, through the tough negotiations, has seen the more consumer-friendly aspect of these policies, and could be a very vital pioneer in helping reduce the planet's carbon footprint. 

SOURCES: Grist, BoingBoing