Xbox One: Microsoft defends pre-owned games rules

[Lara Mills]

Xbox One: Microsoft defends pre-owned games rules



Microsoft has clarified its position on selling and buying pre-owned titles for its new Xbox One console.

Confusion arose after it appeared the company would impose a fee for playing pre-owned games, a move that was highly unpopular with gamers.

The company has now said in a statement that games can be traded in, but only at "participating retailers".

Games can be freely passed on to friends, Microsoft added, but only once.

"Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends," the statement said.

"There are no fees charged as part of these transfers.

"There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once."

The Xbox One will come up against Sony's new console, the PlayStation 4.

Sony is yet to show off the console and has not set out its policy on pre-owned games.

Its worldwide studios president, Shuhei Yoshida, told news site Eurogamer that used games would not be "blocked" on the console, but would not specify whether there would be a fee for using pre-owned titles.

Always online
The Xbox One has also come under fire after it emerged it might have to be always online to play games.

Microsoft explained on Thursday that while the console did not have to be online to play, it did need to connect at least once every 24 hours.

The company said: "You can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library.

"Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies."

This policy would "raise a few eyebrows" in the gaming community, one technology blog wrote.

But Microsoft argued that these policies allow individuals greater access to their games, even if players are not on their own console.

"After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud.

"So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend's house, you can play your games."

As the console is always on, it allows developers to create "massive, persistent worlds that evolve even when you're not playing", Microsoft said.

Source: click here

[Lara Mills]

Will you be investing in the new XBox One? Will you be getting another console? Or do you not even care?

I am going to be going to the other side (gasp!) and replace my XBox 360 with the PS4. It seems I may not be the only one, as IGN found when they asked their viewers/readers to vote on the consoles. You can view the results here.

[Bumble]

As both a PS3 and Xbox 360 owner I prefer the PS3 for some reason.

I do wish these new consoles would simply get back to being game consoles though. I don't give a fiddlers about any of the social media crap they seem more interested in integrating into the gameplay experience than say better graphics and more importantly better games!

[Lara Mills]

As both a PS3 and Xbox 360 owner I prefer the PS3 for some reason.

I do wish these new consoles would simply get back to being game consoles though. I don't give a fiddlers about any of the social media crap they seem more interested in integrating into the gameplay experience than say better graphics and more importantly better games!

I own both, too, and while my favourite games have been completed on the XBox, I prefer the feel and the look of the PS3. The graphics are just better.

I can understand them having things like Netflix and LoveFilm on, because then you can watch films with more ease than standing up to put the disc in... not a fan of social media being all over, or all of the things you are meant to be able to do with them. I agree with you, Bumble - they should stick to the gaming side

[Bumble]

Someone like ATARI, SEGA or Nintendo should release a proper next-gen gaming system and blow the "Old" guys away. That's my wish anyway but there's no chance.

[earlyriser]

I had been mulling this over for a bit but, having read that, I think I'll be avoiding Microsoft next generation. I, too, have both consoles - PS3 and Xbox 360 - and I can't afford to buy all the games I want on release day so I depend on pre-owned market.

Someone like ATARI, SEGA or Nintendo should release a proper next-gen gaming system and blow the "Old" guys away. That's my wish anyway but there's no chance.

Well there's still the Wii-U. I'm considering that as my next purchase as I'd like a console that's not so focused on social networking or movies, instead concentrating more on the gaming. And say what you like about Nintendo consoles and their kiddy aesthetics, but they make fun games.

[Doozer]

I wouldnt worry, wait a year and the console will be hacked and all the problems will be forgotten about

[sharkskin]

Is the proposed new regime for buying and selling used games really all that different from the current situation?

You can give a game to a friend and in turn, they can give you some cash. I do not see that anyone can stop that. You can sell a game to an authorised reseller and they will be able to sell it on to any customer. About the only thing that is stopped is selling the game privately with an ad on ebay.

[Dub Lad]

One of my fondest gaming memories happened with an xbox 360, it was the first time I ever did online gaming, I played NHL 2K10, when you're able to make friends and play against players all over the world and talk to em through the headset just blew my mind, just loved that side of it, that's how I got into World of Warcraft I love the social side of gaming, I would get a new console but I'm so used to World of Warcraft and the size of the world any console game the world would feel too small for me

[earlyriser]

Is the proposed new regime for buying and selling used games really all that different from the current situation?

You can give a game to a friend and in turn, they can give you some cash. I do not see that anyone can stop that. You can sell a game to an authorised reseller and they will be able to sell it on to any customer. About the only thing that is stopped is selling the game privately with an ad on ebay.

Yes you can give the game to your friend, but if I'm understanding it correctly, the game can only change hands once, leaving your friend with a game that they, too, might want to give to someone else but are prevented from doing so.

As you said, the main traders affected will be ebay sellers. I buy and sell games on eBay as I get a better deal on purchases and sales than I would from Gamestop. I might receive up to 20% of the retail value for a recently released game from Gamestop and they will sell it back to me at 90% of the retail value.

Another annoyance is DRM. You don't need to be connected to the internet 24/7 but for a system that I would use for mostly offline gaming I don't see the point. I wonder if they do release an unlock patch when they shut down the Xbox One servers in a few years, will it also allow me to play pre-owned games. Maybe 2020 is the year to buy the next Xbox.