All Channels
Popular
320°

Xbox One Used Games Policy Possibly Explained Through Reddit

VGR: Theataraxian posted a visual aid to how he believes the Xbox One used game policy will work. It seems logical and if true would screw Gamestop in the process, so I don’t see an issue. I just hope that Sony reveals more information soon, because if they aren’t careful they will receive a wave of backlash by angry internet nerds for no reason as well.

Read Full Story >>
vgrevolution.com
boybato4751d ago (Edited 4751d ago )

Jesus why use names such as Snoo and Soon when you could just use Bob and Joe. lol

Edit: As if Xbox Done hasn't make it more complicated.

Muerte24944751d ago

agreeing or disagreeing with you. If the used policy works as it's described in the article, then this isn't all that bad. It's a bit complicated but, apparently, you can let your friend can borrow your copy. What will happen is they then remove the game from your account and then associate with your friends account. The same game cannot be played at the same time on two different (main)accounts.

I can see two things happening with this

*A* Gamestop will definitely have to give you more for your trade-ins to prevent you from selling it to another bidder

*B* Getting your account hacked will have hasher ramifications. They can sell your game code and remove it from your game library. Forcing you to repurchase a game you already bought.

jc485734751d ago (Edited 4751d ago )

not bad for those that buy them new only. It makes it even more complicated because the games are directly linked to your account now, so what happens when they decide to take the service down? Will I have a functioning console to play my hard bought games? I mean, this is the online only thing that people are concerned about. What's the point of buying xbozone realizing something is dead wrong?

Soldierone4751d ago

Still begs the question.

What if we have a family, some people do this so bare with me, and more than one person in this family wants to play the same game. So these people both have accounts on the same Xbox in the same house, what happens then? Does person one need to "deactivate" and person two "activates" just to play the game?

I don't have an issue with not playing at the same time. That makes sense, you can't do that now, so who cares. However this system is in place to block something, and I want to know what it is. Can a game only be activated so many times? If not, then how is it restricting Gamestop at all?

4751d ago
denawayne4751d ago

@soldierone - MS already said that every profile on the system the game is installed can play the game.

xxV0rschlaghammer4751d ago

I think Gamestop and MAJOR retailers that sell used games now will most likely have a system in place whereby they place the game you trade-in to them into a machine that connects to MS's servers and deactivates the game from all accounts. Makes sense to me, if you think about it Gamestop was investing a bunch of money in trading DLC and digital content which this makes sense as it's basically one in the same with this.

The other thing thats far-fetched but I'd like to believe would be that maybe, just maybe DLC will be linked to the game discs as well as accounts, so say someone trades a game in with a season pass or some sort of DLC downloaded for it that it will transfer with the game thus maybe increasing trade values/etc, but thats just a pipe dream most likely.

I think MS will get a cut of every used game sale though, especially if they go with the route I think they will with some sort of way to deactivate the game in store. Whether it'll be enough to affect trade-in values and used prices remains to be seen.

theBAWSE4751d ago

Complete and utter bullshit senior MD's have already stated if someone wants to play the game on THEIR account they gotta pay the fee of the game which conveniently goes to ms. If the average Joe can understand why can't these supposed journalists

Soldierone4751d ago

@denaywayne

Okay, now what about families with multiple Xbox's in the house? You know, two brothers. Parents and kids, separate rooms etc....

Darrius Cole4751d ago (Edited 4751d ago )

@Muerte2494

I don't think that the policy works as described in the article. Once the second user installs the game then the system prompts him to pay a fee, which is the cost of the full price of the game.

If it worked as it is described in the article then the internet wouldn't be going ape-$#!+.

P.S.

Microsoft is going to be vague on the issue until AFTER E3 because they don't want the gamers to know. They want their faithful Xbox live subscribers to fall into the trap. So they are not going to give any clarity by E3 because the media machine would broadcast it to the heavens and ruin their strategy.

BlindGuardian4750d ago

that's wrong, in particular the part when it says that the game is removed from the first account when oit's installed on a second

THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS

the games will be installed on both consoles but only playable from one profile, when the games returns to the original owner it will still be installed, and the friend won't be able to play it unless he buys it from the online store

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4750d ago
indysurfn4751d ago

I think the simular names for confusion was on purpose. Okay I will now be a Sony fanboy! The fact that Microsoft HAS a used game policy is restrictive. Right now I have FULL freedom. So am I to wait and see if they are giving me MORE then full freedom, even though they are NOT announcing it yet? NO! OBVIOUSLY they are going to bend us ALL over and are hoping Sony is in on it! Plus if you require me to be online to watch tv BLANK YOU! That add another and WORSE restriction then I was already dreadding. I was worrying about used games, and being required to be online to play a game. Now on TOP of that I cant even watch tv if I'm not online? HELLO! HELLO! BLANK MICROSOFT and any cable/satellite carrier that supports them! TALK ABOUT GETTING BUNDLED! Now even your games will be bundle except it will be a REQUIRED BUNDLE! Thang they DO bundle everything! Forget those $200 cable bills its 450$ now! And oh yeah why would I want to be forced to go to a store(that they approve to boot). How about I can sell my game to a buddy instead of getting ripped off by a store. Or give it to a nephew? They are not READY to give details? It is already restrictive!

showtimefolks4751d ago

It seems logical and if true would screw Gamestop in the process, so I don’t see an issue.

you don't see the issue ok here i will explain since you seem quite a dumb ass

Unless Valve is running steam on these consoles i don't trust any of them with digital entertainment, when you leave it up to console makers they will charge you whatever they want.

you walk into a bestbuy or gamestop trade in your game and buy a brand new game, that won't be allowed

its not screwing gamestop its screwing the gamers, right now my copy of uncharted can be played by any of my friends and if a company wants to block that than i won't support them, i hope/pray MS goes through with this because they will be out of gaming business in a very short time.

this is signing your own death wish

fermcr4751d ago (Edited 4751d ago )

Don't like the names they used (Snoo and Soon), but actually... that image is starting to shed some light on the used games market scheme.

You have a game and lend it to a friend, he installs it and has 2 options:

- buys the game for his account and plays.

- or doesn't buy the game and installs and plays it (witch will remove the game from your library). When he returns the game, you can re-add it to your account.

To summarize, both of you can't play the same copy of the game at the same time, unless one of you buys another copy.

PSVita4750d ago (Edited 4750d ago )

This can't be how it works because if you sold your game to GameStop you'd still have it on your HDD until someone bought it and installed it to there system. Plus publisher still aren't getting money.... Right?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4750d ago
1OddWorld4751d ago

This isn't correct. There is no image of the publisher of the game getting money when you give your old game to a friend who didn't actually pay to play their game.

EVERYONE MUST PAY TO PLAY!!!

Not an issue for me I play demo on Gaikai and if I like the game I either download it direct, or go buy a new physical copy. I keep my games and I never share because I hate people.

BISHOP-BRASIL4751d ago

"[...] because I hate people."

You must be such a delight to be around. ¬¬'

Darrius Cole4751d ago

Ah yes, but he doesn't have to share his games because he owns them.

See what rights you get from owning something.

r214751d ago

Sooo owners who bought used games have to still pay to play the said game? Wonderful, offline passes.

xPhearR3dx4751d ago

If these images are correct, then no, you're wrong. We can install games to the 360 now, but it requires the disc. Where on Xbox One, you install the game and don't need the disc. So to prevent people from buying and sharing one game. That specific copy can only be activated on one account. So if you let your friend borrow the game, you still have it installed on your Xbox, but you can't play until you have the disc again.

BUT, you can get the disc back from your friend, and instead of he/she running out to the store and purchasing it, he/she can pay a "fee" to unlock the game to be used on their account. Therefor no need to install or need a disc, it's already there for you to use.

Now. If what I typed above is 100% accurate. This is a VERY good thing and convient for people who don't care to own physical copies of games. Which means MS VERY poorly explained it.

However, if what I said isn't correct and that "fee" is to allow you to play used games instead of deactivating it on someone else's account. That's pure BS.

r214751d ago

So still offline passes then? You cant access the disc's content until you either pay the fee(offline pass) or use your buddy's account which you activated the disc. So what way was i wrong?

xPhearR3dx4751d ago (Edited 4751d ago )

No you're not understanding. If your friend has the disc, the game activates on THEIR profile and deactivated on YOUR profile. Meaning, your friend can play the game all he wants just like you can now if you let your friend borrow a 360 game. BUT if you get your game back, and put it in your Xbox, it reactivates on YOUR profile and deactivates on HIS profile.

So if your friend wants to continue playing the game, you'll need to give him the disc again, or he can pay a "fee" to unlock it and own it without the need to go to the store or download anything.

Foxhound9224751d ago

Sounds like a complicated mess to me

torchic4751d ago

I highly doubt it's as complicated as it seems right now.

a lot of what we're hearing about how this will operate is based on many different vague statements from Microsoft people being fused together.

Microsoft know what the whole process is, they definitely know what's up, they just won't tell us.

I personally don't think it works the way it does in the pic. from what I've been reading and hearing, your friend who has just borrowed a copy of Battlefield 4 from you has the ability to take the disc and install it on his X1, but then would be prompted to pay a fee to actually start the game (activation).

once you buy your own copy of Battlefield 4, it is 100% linked to your account and whoever wants to play it on their account would have to pay.

I don't mind used game blocks, but what I do mind is the fact that you can't borrow/lend games with friends.

bratman4751d ago

"I don't mind used game blocks, but what I do mind is the fact that you can't borrow/lend games with friends."

that's the same thing :/

You lending/borrowing a game that has already been played by you or someone else is a Used game.

swishersweets200314751d ago

the picture is wrong, in order to loan your friend a game and not have them pay the full retail fee, you have to give your friend your game sign in and password and let him log in as you. At the same time you go home and cant log into your xbox under your account..

you can spin this anyway you want the facts are clear they are going to rape your wallet :p

boybato4751d ago

bu bu but account sharing is against Lives TOS. lol

denawayne4751d ago

Not true at all. One activated license on one account at a time. I play a game, finish it, give it to you, you download it and activate to your account, it deletes from my account. That way it can't be passed to 500 people and they all can play at same time unless they purchase a license.

1OddWorld4751d ago

If you purchased the game new your wallet isn't being raped. If you are getting the game from a friend and then having to pay a fee to play it on your console then you are still not being raped. Paying to play a game that you want to play is just fair. Getting your wallet raped is when they sell you DLC that should have been in the game in the first place, or make you pay to play online.

Show all comments (54)
70°

Microsoft Gaming Revenue Drops 7% Year-on-Year, Content and Services Down 5%, Xbox Hardware Down 33%

Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
Jin_Sakai26d ago (Edited 26d ago )

Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.

dveio26d ago

To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.

Jingsing26d ago

The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.

Tanktopmaster9226d ago

Once they re-evaluate exclusive all will be fine….

S2Killinit26d ago

Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.

Jingsing26d ago

15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.

Tanktopmaster9226d ago

These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse

Show all comments (13)
70°

Xbox boss: Memory crisis could impact next-gen hardware pricing

Xbox boss Asha Sharma has discussed how component shortages will impact the company's plans for Project Helix.

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
Eonjay27d ago

When does this end? Its killing everyone. Consoles and PC. And for what? AI? The benefits of AI are completely outweighed by the negatives. And the government should have never allowed one company to buy up all the RAM.

Lexreborn228d ago

This kind of proves this is an after thought product, most products like this are in r&d 5 years before they start mass producing. So they typically have the cost of components and things worked out long before assembly starts.

This is an assumption still, but I wouldn’t be surprised if project helix is similar to Scalebound,perfect dark and sod3. They had an idea but no actual execution other than concept stage. Being impacted by the ram shortage likely would also put this device 3-4 years out.

I’m not even sure MS has that endurance with Xbox yet

Fishy Fingers28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

I mean.... what?

We're at a point that Samsung wont even provide their own phone department ram because they can sell it at higher prices to 3rd parties (AI). Its more profitable to sell the ram than make their own devices with it.

You think because R&D starts 5 years ago the 3rd party component manufacturers will honour that price? They'll sell it to whomever is paying the most today, not some gentlemens agreement they made years ago. AI farms will buy more volume at higher prices than any console manufacturer will. It'll be the same for Playstation.

Lexreborn227d ago

Contractual agreements are not the same as “gentlemen” agreements. If you think that they work with their distributors a month before production then their entire business model is trash. They work with companies like nvidia constantly for building the graphics cards they need. They work with companies that build motherboards years in advance. This is what proper business planning does.

They are not buying components on a whim like a consumer. So again, considering the ram isn’t a singular module and is integrated into the motherboard I highly doubt they wouldn’t have a final schematic that they are supposed to be building around.

If they are delaying production another 3 years then it’s obvious again this is an after though project and is just trying to be responsive to their bad execution they had the last 14 years.

It also isn’t far fetched to use their failure to produce first party titles the last 7 years including the highly anticipated games I mentioned all being cancelled. That they would continue to you know… lie

Sitdown28d ago

You don't really know how this works huh?

Profchaos28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

Helix is going to be stupidly expensive

Instead of leaning into smarter upscaling techniques they're brute forcing hardware that will cost them dearly and it remains to be seen if it's genuinely going to provide a meaningful differential

I know in the oc.doace people like to brag about not using frame gen or dlss to get to high on a game but for the majority of players they happily use those technologies without a second thought

That's going to be ps6 vs Helix

Eonjay27d ago

Yeah with FSR 5 they should be able to offer a much cheaper version of Helix.

Eonjay27d ago

While this does seem to be the case, I am encouraged by the statement from Microsoft about wanting to provide affordable options. If this means a Series S style Helix, at least there will be something affordable being offered.

XBManiac27d ago

Series S is what has killed Xbox Series so... Will they dare?

blacktiger28d ago

It's called systematic inflationary. Yes we get it Microsoft, keep raising in the name ofall kinds of stuffs

pwnmaster300028d ago

Honestly if there was thing I learned from this generation is that new consoles arnt day one anymore.
I can wait 1-3 years.

DarXyde28d ago

Another important lesson from this generation: while Nintendo showed us that prices don't necessarily need to ever drop, we've now learned that waiting 1-3 years does carry some risk that prices increase. This generation is just bizarre in all the wrong ways.

LucasRuinedChildhood28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

The factors are largely external. Covid and Russia-Ukraine war causing inflation led to the first price increase in 2022.

Then we get Trump's tariffs increasing hardware prices, AI boom causing a RAM crisis, war on Iran causing a worldwide fuel crisis which impacts the cost of everything.

Gaming doesn't exist in a vacuum. The last few years have been a shitshow and lot of it was definitely avoidable.

DarXyde27d ago

LucasRuinedChildhood,

For sure. No disagreement on the external factors doing a lot of this. Where I have to gently push back however is on two fronts:

1. The pandemic definitely caused some issues: asynchronous development was a big issue and really complicated timelines and affected game quality. At the same time, when it comes to price hikes, it's really difficult to know what was genuine necessity and what was taking consumers for a ride. The pandemic brought about "stag-flation" which was increasing prices and stagnant wages, which was a problem caused by supply chain constraints. There was also "Greed-flation", where companies that were slightly affected or had no issues took advantage of the situation and squeezed everyone citing supply chain issues when there were none.

2. It's definitely true that the tariffs, AI boom, and RAM crisis were all things enabled by tech broligarchs throwing money at this caricature of a world leader, one of them being Satya Nadella. I don't think Sony and Nintendo have contributed much to this problem if at all, but Microsoft's Nadella I feel was instrumental in causing every one of those issues. Microsoft as a company contributed to both candidates (though they gave Harris 4x as much if I recall), but Nadella was all in on letting AI run wild. He paid for unregulated AI, and got a war that's not a war (even though Trump called it that at least five times on television) that screwed up helium access. So for me, I feel that one of the players in the gaming industry is a key architect of these issues, and for that reason I struggle a bit to think of it as "external".

Show all comments (28)
50°

'The big things that we're thinking about'

In an exclusive interview with Game File, new(ish) Xbox boss Asha Sharma and Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty explain their vision for Microsoft’s gaming division

Read Full Story >>
gamefile.news
Agent7529d ago

A good start would be to release games to go with the console. My Xbox Series X has gathered dust virtually from launch. My advice would be to ditch a next console and release games on PC, PlayStation and Switch. Another idea would be a hybrid console based on Xbox Series X tech and go the same route as Nintendo. Another idea would be to pull out of gaming altogether. Plenty of options there.

Reaper22_27d ago

Why would they pull out? They have the momentum. Sony has been getting nothing but bad news lately.