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Xbox One blocks used games. Offline Pass confirmed

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ultrazilla

Gold Member
The industry deserves to fucking crash.

This is the ONE REASON you fellow gamers really need to pay attention to what Nintendo is doing and how they're handling things.

For all the "doom and gloom" Nintendo gets, they're the ones actually giving a shit about the industry and gamers.
 
I'm very scared to ask this question in fear of being flamed for all eternity but I'm really curious to hear some of the peoples opinions here about it and I still can't make my own threads yet. Being somewhat involved in the games industry as an artist, I hear the used game argument quite often. Do people here think that publishers are just being too greedy for wanting a cut of used game sales? What if that money went back to the studios budgets that would allow for artists and programmers to keep there jobs for a longer period of time(being optimistic here)? I for one am not crazy about the blocking of used games sales personally even though it is not any sort of deal breaker for me as I rarely purchase used games in general but on the flip side having had conversations with others about it in the industry I feel as if I can see where both sides are coming to a certain degree. Thoughts? (please don't kill me lol)
 

mnannola

Member
What if Steam came out tomorrow and announced a new feature. The ability to give any game you have on your steam profile to a friend for a fee? If the fee was fair, this would be an absolutely huge announcement.

Isn't that exactly what Microsoft is doing here? You install the game to your hard drive and the game follows the account, just like Steam does. They are just giving you the additional ability to play used games on the system with a fee, something that on Steam is impossible.

I get the outrage because this is something that has been free in the past, just playing devils advocate.
 

J-Rzez

Member
Honestly, how bad things panned out today and the bad mojo/vibes out there, Sony could do the same thing and they'd still be accepted by gamers. MS just has too much against them today.
 

Mileena

Banned
How is this different to Steam? There are no specifics on this just yet, it's a means of cutting all the ubisoft/EA BS online passes.

Could it reflect in the retail prices of games? Cheaper games?

Steam has good pricing. XBL and Microsoft do not.
 
If the fee is low this would actually be a cheap way to buy new games. I'm going to wait to see the implementation of this before getting angry.

The fee will mean the owner will have to their copy of the game for a price that takes into account whatever this fee may be. Assuming it is $15-$20, which is a reasonable estimate, then that would mean he cuts that off his original asking price. This could potentially half his return thus making it an unattractive proposition to sell it in the first place
 
I hope the games don't take a long time to install atleast.

Though this sucks, I personally wouldn't be affected by this since 98% of games I buy is new in the package. But I have plenty of family and friends that buy or borrow used games that would be affected by this.
 
sad_face.gif
 

MThanded

I Was There! Official L Receiver 2/12/2016
This is the ONE REASON you fellow gamers really need to pay attention to what Nintendo is doing and how they're handling things.

For all the "doom and gloom" Nintendo gets, they're the ones actually giving a shit about the industry and gamers.

They should release games. I'm not trying to be funny but they are seriously lacking in one of the key things gamers care about. Games.
 

LakeEarth

Member
I am currently borrowing Arkham City from a friend. With the Xbox One, I would've had to have paid MS to do that? Retarded.
 

Robso

Member
How is this different to Steam? There are no specifics on this just yet, it's a means of cutting all the ubisoft/EA BS online passes.

Could it reflect in the retail prices of games? Cheaper games?

Assuming you're in the US as here in the UK games reduce very quickly. Hopefully that continues into next gen.
 

Jawmuncher

Member
I'll see how this further develops.
At the moment though Xbox One is getting a pass until they make it worth my while with a system like that in place. Sony has a chance to change things so hopefully they go for a better route. But considering it seems to be mandated by publisher times don't look good for either.


Ironically i'll stick with my PC if need be.
Sure you could argue that the same thing, but to me it isn't. Mainly do to how open the platform is and the like.
 

dab0ne

Member
This is the ONE REASON you fellow gamers really need to pay attention to what Nintendo is doing and how they're handling things.

For all the "doom and gloom" Nintendo gets, they're the ones actually giving a shit about the industry and gamers.

Yep, if PS4 pulls this shit i'ma get a Wii U.
 

Rocky

Banned
So how does the disc remember it has been activated?

And what happens when there's no server to pay the fee? What if I can't connect my system right now to Xbox Live? That basically means the disc is dead.

Well, good try Microsoft. Looks like you've managed to successfully fall to the third console curse if that article is accurate reporting. I'm still kind holding out, thinking that maybe there's some nuance that's been misconstrued. But it's not looking hopeful.

Wait. Doesn't this just mean you can install it and play it without the disk. If you buy it used, you'd just have to play with the disk in unless you pay a fee.

That will probably deactivate the original install because then someone could buy a game, install it and quickly sell it, amassing a huge collection.

Why is this the end of the world again?

I'm guessing discs will now be encoded with a unique ID that will tied to the XBL account and possibly console ID. How else would it know its been used already?
 

MechaX

Member
Hey, remember seven years ago when people guaranteed that Sony would also charge a fee to play online just like XBL Gold?

Just because MS is making a butthole-y, anti consumer decision, it doesn't mean Sony will too.

Different scenario. For XBL Gold, MS and only MS would be getting a profit.

Here, now publishers have a possible route to get back at the GS menace they might have been complaining about for the past several years. When considering the publishers will be responsible for the game content entirely, this is a different ballgame from XBL Gold v. PSN.
 
Sounds like they want to make buying the disc as unattractive as possible and make you download the games, eliminating the possibility of there even being a disc to trade or sell in the first place.

Also nice how MS isn't making developers require an online connection to play games, but the support is there and it's up to the developer to use it and "we certainly hope they do".

No wonder they want to push everything but games on this thing. Who's going to buy it to play a game?
 

Struct09

Member
Sounds like there's more to the story: http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-may-require-game-installs-close-out-used-game-market/

Update: In a post answering "top questions" about the Xbox One, the official Microsoft page notes the system "does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet." Additionally Microsoft notes that in the case of pre-owned software, the Xbox one is designed "to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We'll have more details to share later." The Q&A makes no mention of the fees confirmed by Microsoft to Wired.
 

Knoxcore

Member
People need to stop trying to deflect this onto the PS4.

If it's confirmed on the PS4 to be the same it is. (I personally don't really care that much as I only buy new, although the inability to borrow would suck and I don't know how it would work with multiple accounts on a system.)

But it's not confirmed, nor is there anything as yet to suggest it beyond insinuation.
I believe all games must be installed to play.

I don't think people are trying to deflect...it matters if the PS4 allows used games (without a fee). If they don't it will destroy the used games market. I guarantee you it will not result in an increase in sales. In fact, I think it will have no effect on new sales.
 

Jinfash

needs 2 extra inches
This is pretty huge, if not a little bit expected with all the rumors. I'm still worried how Yoshida stated the PS4 will support used games, then uncommitted to his answer after speaking with his translator. Something about "we have to reveal our system if I were to answer this."

The statement ended up being dodgy at best. So with this confirmation, I'm sure Sony will be under pressure to deliver a similar system, albeit not as inconvenient.
 
I find it funny that people think publishers will let used games be played on one platform but not another.

this

It's not like MS is doing this just for themselves. If third parties can get a chunk of the used fee change then it's not beyond reason that we could see more third party exclusives preferring an XBO/PC future.
 
This all hinges on the used license fee. Of its cheap, this actually wouldn't be so bad. If it's what we all expect (close to full price) it's going to suck and probably going to be a deal breaker for many.
 
Not as bad as the always online shit, but still dreadful. As an avid eBay seller, this is going to tank that market. I guess that was their intention, though.
 

KaYotiX

Banned
Hey, remember seven years ago when people guaranteed that Sony would also charge a fee to play online just like XBL Gold?

Just because MS is making a butthole-y, anti consumer decision, it doesn't mean Sony will too.

They just called it PS+ to get ppl buttered up for next gen :p
 
T

thepotatoman

Unconfirmed Member
I can't wait for all the gaming press who mostly don't have to worry about spending money on games start defending this.
 

MThanded

I Was There! Official L Receiver 2/12/2016
this

It's not like MS is doing this just for themselves. If third parties can get a chunk of the used fee change then it's not beyond reason that we could see more third party exclusives preferring an XBO/PC future.
Then its bad news for everyone.
 
After more than 600 replies I still don't get what that have to do with a so-called confirmation of MS blocking used games.

It would make more sense if every game was automatically tied to your account if you wanted to play it without having to insert the disc after you installed it. And then you could still take the game to your friend's house, install it and play the game with the disc in the tray. And if your friend wanted to keep playing the game after you took the disc home with you, he would have to pay a fee to do so.

It's not blocking games in the traditional sense. I was wrong to use this word too.

It's the expansion of the online pass to include the entire content on the disc, it's something developers have been slowly working towards this generation, only people who weren't paying attention are angry about this.
 

fatty

Member
Microsoft just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about the Gamestop culture (I'm an expert), but buying and reselling games are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Best Buy where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in a game transaction, preorder bonus or strategy guide sale, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the Gamestop public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase the Xbox One, nor will they purchase any of Microsoft's operating systems. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Microsoft has alienated an entire market with this move.

Microsoft, publicly apologize and take away the used game fee for Xbox One or you can kiss your business goodbye.
 
What if Steam came out tomorrow and announced a new feature. The ability to give any game you have on your steam profile to a friend for a fee? If the fee was fair, this would be an absolutely huge announcement.

Isn't that exactly what Microsoft is doing here? You install the game to your hard drive and the game follows the account, just like Steam does. They are just giving you the additional ability to play used games on the system with a fee, something that on Steam is impossible.

I get the outrage because this is something that has been free in the past, just playing devils advocate.

The comparison would be apt if XBOX games cost a quarter of what they do, or if Steam was universally hated for being overpriced.

The other side of the coin is that Steam's DRM is a million times less draconian, not restricted by hardware and 100% offline available.

Not to mention that the platform Steam games are played on is open, the games can be bought from any other distribution channel, including physical media with no single-account DRM.

All in all, this post is dumb.
 

Azzurri

Member
As shitty as this is, I don't buy used games or sell my games. I usually buy new games at discounted prices or if I really want it I'll pay full price.
 

Shaneus

Member
Is this serious? How do we know it's not just like an installed game on the current 360, where you just need to have the disc in the drive for verification?
 

Dan

No longer boycotting the Wolfenstein franchise
Big opportunity for Sony to say "Used games work on PS4 like they always have in the past" but if MS did this I fear Sony is going to do this too.
 
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