Tensions were high during the PS4 Press Conference for some of us, partially because we were all waiting for word to come down from the Sony Gods as to how they would be treating used games in the next generation. Sony, for their part, neither elaborated their distaste or gave the 100% go-ahead. Their philosophy seemed to be “Hey...we're going to try offering you all the old games you want streaming the instant you sit down through Gaikai. You won't even WANT to go to the store to buy them used.”

This is all well and good provided the streaming service, whether it be per-game or monthly fee, comes out at a price significantly less than buying the games new. That is the whole point, really. We buy used games because they're cheaper...not because they're used.

Microsoft might be carving their own path, however. If a recent interview with Eidos president Ian Livingstone has any validity, the Redmond based company might be taking a harsher, salt the earth approach.

With the next Xbox, you supposedly have to have an internet connection, and the discs are watermarked, whereby once played on one console it won’t play on another," Livingston said. "So I think the generation after that will be digital-only.”

The idea that Microsoft would go it alone in their quest to keep people from playing used games is perplexing to me...especially since it would simply mean people flocking to a more open system. A system that could be run by their number one competitor in this market...Sony. Microsoft will also have to figure out how this process would work when someone buys a new console for themselves...or maybe just want two in the home. Will two copies of a game need to be purchased? Will there be an Online Pass type of “Used Game Pass” that one will have to purchase to open the game up to more consoles? Personally, a Used Game Pass is something I think we'll be seeing sooner than we think.

Of course, Microsoft isn't doing this completely within a bubble. Right now they're prepping for a Steam Sale-esque sale of their own through their Xbox Games on Demand service. The sale is going on now through March 4th and has some impressive titles on the list. These are not throwaway games no one wants. Rather Microsoft is beginning to treat this service in the same way they should from the beginning; as a cheaper alternative to purchasing physical copies of games. Up until now titles on the service cost as much as store-bought versions which has caused it to, quite reasonably, languish in the dust bin of XBLA.

Again....we don't buy used games because they're used. We buy them because they're cheaper. Valve has understood this from the very beginning.

Out of the two big players here, Microsoft and Sony, my gut reaction is that Sony has it right. Do not assuage yourself from the used games market, however give gamers a different approach. By offering a competitive choice, Sony may come out on top. Microsoft may be doing themselves a world of hurt by spurning the consumer as a first step.

Comments

  • Avatar
    LauKungPow
    11 years, 1 month ago

    What the actual and literal fuck. Watermarking the disks? Jesus.

  • Jeremy Flower Avatar
    Jeremy Flower
    11 years, 1 month ago

    We'll see. If they do one-use games, it could work if new discs were like 20-30 dollars as opposed to 60 (70 if they get greedy) we're sure to see for PS4 discs. But seeing as Microsoft pioneered the $10 HD tax, I doubt they'll do that.

  • Avatar
    willdearborn
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Well alright, PS4 it is then. I hope many others will follow suit and send a message.

  • Avatar
    SuperCeller2
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I've already decided not to purchase the next x-box since the only first-party Microsoft franchise I actually like is Halo. But I think this is the final nail in that coffin. The only used games I buy are the older, hard-to-find games that they don't sell at Target or Walmart anymore, so what's going to happen to those games when you can't even play them let alone find them? Some of my favorite games I bought used years after they were released, and I would always try to support the developer or franchise after words if I could. I understand why they would do this but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth all the same.

  • Avatar
    Rorix
    11 years, 1 month ago

    If this is true, it certainly made my choice for the next console I buy a hell of a lot easier. There's no way I'm going to buy a console that is digital-only to buy games. Even if that's the way the industry eventually goes, I'll switch over to PC where at least I have Steam and can mod my games.

  • Avatar
    Trastan
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Pretty much what SuperCellar2 said. After the 360 devolving from a great games console into an advertisement machine with a $60 yearly fee, I've decided to jump ship. I bought the original XBox (not the 360) at launch, and seeing the 360 mutate into the soulless monstrosity that it is today has been depressing. It makes me sad whenever I see a screen shot of the original 360's dashboard and wonder what could have been.

    I'm done with Microsoft's non-Windows businesses. I don't expect any corporation to have my best interests in mind, but, with the 360, I feel like I'm just wallet to squeeze every last penny out of, regardless of customer loyalty. Their popularity this gen has convinced them that they can do whatever they want, and it's time that I stop giving them my support.

    Sony, on the other hand, has learned a lot of hard lessons with the PS3, and I continue to be impressed with their goals and attitude. Between the PS4 and the ever-reliable PC, I think that I can deal with the loss of Halo.

  • Emulatedhype Avatar
    Emulatedhype
    11 years, 1 month ago

    I'll stay on the fence and reserve my judgement until we get some concrete details. There were some pretty outlandish rumors floating around about the PS4 before Sony's conference.

    The real problem, if this is true, is what are they going to do if they had a widespread system failure issue like the RROD again? A repeat a event would be highly unlikely, but the consumer confidence for the brand would be devastated if replacement Durangos can't play games that were locked to a previous system. I can imagine they'll give you a store 're-download' option and mark the game as being enabled for an account, but the what about other people with accounts on the system? It'll be really interesting to read the finalized EULA that ships with the system if they go this route.

    This is a really rickety bridge Microsoft is considering crossing.

  • Avatar
    Golem100
    11 years, 1 month ago

    "The idea that Microsoft would go it alone in their quest to keep people from playing used games is perplexing to me..."

    It sounds almost suicidal considering how sophisticated gamers are now. If this does get announced at launch it's going to be a huge story among gamers and spread like wildfire through social media that the new XBox won't play used or rented games.

    I also think back to the Sony press conference and just where was EA?
    Is it possible some deals have been done for exclusive content on the new XBox among some Devs and big publishers in return for this?

    We know some publishers want it because the more copies they sell the better for them.

    If this is true then it's going to get very messy. Will a publisher calculate that more copies will be sold on a restricted console rather than making two versions? Seems doubtful. A multiformat approach will be even cheaper this time with the PS4 and new Xbox likely to be far easier to port across because they have similar architectures.

    Whatever the doomsayers say about the growth of mobile gaming and the poor sales of the Wi-U and Vita there is room for both consoles as a cursory glance at massive console sales of the 360 and PS3 will show you.

    In a two console environment locking one console to one game is a very risky strategy. I might have been underwhelmed by the PS4 launch but this is no minor matter and affects the cost of gaming directly. I could see this being a deciding factor for a great many gamers.

    Microsoft are playing with fire here and it will take more than one superb sale on Live (which it is, 360 owners should check it out now) to convince that there will be a friendly environment for cheaper gaming if they try to kill used and rented games.

  • Arxidus Avatar
    Arxidus
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Either they're serious (and, therefore, crazy), or they're scrambling to disprove this idea as just a rumor, both of which being bad for business. Man, next-gen talk is so much fun. All the drama and plot twists that develop are just as entertaining as watching a movie.

  • Zladko Avatar
    Zladko
    11 years, 1 month ago

    If that's true, I'll just stick to a Sony console and PC. As usual.

  • theottomatic91 Avatar
    theottomatic91
    11 years, 1 month ago

    Hmm interesting if Microsoft do go ahead in making a service like steam it may not be such a bad idea but i'll hold off on buying the console till I see the service in motion.

  • Avatar
    Sickbrain
    11 years, 1 month ago

    "The idea that Microsoft would go it alone in their quest to keep people from playing used games is perplexing to me"

    This,this, this. I was about to post a thread about this on the forums. Do you really think that MS will go alone with idea of restricting 2nd hand games? We heard nothing from Sony yet, PS fanboys beware.

  • HurlockHolmes Avatar
    HurlockHolmes
    11 years, 1 month ago

    To be perfectly honest, I will hold judgment of their choice until I see the starting price of the new Xbox.

    If it ends up being rather cheap, like around $300-350(as opposed to the rumored price of the PS4), then I could see people getting one despite the fact there would be no used games available to purchase.

    However, neither of those will remedy their lack of good exclusive titles, which is the whole reason I ever regretted getting a 360 instead of a PS3 in the first place.

    I think Microsoft has a rough road ahead of them...

  • ajdambro Avatar
    ajdambro
    11 years, 1 month ago

    If Microsoft does go down this route, then I guess I'm going with Sony next gen. I'm in no rush to get a next gen console, but this is pretty telling nonetheless.