For gamers, swapping games among friends is free, legal and
easy way of playing games without buying them. With this, they can get more
gaming experience without hard earned cash. But for Xbox customers, that all maybe
about to change.
With the release of the new Xbox, Microsoft has outlined its
plans for the pre-owned titles and the future does not look bright for the new
Xbox console.
Upon the purchase of the game, a unique code will be issued
which will be linked to Xbox Live and will be used only once and verified
online. And if you swap the games, than other users wanting to play the game
will have to buy the right to play the game – at full price.
Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison said, “The
code just sits on your hard drive and you will have the permission to play that
game on your console as long as you like, the bits that are on the disc, you
can give it to your friend and they can install it, then they have the buy the
right to play that game on Xbox Live”.
He also added, “Let’s assume it’s a new game, so the answer
is yes, it will be the same price”.
Microsoft has long sought a way of capitalising on the
hugely profitable pre-owned games market.
When popular titles are released, they sometimes cost more
than £40, so gamers have thought of cutting prices by sharing and buying games
played by other users at half the price.
Director of programming at Xbox Live, Larry hyrb said, “We
have only confirmed that we design Xbox one to enable our customers to trade in
and resell games at retail”. But Microsoft refused to give any more details on
this.
He also said, “Another piece of clarification around playing
games at your friends house – should you choose to play your game at your
friends house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to
your own profile”.
So this statement confirms that the games attached to your
Xbox console while you are signed in to your Xbox Live account can be played
anywhere, but not that your friends can play them on theirs.
This move can push Sony to think about its own treatment of
pre-owned games when the PS4 is releases later at the end of 2013.
REFERENCES:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/Xbox/10075540/Xbox-One-gamer-backlash-over-fee-for-pre-owned-titles.html
(date accessed: 24/05/2013)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22623010
(date accessed: 24/05/2013)