The next Xbox: Always online, no second-hand games, 50GB BD and new kinect

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Microsoft?s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform. A new iteration of Xbox Live will be an integral part of Microsoft?s next console, while improved Kinect hardware will also ship alongside the unit.

Sources with first-hand experience of Microsoft?s next generation console have told us that although the next Xbox will be absolutely committed to online functionality, games will still be made available to purchase in physical form. Next Xbox games will be manufactured on 50GB-capacity Blu-ray discs, Microsoft having conceded defeat to Sony following its ill-fated backing of the HD-DVD format. It is believed that games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes, and will have no value beyond the initial user.

Our source has also confirmed that the next Xbox?s recently rumoured specs are entirely accurate. That means an AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. As of now, the console?s hard drive capacity is said to be undecided, but Microsoft?s extended commitment to online delivery suggests that it will be the largest unit it has put inside a console to date.

Though the architectures of the next-gen Xbox and PlayStation both resemble that of PCs, several development sources have told us that Sony?s solution is preferable when it comes to leveraging power. Studios working with the next-gen Xbox are currently being forced to work with only approved development libraries, while Sony is encouraging coders to get closer to the metal of its box. Furthermore, the operating system overhead of Microsoft?s next console is more oppressive than Sony?s equivalent, giving the PlayStation-badged unit another advantage.

Unlike Nintendo, Microsoft is continuing to invest heavily in motion-control interfaces, and a new, more reliably responsive Kinect will also ship alongside the next Xbox. Sony?s next-generation console camera system is said to have a similar set of features, and is expected to be discussed at the company?s PlayStation event on February 20.

You can read more about how Sony?s next generation console compares in last week?s story, PlayStation 4 revealed.

Source: http://www.edge-onli...and-new-kinect/

[TheLegendOfMart]

Oh dear, of the three I thought Sony would be the first to implement something like this, if Sony doesn't have it then its game over before the battle has even begun. How can you justify having everything behind a Gold subscription paywall as well as not allowing second hand games.

If Sony does implement something like this then I've just saved myself ?350 come year end.

It's probably going to be similar to the online passes that some games have this generation, you might be able to buy a second hand game and then pay a nominal fee to allow you to play it.

[Guth]

always online? wtf

so what happens if you dont have internet? you cant play anything? not even offline?

[TheLegendOfMart]

If you have no internet you have a ?350-400 paperweight.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

always online? wtf

so what happens if you dont have internet? you cant play anything? not even offline?

I would suspect you need online to register each game, then afterwards that game can be played offline on that console only. It would be absolute suicide to not have some sort of offline mode in todays world.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i simply cannot believe that MS (and possibly Sony) are going to kill the 2nd-hand market

[Guth]

Still sucks though, I used to like trading in games I never played anymore for a new one.

I guess if you can afford a console you can afford internet but its not the point some people cant get broadband which this would probably need.

[TheLegendOfMart]

i simply cannot believe that MS (and possibly Sony) are going to kill the 2nd-hand market

It's all about greed, they feel they should have a share of the second hand market, the only way to do this is to introduce game passes like online passes are this generation.

[spacer]

While I'm sort of miffed at the "always online" thing, I would say that a large majority (I'd guess somewhere in the 90%+ range) have internet. So that won't be a problem.

However, I do have a HUGE issue with no second-hand games. That literally just squashed any thought I had of buying the next console.

[Osiris]

Doesn't surprise me, they've been looking to kill the second hand market for a long time but I actually think it will back fire and just increase piracy. I am sure they are both hoping their new systems are as resistant to hacking as the ps3 was for so long but I somehow doubt it.

[SSSikora]

"Microsoft?s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform."

That statement doesn't completely make sense to me. Just because you have to have an internet connection doesn't necessarily have to mean there will be no second-hand market...those are two complete separate things. Maybe there will in fact be no second-hand game market but it won't ONLY be because your XBOX must be connected.

[guitmz]

**********ers! buying second hand games is something essencial... when ur friend get that game no one has and borrows you, its amazing (was)... this is really stupid.. seems like they dont have a lot of money already and need to rip us off even more. scumbags.

for the always online, its also stupid... even just for register the game (you should be able to skip registration and register when you feel like)

[Gotenks98]

I am ok with the no 2nd hand game thing. I don't buy used games for a few reasons. I used to work for gamestop so I know how the trade in scam works and how some customer trade ins can be extremely disgusting to take in due to roaches and other grime. Also if there is a game I want buying it first hand means the developer gets the money.

What I do see happening with this is game prices will have to drop and the quality of games will have to go up. We will have very little shovel ware in the future.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

"Microsoft?s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform."

That statement doesn't completely make sense to me. Just because you have to have an internet connection doesn't necessarily have to mean there will be no second-hand market...those are two complete separate things. Maybe there will in fact be no second-hand game market but it won't ONLY be because your XBOX must be connected.

It says later

It is believed that games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes, and will have no value beyond the initial user.

[F_C]

I've never brought a second hand game or sold one, so it won't affect me personally, but I can understand why some may be annoyed.

The internet thing is annoying, quite often I can't play PC games which have the always connected DRM thing, so if the new consoles are like that it will be a shame as well.

[TheLegendOfMart]

"Microsoft?s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform."

That statement doesn't completely make sense to me. Just because you have to have an internet connection doesn't necessarily have to mean there will be no second-hand market...those are two complete separate things. Maybe there will in fact be no second-hand game market but it won't ONLY be because your XBOX must be connected.

Badly worded article, the general consensus is you will have an activation code in the box like you do a PC game that will tie the game to your gamertag so youd have to be online for the security check to happen.

[SSSikora]

It says later

I saw that and it didn't sound to certain to me...

Oh well as others have said I don't buy or sell used games so this doesn't affect me much. I too understand how others would be upset though.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

I really hope the requirement of an Internet connection (and the activation code) only applies to multiplayer games. The more I learn about the next-gen Xbox, the less excited I am.

[MidTxWRX]

No second hand market?

I STRONGLY doubt it.

I would be strongly surprised if they did such a thing. People would jump ship in a heartbeat, and/or they would find a way to hack the Xbox in order to play games. Microsoft would bend in the end.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

No second hand market?

I STRONGLY doubt it.

I would be strongly surprised if they did such a thing. People would jump ship in a heartbeat, and/or they would find a way to hack the Xbox in order to play games. Microsoft would bend in the end.

I disagree with it too but I fear Microsoft will get away with it. And it might even encourage Sony to follow suit. Even with no second-hand game market, the next-gen Xbox will still be successful. The average console gamer will be happy to buy "the next best thing".

[lecter]

There is a simple way for the 2nd hand market blow to be softened and Steam has showed it: Sales. BIG Sales. Every game I've bought on Steam is "1st hand" and I've never paid more than 15 EUR for one...if they go for the approach described in the article, there is no way that every game will still always cost between 40-60 bucks.

[TheLegendOfMart]

No second hand market?

I STRONGLY doubt it.

I would be strongly surprised if they did such a thing. People would jump ship in a heartbeat, and/or they would find a way to hack the Xbox in order to play games. Microsoft would bend in the end.

It's the way the industry is heading, they've sewn the seeds by testing online passes this generation, there wasn't too much opposition now they are going full on with game passes.

There is a simple way for the 2nd hand market blow to be softened and Steam has showed it: Sales. BIG Sales. Every game I've bought on Steam is "1st hand" and I've never paid more than 15 EUR for one...if they go for the approach described in the article, there is no way that every game will still always cost between 40-60 bucks.

That will never happen, there's a reason why console games are more expensive, they have to pay Sony and Microsoft for the privilige of releasing the game on their consoles. That's why they are ?10-15 more expensive than PC games RRP.

[thealexweb]

If they don't allow 2nd hand games they should cap the prices of games at ?20, and have the average game priced at ?10. Seems fair.

[spacer]

If they don't allow 2nd hand games they should cap the prices of games at ?20, and have the average game priced at ?10. Seems fair.

There is no way companies will reduce prices right off the bat. The market takes a long time to adjust to different consumer models, and so the default price for a game won't change any time soon. The only way it would change if there was a severe drop in sales, and it remained consistently low for months or years. Unfortunately, there will be enough ignorant people out there that will continue to buy games for their existing prices regardless of their actual value.

The biggest issue for me about the no second-hand games is that my brother and I always share our single-player games. All of those games will get played, completed, and then collect dust instead of going to someone else who would play it. Such a waste.

[LUTZIFER]

Sweet, can't wait.