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

[Nick H. Supervisor]

I don't own an Xbox, but if any console had to be always online it would be a deal breaker for me.

[theyarecomingforyou]

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

Why not? Valve has done that on the PC with Steam. In some respects it's actually better for gamers, as because the developer / publisher gets a percentage of every sale (rather than getting nothing from second hand sales) games can actually be sold at a lower price. It's one of the reasons why Steam has such major sale events.

The issue is that Valve has a very good reputation when it comes to catering to gamers, while Microsoft has been a lot more ruthless and has a history of anti-competitive business practices. I simply don't trust Microsoft to implement this in a way that benefits gamers.

[Arceles]

PC committed gamer from here on then... every time gaming is just.... getting more greedy, my money goes to steam (and second hand older games)

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Will take this all with a HUGE grain of salt, but just playing pretend and commenting as if the rumors were indeed fact, I think I would very strongly consider not getting the next XBox. Easily 50% of the games I have played this generation were thanks to the second hand market, I use GameFly as a rental service. So not having the ability to play second hand games really is a very big deal breaker for me.

Also although I definitely used the 360 more the first couple of years this generation, for the past 2 years give or take I almost only use my PS3. I only have played Alan Wake, Black Ops 2, and Halo 4 on the 360. Everything else, and all of my movie watching etc., is done through the PS3. What it really comes down to for myself is I no longer game anywhere near what I used to,have finally realized that while owning both consoles is a privilege, and I am grateful for being able to do so, it is a bit silly since I hardly use either that much these days.

I still very well may purchase both consoles next generation, but if I do wind up only purchasing one, based on my experience this current generation, and these RUMORS thus far (in bold as just commenting on rumors, do not know if they are true), I would choose the PS4 if everything about both consoles we have heard so far winds up being true.

[MidTxWRX]

Well if they follow suit with what Steam is doing then I could see how it could work.

As long as games are not $40-50 each.

I mean, if you buy a used game, you'll be paying about $10-20 for it, right? If Microsoft sets the price standard at about $15 for all games, then less people would have to buy second hand games.

Unless they come out with some kind of subscription program for games, just like they have with Xbox Music.

[LaP]

I don't believe this but if it is true and Sony don't prevent second hand gaming then my choise will only be easier to make. I'll go with PS4.

Well if they follow suit with what Steam is doing then I could see how it could work.

As long as games are not $40-50 each.

I mean, if you buy a used game, you'll be paying about $10-20 for it, right? If Microsoft sets the price standard at about $15 for all games, then less people would have to buy second hand games.

Unless they come out with some kind of subscription program for games, just like they have with Xbox Music.

You are right if they do a lot of sales like Steam it might work. You don't have to wait for a long time to be able to buy a game for 30$ and under on Steam.

[jerzdawg]

Will take this all with a HUGE grain of salt, but just playing pretend and commenting as if the rumors were indeed fact, I think I would very strongly consider not getting the next XBox. Easily 50% of the games I have played this generation were thanks to the second hand market, I use GameFly as a rental service. So not having the ability to play second hand games really is a very big deal breaker for me.

Also although I definitely used the 360 more the first couple of years this generation, for the past 2 years give or take I almost only use my PS3. I only have played Alan Wake, Black Ops 2, and Halo 4 on the 360. Everything else, and all of my movie watching etc., is done through the PS3. What it really comes down to for myself is I no longer game anywhere near what I used to,have finally realized that while owning both consoles is a privilege, and I am grateful for being able to do so, it is a bit silly since I hardly use either that much these days.

I still very well may purchase both consoles next generation, but if I do wind up only purchasing one, based on my experience this current generation, and these RUMORS thus far (in bold as just commenting on rumors, do not know if they are true), I would choose the PS4 if everything about both consoles we have heard so far winds up being true.

Isnt there a rumor that both MS and Sony are planning to do this? I dont buy that many games and if my memory serves me correctly I have never purchased a used game (although I have certainly borrowed a few from you..) I do like the idea that publishers will be getting more money from this, and LOVE the idea that Gamestop will be losing money. So this decision will have little to no effect on me and I'll still be buying both the PS4 and the next Xbox. Would be really something if this was some sort of trap for MS or Sony.. like spread rumor about no 2nd hand games... have the other guy commit to the same thing then say Surprise! we allow 2nd hand games.. would be great

[HawkMan]

I would take these unsubstantiated "rumours" with a truckload of salt.

always on Internet seems unlikely and servers little purpose for MS, only for the game devs and they can do that themselves. As for the second hand thing, so MS is going to pretend me and my GF to move our games between them in living room Xbox and the upstairs living room xbox'es... yeah I don't think so.

Best to wait and see. at this point in time no one knows crap and everyone is making p stores left and right and the media is picking it up as gospel.

I wonder how many of the negative Nextbox and PS4 rumors are made up by fanboys from the opposite side and spread to the less critical gamer blogs... blogs and the fact blogs for some reason have started to be taken serious as news sources has really killed the quality of modern news.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Isnt there a rumor that both MS and Sony are planning to do this?

Sony researched it but Jack Tretton, SCEA CEO, said it's not something he approves of so it's highly unlikely the PS4 will have anti used games.

I wonder how many of the negative Nextbox and PS4 rumors are made up by fanboys from the opposite side and spread to the less critical gamer blogs... blogs and the fact blogs for some reason have started to be taken serious as news sources has really killed the quality of modern news.

Edge Magazine is a pretty highly respected magazine in the industry and has been around since the early 90's, I don't think they would publish something like this if there wasn't a shred of truth about it.

[Sadelwo]

This cannot be serious, locking a game disc to a console? Are these companies trying to kill the tradition of friends getting together, bringing their game discs and controllers, ordering pizza and having a grand old time? The die hard NBA and FIFA title players will carry pitchforks to MS & Sony HQ.

[TheLegendOfMart]

This cannot be serious, locking a game disc to a console? Are these companies trying to kill the tradition of friends getting together, bringing their game discs and controllers, ordering pizza and having a grand old time? The die hard NBA and FIFA title players will carry pitchforks to MS & Sony HQ.

They are locked to gamertags, all you need to do is log into your mates machine with gamertag and play it? (not that im trying to defend them)

[George P Global Moderator]

I've never seen so many rumors stated as fact. It won't be that long till we hear it right from MS. Till then I'd call this one bs.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Isnt there a rumor that both MS and Sony are planning to do this? I dont buy that many games and if my memory serves me correctly I have never purchased a used game (although I have certainly borrowed a few from you..) I do like the idea that publishers will be getting more money from this, and LOVE the idea that Gamestop will be losing money. So this decision will have little to no effect on me and I'll still be buying both the PS4 and the next Xbox. Would be really something if this was some sort of trap for MS or Sony.. like spread rumor about no 2nd hand games... have the other guy commit to the same thing then say Surprise! we allow 2nd hand games.. would be great

As already pointed out, has pretty much been debunked that Sony will be doing this. They just got the patent to possibly do it, but they did the same thing with the PS3 actually. So as of right now the rumors are only saying MS is the company thinking of doing it.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

somebody hand Microsoft a shovel because they're digging their own grave with this console

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Gamestop shares took a hit due to this rumour - http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2013/02/06/gamestop-slides-report-next-xbox-wont-allow-used-games/

:laugh:

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Edge seem fairly confident

If our sources are correct (and we?re confident they are), Microsoft has made the move that publishers and developers have been asking for.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/risky-business-the-next-xbox-versus-playstation-4/

[HawkMan]

The only way MS would do this is if EVERY major publisher said they would ONLY release their games on Xbox if MS did this and they wouldn't release anything on PS4. That or PS4 is doing the same.

[mattmatik]

Will take this all with a HUGE grain of salt, but just playing pretend and commenting as if the rumors were indeed fact, I think I would very strongly consider not getting the next XBox. Easily 50% of the games I have played this generation were thanks to the second hand market, I use GameFly as a rental service. So not having the ability to play second hand games really is a very big deal breaker for me.

Also although I definitely used the 360 more the first couple of years this generation, for the past 2 years give or take I almost only use my PS3. I only have played Alan Wake, Black Ops 2, and Halo 4 on the 360. Everything else, and all of my movie watching etc., is done through the PS3. What it really comes down to for myself is I no longer game anywhere near what I used to,have finally realized that while owning both consoles is a privilege, and I am grateful for being able to do so, it is a bit silly since I hardly use either that much these days.

I still very well may purchase both consoles next generation, but if I do wind up only purchasing one, based on my experience this current generation, and these RUMORS thus far (in bold as just commenting on rumors, do not know if they are true), I would choose the PS4 if everything about both consoles we have heard so far winds up being true.

Agree with most of this and I'll add that I'm waiting to hear what online service both camps are going to run. I've enjoyed PSN - free - and there is no way I'm going back to a paid service like LIVE. If both have paid subs then I'll stick to PC.

Also, comparing this to what Steam does is not totally accurate. With Steam, once the code is entered I can go to offline mode. Sounds like the strategy for Xbox will be always connected, running a check every time?

[Lamp0]

somebody hand Microsoft a shovel because they're digging their own grave with this console

It's a rumour. One I don't believe for a second.

[George P Global Moderator]

Agree with most of this and I'll add that I'm waiting to hear what online service both camps are going to run. I've enjoyed PSN - free - and there is no way I'm going back to a paid service like LIVE. If both have paid subs then I'll stick to PC.

Also, comparing this to what Steam does is not totally accurate. With Steam, once the code is entered I can go to offline mode. Sounds like the strategy for Xbox will be always connected, running a check every time?

It can't be always connected, MS sells the Xbox in markets where the internet is not great or not a option at all. This is why I think this is not accurate, they'd be limiting their own market.

[Quixote87]

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.

Agreed. I'm not a huge gamer, and out of the 20 odd games I own, easily between 10-15 are second hand that I picked up for $20 that originally sold for $80 odd. And of those games, only about 2 use Kinect at all as I'm more of a traditional 'sit on your ass to play games' kind of guy. For me, at this point, there is no interest in this console.

[The Evil Overlord]

At the risk of repeating myself, hate what a company is doing with a certain product...?

Don't buy it, hurt them in their pocket. You the consumer deserve what you intend to buy as it is your money, they want it, give you what you want.

[George P Global Moderator]

If they do have you activate games to your ID then they could just as well allow you to deactivate it when you want to sell it. The next user will have to then pay for it to go online, we already have online passes, it could just be that now those are part of the system itself so developers don't have to run their own services.

Again these are still just rumors.

[madd-hatter]

Our source has also confirmed

It doesn't matter how many sources they have or how often their source agrees with other sources.

Until MS states it directly, it's all BS...

Also, "source" is the next to-be-banned, over-used buzz word of the 2000's. The internet has killed the word.

[BajiRav]

Curious,

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.

In other words, Sony's dev. tools/environment suck...again.

If they do have you activate games to your ID then they could just as well allow you to deactivate it when you want to sell it. The next user will have to then pay for it to go online, we already have online passes, it could just be that now those are part of the system itself so developers don't have to run their own services.

Again these are still just rumors.

But then how would that work in a single household? If I bought a game and played with my ID and then someone else (younger brother etc.) wants to play the game - will they have to pay again? If they tie it to a console instead of a profile then what happens if I have multiple consoles in my home?

I don't think they can practically enforce this without causing a lot of hassle for us.

I don't think either Sony or Microsoft are stupid enough to pull such a stunt.