Before and after the reveal of Microsoft’s Xbox One there has been much talk in the rumor mill around the web on podcasts, blogs, forums and countless tweets, about two major questions with Xbox One.
- Will it block used games?
- Will it need to be always online?
We know that Xbox One has always on capabilities that will allow for some pretty neat features within the console’s operations from auto updates, instant switching from TV to games or music, signing in by simply walking in front of the new Kinect, etc. Always on will require somewhat of a constant internet connection, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer told Joystiq as in an interview but nothing has been finalized – yet.
The maybe bigger point of contention is the used games market, will Xbox One block used retail titles? It seems like a possibility according to Spencer as he stated in the same Joystiq interview. But to be honest, so what if the new Xbox blocks used games? Have you traded in any PC games lately?
Steam says hi.
Who really will care about this debate when 2 or 3 years have passed and used games are a thing of the past. No PC gamer complains about the Steam marketplace as passionately as we’d think. It is really a non-issue on the PC.
If Xbox One requires you to pay for the license when inserting a used game than just buy the new copy, right? If we all bought games on Xbox LIVE we will see similar sales as we now get on Steam – sure it will take time – but after a couple of years this will balance out, it has done the same on the PC. Plus, don’t we want publishers to make money and not GameStop?
Yes, gamers may rely on used games to be able to afford to play the new consoles games but if that is the case just buy the PS4 which will have no used games block – unless publishers build it in. Or better yet, read the reviews BEFORE you pre-order and only spend the money on games that are worth playing. This will force developers and publishers to make good games and not mediocre crap.
This may sound like a harsh point to make but take a step back, these so called ‘problems’ really aren’t such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. If anything it will drive Amazon, GameStop and WalMart to price their games more competitively Give the new generation a chance and stop shooting everything down before we know the facts.
