xbone used game info or death to gamestop

Microsoft and Publishers Taking Cut of Used Game Sales on Xbox One


Though we’re still very unsure of the details, Microsoft will be supporting used video game sales with the Xbox One. While it may or may not be the system that works best for everyone, it’s going to be a system. But, as reports from MCVUK indicate, it may be more of a win for publishers than consumers, as Microsoft and game publishers will be taking an undetermined percentage of every used and new game sale.

Retail sources unbeknownst to anyone but MCVUK have told the outlet that Microsoft briefed “key retail partners” this week on how it plans to stake its claim in the used game market. Here’s how a potential scenario might play out:

You, the game player, walk into a game store and hand over the game you intend to sell. This will only be possible at retailers who have agreed to Microsoft’s terms an conditions and more importantly have implemented Microsoft’s cloud-based Azure used game system into their own.

The game is then registered as having been traded-in on Microsoft’s servers. You, the player, who handed it over will see the game erased from your account – given the claim from Microsoft’s Phil Harrison that the Xbox One would have to “check in” to Microsoft’s online service “every 24 hours.”

Even though the game is installed to your hard drive at home, it will be unplayable.

The retailer can then sell the pre-owned game at whatever price they feel like, although as part of the system both the publisher of the game traded (and Microsoft) will automatically receive a percentage cut of the sale. The store takes the rest.

Unconfirmed reports on ConsoleDeals.co.uk indicate that the actual percentage going to retailers will be ten percent, which is far less than what retailers like GameStop are used to now (effectively pocketing whatever they sell your game for minus what they gave you for it). Speaking of GameStop, their stocks are dropping like freaking moldy hotcakes.



As of this writing, stocks fell roughly 9% this morning following this report hitting the web.

When contacted by Microsoft (via MCV), the company responded with the following, still-not-immensely-clear statement:

“We know there is some confusion around used games on Xbox One and wanted to provide a bit of clarification on exactly what we’ve confirmed.

While there have been many potential scenarios discussed, we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail. Beyond that, we have not confirmed any specific scenarios. Another piece of clarification around playing games at a friend’s house – should you choose to play your game at your friend’s house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to your profile.”

As far as the activation fee speculation goes, the same report from ConsoleDeals suggests that the activation cost for buying or borrowing used games will be roughly $27 US. This would mean that retailers like GameStop, used to making fistfuls of cash with every used game sale, would only get about $2.71 with each sale. Again, this is going off the reports from ConsoleDeals, not anything Microsoft has said.

But still, holy crap this is getting feisty. And quick.

[Source: MCVUK, ConsoleDeals]


Posted by Landon Robinson on May 24, 2013.

Tags: gamestop, Microsoft, used games, Xbox One

Categories: News

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Woot! More wild speculation!

Here's mine:

Used games will cost $75 to activate and also require your youngest child. Better get to baby making!

Hmm, sounds like more rumors going for hits on their website. I'm not going to listen too much before e3.

So long Gamefly

Not sad for the Gamestop bastards that have ripped the soul from kids repeatedly for too long. Buying back your 2 week old $60.00 game and only giving you $15.00, then before you even leave the store it's already sporting a used $59.99 sales tag. And this scenario is repeated over and over all day/everyday. Screw them! I hope their business goes belly up.