Xbox One Gamers Will Be Able To Buy Used Games, But Many Rules Apply

When the Xbox One arrives for sale, gamers will in fact be able to purchase used copies of the consoles games.

After Microsoft announced the arrival of the gaming console, a lot of questions surfaced about MSFT’s control over the console experience. Some rumors said used games wouldn’t be available, a fact that rubbed Game Stop and other resellers the wrong way. Other rumors pointed to a “transfer fee” that would require someone buying a used game to pay a licensing fee to the developer and possibly to Microsoft.

So will gamers really not be allowed to purchase used Xbox One games? If they do, will fees be associated with that access?

A new document that surfaced on Friday aims to answer all of those questions and more.

Keep in mind there are a lot of considerations when buying used Xbox One games, but ultimately the response is better than some people thought about.

Curious to know what caveats will come with used Xbox One games? Here’s the full list of stipulations:

• Buy the way you want—disc or digital—on the same day: You’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release. Discs will continue to be a great way to install your games quickly.
• Access your entire games library from any Xbox One—no discs required: After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend’s house, you can play your games.
• Share access to your games with everyone inside your home: Your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console–regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.
• Give your family access to your entire games library anytime, anywhere: Xbox One will enable new forms of access for families. Up to ten members of your family can log in and play from your shared games library on any Xbox One. Just like today, a family member can play your copy of Forza Motorsport at a friend’s house. Only now, they will see not just Forza, but all of your shared games. You can always play your games, and any one of your family members can be playing from your shared library at a given time.
• Trade-in and resell your disc-based games: Today, some gamers choose to sell their old disc-based games back for cash and credit. We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.
• Give your games to friends: Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.

So basically publishers are going to be in charge of how their games are sold, a fact that could favor big retailers like Game Stop but push out smaller competitors all together.

The response from Microsoft hasn’t sat well with gamers who have taken to the r/gaming subreddit to complain about excessive DRM rules for the Xbox One and various other issues that affect gamers.

Reddit user faceless007 summed up the Xbox One issues with an eloquent explanation of the industry and how it should be viewing gamers:

“The industry does not come first; consumers do. I have no sympathy for an industry that cannot properly stumble its way around a viable secondhand market like every other mature industry in the world… If this industry can’t find a way to make money off the primary market — even with DLC and exclusive pre-order content and HD re-releases and map packs and online passes and annualized sequels and “expanding the audience” and AAA advertising and forced multiplayer — then, if I may be so blunt, fuck it. It doesn’t deserve our money in the first place.”

Loaning and renting games won’t be allowed at launch, which will cut Gamefly and other competitors out of the market upon launch. That decision is just plain stupid on Microsoft’s part. Gamers want to invest in a system after they can test the various games available. Once a gamer finds their favorite titles, they are more likely to purchase those titles and play them for longer periods of time. Gamefly and other similar systems also allow for better accessibility all around. A gamer may only purchase a small number of games but ultimately they help promote the console and engage in online play. The larger the eco-system the more likely other gamers are to jump on-board and purchase more games.

Do you think Xbox One DRM rules are out of hand and ultimately a damaging approach to game sales, rentals, and overall gameplay?