370°

Microsoft Possibly Going It Alone On Used Games

4Player-"Out of the two big players here, Microsoft and Sony, my gut reaction is that Sony has it right. Do not assuage yourself from the used games market, however give gamers a different approach. By offering a competitive choice, Sony may come out on top. Microsoft may be doing themselves a world of hurt by spurning the consumer as a first step."

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4playernetwork.com
Crazy Larry4076d ago (Edited 4076d ago )

I would guess developers hugely support the idea; and both Sony and MS are getting pressured by developers to do it. Developers MAY in turn make exclusives for whatever company does it first. Developers would have a profit on every game sold; and deservedly so. Also, I think Sony or MS could TOTALLY get away with if they charged less retail. I'm not saying I'm for it, but from a developer stand point, I completely understand.

EDIT: Moonman- I agree the consumer comes first. But every game drops in price eventually; many to $20 within a year, new. Devs would still get their deserved profits, and the consumer still gets a great, CHEAP game. The consumer may just have to show a little self control and wait a few months before they buy; and if its a game they CAN'T wait for, they are buying it used for for a mere $5 less than new anyway.

Moonman4076d ago

Of course I'm all about developers getting the most out of their hard work BUT the consumer comes first! Not everyone can afford to buy new games. And many of these new games suck anyway..lol.

Sexius Maximus4076d ago (Edited 4076d ago )

You have a point, Larry. Used games aren't really that much cheaper than new (speaking strictly of Gamestop.) I don't buy used games, but if I did, I'd probably use eBay, not Gamestop. I also usually don't buy new releases, so many of my purchases are new games, around $20-$30. Still, for those people that want to save a few bucks, I suppose used game sales are helpful. HOWEVER, for me, the issue is selling my used games. I may not want to buy used games, but I'd like the option to sell what I no longer play.

dcbronco4076d ago

It's funny to hear people say they will boycott a console that doesn't allow used games. They'll still pay EA $60 for a roster update. $60 a year for map packs based on levels from the game. And $60 for games with online sections where half the players cheat and the developers barely try to stop it. And you can best believe Kotick will support this. If MS does it and Sony leaves it up to the developer.

Tough talk anyway. When a must have hits, you'll all end the boycott.

You also have to wonder what MS is hiding that gives them the confidence to believe they can do this.

Kaiou4076d ago

The thing is , if there's no used market prices WON"T drop on new games that easily , just like with digital downloads(guild wars 2 just as an example). so it's a double lose for us consumers.

DragonKnight4076d ago

@Crazy Larry: It is a complete myth, an utter fabrication by developers/publishers, that used games take away their profit. Developers may flock to the console that blocks used games, but gamers won't. How much profit will developers make with no one to sell to? That's of course a generalization, obviously some will buy the games, but the point is that the console that blocks used games will most definitely see less sales than the console that doesn't block them, meaning less of an install base to sell to, less of a trusted use base to have for the future, less chances for people to support a dev in the future because they like what they bought.

A person shouldn't have to wait for a game to lower in price if they can get it cheaper right away just to satisfy a greedy publisher and developer who already get everything they would anyway from the retail stores they sell their games to.

This practice is appallingly anti-consumer and in no way should be supported.

GrizzliS19874076d ago

If i was Microsoft, and wanted to do the watermark idea, i would tie the game to the account, rather then the machine. This way, you can log in to any Box you wish, and play the games you bought. This prevents a random person selling a game to Gamestop, and having another random person buying it, and playing it. Because they will never know the original users Username and Password. I think this is the approach they will take, because anything otherwise would be suicide for their console. At the billionaire level that they operate on, it would be a noob mistake to do what you people are claiming. It cannot, and wont be the way you think it will be :/

DOMination-4075d ago (Edited 4075d ago )

Wow, a very interesting point that I never thought about. I still wouldn't appreciate this concept becoming reality, even though it wouldn't bother me personally as I rarely buy used games.. but having this feature *could* in theory garner more support from developers.

Would people still not buy the next Xbox if most of the big games ended up skipping the PS4?

mr.selfdestruct4075d ago

I disagre there are many a time i will sell games to buy a new one. So that New game which the company would have sold now goes unsold. To say it would be better for the company to wait months later only to get a fraction of the original price is well crazy. Every used game sold was once bought new They were paid for it. Its a mistake and they will fail for it. If Rumours are true of coarse.

wampdog294075d ago

You'de have to think about the possibility that new games might not fall in price as fast since they no longer have to compete with used game prices... The value sticks longer without used games.

Neoprime4075d ago

Devs don't get profits, publishers do, devs get paid by salaries by publishers.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4075d ago
fermcr4076d ago

If a console doesn't support used games then NO THANKS... You can keep it.

anderssc4076d ago

To any one who is still thinking that Xbox is on the fence about blocking used games here is definative proof from the mouth of Eidos Interactive's President Ian Livingstone

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4076d ago (Edited 4076d ago )

look at them! The charge for multi play and millions are happy to pay it!! I wouldn't be surprised if MS blocked used games was still successful.

God I hate these apple wanna bees. They really are the apple of console gaming. All they need is an over priced under powered console to sell like hot cakes.

But hey at least windows 8 is failing because of the apple obsession. They went from 70% market share to under 30% market share for servers because of the dumb tablet UI for servers.

If this happens xbox will have biggest publisher support.

UnholyLight4075d ago (Edited 4075d ago )

Your statement about Apple wannabes is pure retardation. Apple is an example of a company who managed to do what a company forms to do in the first place. Innovate, come up with appealing products, and have a stranglehold on the market to maximize profits.

Every company wants to be the Apple of the market.

zeal0us4075d ago

If true then I'm taking life boat and sailing back to the Sony ship, if they will take me.

Most of the games I brought this gen was preown/used games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4075d ago
Just_The_Truth4076d ago

They're not going to block used games

AngelicIceDiamond4076d ago

If they do, then there's no way I'm buying it.

MariaHelFutura4076d ago

The president of Eidos just said the next xbox games are watermarked. So you're wrong, unless he is lying MSFT just blocked used games. Look at the story below this one on the main page.

SignifiedSix4076d ago

You guys never seem to realize that its probably something to combat piracy.

MariaHelFutura4076d ago

There are other ways to prevent piracy other than watermarking.

Urusernamesucks4076d ago

"There are other ways to prevent piracy other than watermarking. "

Al rite then, wich one of them is the most eficiant/combiniant?

VicodinViking4076d ago

@usernamesucks

eficiant/combiniant, huh? full retard marks for butchering english.

MaxXAttaxX4076d ago

What if my system dies? Do I have to buy another copy of the game? Or is this somehow tied to your account?

That sucks.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4076d ago
Just_The_Truth4076d ago

I'm a fan of playstation anyways so I don't care what they do but I just can't see them blocking used games. Maybe exclusive like Halo or Gears but in no way all of them.

blackbeld4076d ago

I'm also a playstation fan but I'm not a blind fan. If Sony gonna block used games I will still enjoy my games with the WiiU.

But no worries Sony already stated they will not blocking used games.

Now it's up to Microsoft if they do this then I can already see what's gonna happen. Xbox 720 will be another big failure.

danny8184076d ago

I believe it. Rumors tend to be true

SixZeroFour4076d ago

out of all these "xbox blocking used games on next console" articles, how many mentioned sonys patent on blocking used games from a month or 2 back and how that effects ms doing it on the next xbox?

im asking cause i havent read a lot of these articles

DragonKnight4076d ago

Given that 2 Sony executives have spoken against the idea that Sony will block used games with the PS4, mentioning Sony's patent is irrelevant.

MaxXAttaxX4076d ago (Edited 4076d ago )

Cause the rumor about the 720 blocking used games has been around just as long, if not, a bit longer.

SixZeroFour4075d ago

i wasnt talking about sony using it...i was talking about how if sony has the patent on it, wouldnt ms have to go through sony to use it on their console

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4075d ago
animegamingnerd4076d ago

if M$ says they are going to do all i will hear this they want you to buy either a PS4, wii u, or PC over the next xbox

crillinFLIP3374076d ago

You do realize the PC restricts games like the article talks about, right? And with Sony being less than direct when they answer the used games question, I wouldn't be surprised if both companies talk about this at E3 this year. Looks like a wait and see approach will be best

ThatXboxGuy4076d ago

Man.What a way for the Xbox brand to die out.Like a candle in the wind.

Root4076d ago (Edited 4076d ago )

I don;t think it would die out, MS would just turn the Xbox console into a Entertainment box and go from there. They would probably just leave the gaming business but would still bring out the odd game like Halo, Gears, Alan Wake for gaming sales.

I mean from what they've done over the years I think they want to leave the industry and instead of bowing out and leaving a part of their audience, gamers, they are slowly transitioning the console into an entertainment box so gamers will come along for the ride and so there isn't an uproar

BitbyDeath4076d ago

If people can handle paying for online then i don't see why blocking used games would be such an issue.

Sure they are two different things but loyalty has already been proven as they are both pretty out there.

EbeneezerGoode4076d ago

"people" don't handle paying to play online.

Idiots do.

ALLWRONG4076d ago

You mean like paying for the privilege to download in the background (PS3 now) or pay to play old PS3 games on the PS4?

EbeneezerGoode4076d ago

@allwrong - I don't do either of those, nor will. Playing online is a basic right when you have already paid your ISP for internet access. UNLESS you are paying for a dedicated server, which in most if not all console games, you are not.

And if Sony go the same route then I'll be just as harsh on them.

JeffGUNZ4076d ago

@ EbeneezerGoode

How old are you? I use PSN and LIVE, I pay for it and I think it's well worth it. You're paying the experience and sleek upgrades on live that PSN doesn't have. You can easily find live for 39.99 on Amazon for an entire year. That's a little more than half the price of a game. Don't be shocked if you have to pay for PSN next generation. You can't keep adding features without find the money to continue to evolve them. If PSN starts to charge, no gaming on consoles for you then?

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130°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7212h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

purple1012h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos1h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac59m ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad44m ago(Edited 43m ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10124m ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers22h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken9h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g18h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing18h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H918h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola14h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66917h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle17h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 9h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 6h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 4h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN21h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo23h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies19h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 6h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic17h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9016h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 8h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 8h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 5h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 7h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 6h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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