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Xbox One Digital Game Prices Raised In EU

NowGamer: "There's been a lot of talk regarding high digital prices of games on the PS4 and the Xbox One, with Sony in particular coming in for criticism for high prices that have since been adjusted.

However, rather than lower their prices, Microsoft has now gone in the opposite direction, with the price of Xbox One exclusives Forza 5, Ryse: Son of Rome and Dead Rising 3 all being raised on the Xbox store."

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PrivateRyan3790d ago

This would be my main concern with an all-digital future - Microsoft controlling the prices and setting them far higher than you'd expect from physical copies

ElementX3790d ago

Sony and Nintendo do the same thing, it's nothing new. Even their "sales" aren't much of a sale. Plus discounts are still ridiculous, saving maybe a few dollars.

CRASHBASHUK3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

no sony said the price of the games on the store is up to the publisher.
Sony don't set the prices as for Nintendo and Microsoft I am not sure if its the same

jackanderson19853790d ago

@crashbashuk sony set the prices of their published games but leave 3rd parties up to 3rd parties it's the same for MS... not sure on nintendo though

HiddenMission3790d ago

@ElementX

That's total bs most of the deals are free games or $5 to $15 off. I've been a plus member since day one of the service and the deals are great. Hell Tomb Raider was on sale for 50% off.

You need to get your facts straight...that's why you have all of the disagrees.

GutZ313790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Now that Sony has a deal with Amazon.com, there is competition in the PSN market place.
Prices will go down on everything, even if its by a few cents, but its good for consumers in the long run, with sales going on during holidays and the likes.

dcj05243790d ago

I got final fantasy XIV for $10 (usually $40) and Ni No Kuni for $9.70 ( usually $30). That is a sale.

aCasualGamer3790d ago

At least Sony is providing us discounts via Playstation Plus while Microsoft raises their prices even after everyone has Xbox Live. If you ask me, that's a clear difference.

jacksons983790d ago

@ElementX
Two things:
Playstation Plus and Borderlands 2

Naga3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Apparently Sony is still selling their digital games for more than retail?

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Looks to be even more expensive than this supposed price hike in the UK.

nypifisel3790d ago

They don't want to compete with the retailers in price on their online stores. It's really not to take customers from retailers cause that would piss them off.

President3790d ago

You must be trolling or never used PS+, the sales are crazy, the discounts are more than just a few bucks, wtf are you talking about. Discounts range from a few bucks for games that cost less than 10 bucks or go upwards of 40 bucks discount for a new game.

asmith23063790d ago

It's up to the publishers unfortunately but I agree, digital game prices are extortionate.

DragonKnight3790d ago

There's a lot of misinformation about these pricing issues.

First of all, the fact is that the Big 3 actually set pricing tiers for all 3rd party publishers. The publishers decide what their game is worth based on those tiers and set the price for the game accordingly.

Retail partners are also a factor for console digital games. If digital games on consoles are cheaper than their retail counterparts, then there would be no reason to purchase retail copies unless you like collector's editions or owning your game, which is something that flies out the window if there is a discount involved.

If the retail partners are shunned this way, they will threaten to stop supporting the publishers involved and cut off huge sources of revenue for said publishers. Until every publisher comes up with their own solution by having their own stores and own distribution networks for games and/or consoles, this facet won't be going away any time soon.

And finally, things like government laws and varying taxes have to also be taken into consideration. Many places don't consider digital items to be taxable because they aren't physical products, but there are likely places that don't hold that same idea about them.

So in the end, it isn't as cut and dry as "they want to charge more than retail and are greedy."

mark134uk3790d ago

am i the only person that thought digital games would be cheaper than disc, as they save money on the disc and case?

JasonKCK3790d ago

3rd party sets the price for their own games on all consoles. This isn't a MS vs Sony thing when the high prices are the same. So stop trying to 1up and defend the expensive digital prices on Live and PSN. Arguing about $80 vs $80 makes absolutely no since.

Steam is looking so good right now.

MazzingerZ3789d ago

X1 was meant to force everyone all-digital, I assume that was considered in their revenues forecast for the console...I wonder how much was it adjusted after all 180s and what impact will have in future decisions?

Kryptix3789d ago

@ElementX

lol You're delusional, and here's why.

Back in July, if you were a Plus member, you could get Max Payne 3: Ultimate Edition for only 12 bucks or 15 bucks without being a Plus member. And the Ultimate Edition comes with all the DLC.

http://www.junkiemonkeys.co...

http://us.playstation.com/g...

12 bucks for Max Payne 3 and all the DLC? That's a great deal right there.

Forward to now, aside from Borderlands 2 being free, there's a Christmas promotion going on.

You can get the Tomb Raider Bundle (Tomb Raider plus extra goodies and a free game, Quantum Conundrum that goes along with it) for 15 bucks even if you aren't a member.

Deal list for Week 2 oF December:

http://www.computerandvideo...

And there's the proof, only a blind person will deny it. :) I kinda doubt you read the responses, you hate to be proven wrong. lol

user55757083789d ago

first party games should be the cheapest. theres no developer to pay and theres no retailer to hike up the price.

take a lesson from steam...they LOWER prices

JokesOnYou3789d ago (Edited 3789d ago )

According to micro those "select" games launched at "promotional" prices and are now changed, still it's amazing how everyone overlooks they are still cheaper than sonys 1st party games but it's OK I'll say it:

"Even after the price revision, Xbox One's exclusive digital titles are still less expensive than Sony's PS4 equivalents. PlayStation exclusives Knack and Killzone Shadow Fall, for example, retail in the UK for £53." -CVG
http://www.computerandvideo...

That said digital should be cheaper but I think it has more to to do with Euro laws and retailer competition.

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
kayoss3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

They say going digital will be better, they say going digital will save you money, they say going digital will translate to cheaper games because the cost of blu ray discs and cases will be obsolete. All BS!

BabyTownFrolics3790d ago

who said that? seriously I don't remember anyone saying that digital copies of new games would be cheaper.

KiRBY30003790d ago

@baby

common sense said that.

dcj05243790d ago

It's true. Look at steam. The big three are just playing catch up. Sony just had a fantastic holiday sale but we need sales like that monthly.

nukeitall3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Ironically, digital games would have been cheaper under MS old digital only model. Why?

Retail games would have been digital, but with a disc (you don't need) and a case. This means, whatever retailers do now with sales, or off loads to their games, they would have done to the digital copies back then.

Because people screamed so hard we don't want that, we are back to the old de-facto standard. Almost any game on console found digital on *ANY* platform is cheaper in physical form than digital.

Even Sony admits, they cannot undermine retail:

"First of all, we want to support a healthy retail channel, so it's not in our interest to go and seriously undermine retail."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

MS was increasing competition, forcing themselves to lower prices, and allow a third party digital market where each individual user could re-sell their digital games. Thanks to a lot of mis-informed whiners, we went back to the defacto standard of getting screwed.

Remember, actual cost of manufacturing and production, as well as getting it to you is for the most part independent of the sale cost. Ask Coach handbags, why their product cost so much?

JeffGUNZ3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

@ Nuketail

You are completely spot on with that and the fact you have 7 disagrees shows how one-sided this site is. MS original strategy would have saved consumers money, but people here want to bash MS for anything that they cried and cried and cried until MS had to change their policy. MS was moving forward and people, especially on this site, can't adapt to that. Allowing users to be part of their friends and family group and share content was brilliant. I find the most ironic part here is everyone on this site apparently has a gaming PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and X1, and have a good internet connection, yet were still against it. Gaming is a privilege, not a right, and the whining from people who just wanted to bash MS lead to gamers going back to the standard old way of gaming.

Luckily, MS will be pushing digital download and when internet connection per househould increase more over the next several years, you'll see them start adding the great stuff they were going to do.

Kayant3790d ago

@nukeitall

Really we are back to that again even after this....

"Retail games would have been digital, but with a disc (you don't need) and a case. This means, whatever retailers do now with sales, or off loads to their games, they would have done to the digital copies back then.

Because people screamed so hard we don't want that, we are back to the old de-facto standard. Almost any game on console found digital on *ANY* platform is cheaper in physical form than digital"

That means their distribution system was basically the same as it is today considering you were still going to be buying games in disc form before installing them to your HDD & the disc being useless there after. So where was manufacturing, production, licensing and distribution cost going to be save to offer these lower prices?

"MS was increasing competition, forcing themselves to lower prices, and allow a third party digital market where each individual user could re-sell their digital games. Thanks to a lot of mis-informed whiners, we went back to the defacto standard of getting screwed"

Where did they announce plans for these things? And before you say people were crying so they couldn't. These are the things they should have talked about from the beginning if they were going to be changing their policies to such a degree but they didn't meaning that was probably not in their plans.

"allow a third party digital market where each individual user could re-sell their digital games". Hmmm.... There was NO support for the reselling, renting of games at launch and the only thing we could do was after 30-days of someone being on your friend's list you could gift them a game forever. And you talk about misinformation when it was MS who started it with all their execs saying different things.

nypifisel3789d ago

@dcj0524

You wont ever see that I'm afraid. There really are no comparison to steam here; Steam is on an open platform which has competition. The console platform holders can't compete with retailers (which have a high price) cause they wield too much power in terms of sales. This haven't been the case on PC for a very long time. I believe Sony, MS and all the publishers would love to go more digital cause it saves them a lot of money, but due to reasons stated above it wont happen too soon.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
Mr Pumblechook3790d ago

It's a real shame that Microsoft reversed their policy of keeping digital prices in line with physical copies. However Xbone customers can choose to buy disc games so they still have a choice. God help us when they go all digital...

supes_243790d ago

The day gaming goes all digital is the day I may consider to stop gaming.

buynit3790d ago

I just don't understand why DD games have to cost the same as retail it's just pure greed IMO. I will say though I do have 3 DD games and I love how I can go from game to game and that some what makes up for it..

However... I will never pay more then 60$ for a game online, ever.. I don't care how much extra content it will have I will never go over 60 for DD games.

Naga3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Is this just in the UK or something? I ask, because I just hopped on my Xbox to confirm this story, and the prices are exactly as they have always been - identical to retail across the board.

I understand wanting digital games to be cheaper (they should be, after all) but at this moment, I don't know what the story is on about.

PrivateRyan3790d ago

'Forza 5, Ryse and Dead Rising 3 were all previously priced at £44.99, but are now on sale for £49.99.'

It seems like it's UK only atm, yeah

Naga3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Yeah, I see what the article is saying with that, but I think I would at least appreciate

1) a modification of the title so as not to mislead, and;
2) some independent verification that this is true.

Volkama3790d ago

Yup I could have sworn I'd seen Forza 5 at 44.99 before buying it for 49.99.

I think that's the RRP, but I don't follow such things closely. I prefer my games to cost a few quid (thanks Steam!).

GirlOnFire3790d ago

Is Microsoft stupid? I know Sony gives a little plus discount while Nintendo keeps it at the steady price. Nintendo at least adds up and discounts eventually.

Rustynail3789d ago (Edited 3789d ago )

Are you stupid? There are discounts on Xbox Live too and constantly free games for gold members, does Nintendo even do that? Do they even let you transfer your digital content from Wii 1 to Wii U? The reason for the digital prices being high is mainly due to the retailers.

KonsoruMasuta3789d ago

@Rustynail, games with gold gives you nothing but terrible arcade games or games you could go out and buy for 2 bucks at your local GameStop. The deals on XBL aren't that great either.

Although I agree with you, Nintendo doesn't do any of that stuff.

JackISbacK3790d ago

they still the same on both and i hope that the digital games prices get lower as soon as it can ,i personally dont use to buy digital versions and use to buy physical versions because of just 2mb/p connection ,wherre game like ryse of about 48gb can take very long and therre are also issues wityh data availability at such spped i use to get upto 30gb of downloading with the speed of 2mb/s and then automatically converts to ultra slow 512kb/s unlimited for every month,but i hope one day i will buy digital versions and i hope these versions to be chaper at that time.

bicfitness3790d ago

With a lower overall install base than their main competitor and more difficulty in shaving down the price (remember even without Kinect their COM is around $400), you can expect MS to seek any and every way to monetize their fanbase further.

JessiePinkmanYo3790d ago

PrivateRyan-BINGO! A lot of supporters of all digital purchases pointed to Steam saying XBL will be run like that. Evidence points to the opposite, and MS never gave us reason to believe it would be like Steam. For all we know, they may have had an Apple store approach to gaming-buy or get an incomplete game on the cheap, laden with micro transactions to advance (Candy Crush). Also, any game you purchase as digital is always the same as retailers in XB live.
I'm not just picking on MS, Apple or any company in particular here. Sony, Nintendo could very well do the same

stavrami-mk23790d ago

nothing to worry about there then .an all digital future is a million miles away

Gamer19823789d ago

And PC digital titles are half the price of physical media with new games coming out around £20 mark compared to console digital titles at triple price £60..

Soc53789d ago

Also they've never really explained why digital costs the same as physical.
Early on when digital was just starting one of the selling points of companies going digital was prices could be cheaper. Did I miss that? What happened?

How does a digital copy with no material or distribution costs cost the same? Come on pass the customer some damn crumbs!

TheSaint3789d ago

Not to blow my own trumpet but I saw this coming, this was the main reason I was against DRM because MS would hold a monopoly and abuse it.

The dicks.

cleft53789d ago

It's funny because everyone kept saying how Microsoft was going to do the whole Steam deal thing. Instead they are doing the exact opposite and raising the prices on digital content.

HastaLaVista3789d ago

Sony does the same, infact sonys exclusives are 53quid which are even higher that ms. Its all bullshit tbh. Digital games shud be cheaper fact! This isnt a xbox thing its across the board. And its very annoying regarding what console u have. So stop bitching bout microsoft being the only ones that does it

Perjoss3789d ago

An all digital future where companies think they can charge what they like for games, even games that have been out for a long time is going to bring back rampant piracy, trust me.

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
NatureOfLogic3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

Why some gamers are still supporting MS Xbox One is beyond me. MS only want an all digital future to screw the consumer and receive maximum profit. I can't support that. This is why we'll always need a physical copy option. I see services like steam trying to do it right, then greedy corporations like MS come along.

IanVanCheese3790d ago

Can you actually lose all your bubbles?

KingDadXVI3790d ago

Unfortunately it does not seem that it is possible. Ah well we can always dream.

Pope_Kaz_Hirai_II3790d ago

IanVanCheese + 3h ago
Can you actually lose all your bubbles?

idiot.

thrust3790d ago

Support them because i think the xbox one is one great bit of kit :)

money comes and goes i wanted the tech.

FunAndGun3790d ago

You wanted to yell commands at your box?

I don't get it.

Naga3790d ago

Speaking voice works perfectly, FunAndGun. And yes, some of us like to be able to say two words and have everything in our living room spring to life. It's f*cking cool.

thrust3790d ago

Sounds like you have not used or set ups yours correct!

allways comes down to user error!

its ok just some people can not do things right, ask your dad or a friend to help you.

MikeGdaGod3790d ago

like i told my cousin when he bought his xbone home and called me raving about the voice controls....."sounds like you paid $500 for a remote" :-/

ragincrinz3790d ago

just want to jump in here and say im works great to love it. watch a film at loud volume and I can just say xbox pause and it picks me out and pauses. I don't need my pad to watch a film and I don't need to shout for it to pick me up over a loud tv. it works amazingly

Darrius Cole3790d ago (Edited 3790d ago )

No you don't....support the Xbox because you think it is a great piece of kit, I mean. Both of the last two Xboxes (Bone and 360) have been demonstrably worse pieces of kit than their competition. In the case of the Xbone it's worse kit at a higher price. So, unless you are one of those guys who think that all new kit is good kit, supporting the Xbox because you think it's good kit is not going to be the case.

You may support them because you support all game consoles.
You may support them because because you are now invested in Xbox Live.
You may support them simply because you have an emotionally soft spot for Microsoft and/or the Xbox.

But you don't support the Xbox because you think they make good kit. Or at least you didn't think they had good kit UNTIL AFTER you became an Xbox supporter.

FunAndGun3790d ago

Hey, if you want to spend extra money to speak commands and be cool that is obviously your right.

You can say two words and have your living room spring to life. I will stick with keeping $100 and hitting one button on my remote.

I'm sitting here thinking, what makes it a "great bit of kit" or "i wanted the tech."

I could understand if you support them because:

-You like the games on Xbox One
-You have a large gamerscore that you don't want to give up
-You prefer the controller
-You like the color green

But saying its because of the tech just blows my mind. The things design is sloppy at best. Look at the insides of the machine, how its built, the extra space inside, the large powerbrick outside.

What tech did you want? the ability to speak commands? the ability to snap? the ability to scan the re-up card on your Live account?

malokevi3790d ago

"I could understand if you support them because:

-You like the games on Xbox One
-You have a large gamerscore that you don't want to give up
-You prefer the controller
-You like the color green

But saying its because of the tech just blows my mind. The things design is sloppy at best. Look at the insides of the machine, how its built, the extra space inside, the large powerbrick outside.

What tech did you want? the ability to speak commands? the ability to snap? the ability to scan the re-up card on your Live account? "

^^

Yes, all of that, and a PS4. Why is it that Playstation fans always want us to explain our decision to them? As if we need to justify why we got an Xbox to you! Who cares? It's a functional machine with some cool tech that plays great games and does other nifty media function for 500 bucks. Could have ripped that off an Xbox add. All the explanation that is needed.

Doesn't matter what we say, your just going to criticize and nitpick, followed by a Sony plug. Little realizing that none of us have anything against Sony, and many of us have Playstations!

Life, it's a funny little thing, aint it?

GirlOnFire3790d ago

If you wanted tech should of gone with PS4. I'll see you on the battlefield when you do! Unless you want that Kinect...it scans your bones. Is that why everyone calls it Xbone? I'm serious is it because of that? I never call it that. ^~^

Gekko363789d ago (Edited 3789d ago )

@Darrius Cole - WOW

How dare you tell someone their own mind.

If you don't like Xbox, don't buy it, don't talk about it and don't dare tell someone that their decision was based on some jaded misinformation, idiocy or emotional weakness.

I could say the same thing about your decision to adopt the PS4 citing reasons as Brand Loyalty, Blind devotion, Blind love of the Japanese etc... but I won't.

On Topic: I agree all DD should be cheaper than physical versions, due to lack of VAT and manufacturing costs. All companies are guilty of this.

However I do recognise that MS tried to push us down this road. Which I was happy about. Cutting out the retail arms is a brilliant idea and you can only hope that more of the revenue goes back to the developers. Happy developers = better games for gamers.

@GirlOnFire - PS4 owners call it xbone because it suggests the xbox one is for penis's. But thats only coming from Sony fans. Kinect does identify your skeletal structure but not by scanning your bones only creates a skeleton structure on your form. Though it can work out if your happy, sad or angry or frustrated. Quite useful if you want to make the game harder or scarier for the player.

I was quite surprised that MS fans don't call the PS4 the Praystation

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
Gamer6663790d ago

I just went to the PS4 online store in the UK and Knack is 52.99...

So who is the real gouger for digital sales?

ragincrinz3790d ago

bf4 on xbox one is 55 its a joke

malokevi3790d ago

I still support them just to piss you off, Nature. It's funny to me.

yay Microsoft! :D

Volkama3790d ago

Missed opportunity. You could have championed your precious overlords, as Sony's approach to digital is actually hugely important for the digital consumer.

Amazon digital store. Competition. That is genuinely good "4 the gamers".

JeffGUNZ3790d ago

Uh, what? Digital Download is great. If the standard cost of a game is $60 for the disk, $60 for DD is absolutely fair. DD also brings convenience. Would you rather put on your coat in the cold month of December, go to gamestop at midnight, wait in line, get the game, then go home and play it, or just sit on your coach and download it? DD also removes any worries of the disc causing issues. The system won't eat discs, or your disc wont scratch and be unplayable because it's digital download.

it's just like music, once you buy the game, you own it, whether you delete it when your done and want to redownload it in the future. Of course, like everything their are pros and cons, but DD is great to most tech. savy people. MS will not increase the cost of a game if it's DD, if you really think that, then your either too far gone and just wish everything bad for MS, or your just not very intelligent.

Also, stop with this "MS is greedy" crap. I'm sorry, MS wants to make money, but Sony is doing it for pure joy and bliss? Explain why Sony is now charging for PSN?! They want to make money, they want to make PSN up to LIVE standards, which it is now, and that will also bring them more money. Every single corporation is greedy, that's how they got to where they are. I personally can't wait for all digital download from MS.

JessiePinkmanYo3789d ago

DD is fine, but so is the option of owning a physical copy. I want the freedom to do both (and yes) for the reason of being able to trade in a game when I'm done OR if it's a steaming pile. I'm also sorry, but a DD SHOULD be cheaper than a physical copy, OR include some type of extras or incentives. A physical copy sold through retail (also gets a cut) plus manufacturing and delivering a product costs more than a DD. Also-brick and mortar stores compete, sometimes selling the games at a loss just to get us in the store.
I own all 3 consoles, but had MS not 180 that decision, it would've been two. I like the X1s exclusives, and I prefer my FPS' on Xbox, but they're on thin ice with me.

indysurfn3790d ago

Yeah I'm with you on that. If Microsoft is charging the same, or even more for digital when they have physical as competition, what will they do when you don't have a cheaper choice!? In fact think what they will do when you have NO choice.

The retail store gets a nice profit when they sell at the suggest retail price. Microsoft should at LEAST cut that amount out. Now they are making their regular profit PLUS the retailers physical product profit. Plus you lose $20 dollars because you cant resale it. In fact their expenses is for downloading not a manual, case, blu-ray disc, manufacturing ,shipping, and returns. They could cut these also, and get even more sales but greed stops them.

It only cost about $40 dollars to store 15 LARGE games to a server. A 500 gig hard drive could have 15 LARGE games, and you only have to do it ONCE! There expenses are sub penny. Because each of those 15 games will be sold and downloaded thousands of times.

Rustynail3789d ago (Edited 3789d ago )

@Naturelogic

Lol. Piss off. Sony, Apple or Nintendo are no different from Microsoft.

Perjoss3789d ago

I jumped ship, I had a 360 with over 100 games none of which were bought 2nd hand and all bought on or very close to day 1. I loved my 360 but after hearing about all of Microsoft's 'plans' I decided there and then, they do NOT have gamers best interests at heart. Even after they went through the famous 180 phase I still decided to just abandon them.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
yellowgerbil3790d ago

I still don't understand why ANYONE would choose digital.
Can't resell
Need to waste time downloading from internet
higher prices
no cool box for your shelf
and won't have it in 40years unlike my collection of NES games

Kayant3790d ago

Agreed but for some people that don't resell their games and have the internet speed & no download caps I can see why they would go all/semi digital on XB1. As if they use kinect instant switching can be quite convenient.

billw3790d ago

dont want to resell
dont want to waste time and gas going to the store
$59 is $59
no shelf space left
probably wont live another 40 years

does anyone still buys cds?

PsylentKiller3790d ago

Lol. The only games that I will by the disc for are ones that I will resell. Sports games, games that I know I will only play once, extremely cheap and or discounted games. Otherwise, it is all digital. Got Ghosts, BF4, Ryse, KI, and DR3.
For PS4, I only bought two games, Flower and AC4 (physical) because I know I wont come back to it once I'm finished. Also, with PS+ it will probably become a free game in six months or severely discounted at the very least. I can visit it again then. Unfortunately, Xbox doesn't provide the same opportunities.

Darrius Cole3790d ago

Actually $59 dollars is actually $65 in the US for disc-based games after you consider the most states add 5% to 10% sales tax.

Still, it is just stupid to give away for nothing value that can be resold if you don't have to.

I bought one downloaded game, BF4 (PS4), because Sony gave $10 of PSN store cash. Once I considered the PSN cash and the sales taxes, it was $50US to download vs. $66US to buy the disc in the store...$16 cheaper to download. I figured that if I traded in the disc, I would get $30 for it, and I may not decide to trade it at all if I like the game. So it was a guaranteed $16 savings right now vs. a possible $30 gain at some undisclosed point in the future.

A bird in the hand beats 2 in the bush.

If the download game is the same price then I would only save the sales tax and completely give up the right to trade it in. It would not be worth it.

HiddenMission3790d ago

@yellowgerbil

other reasons listed above me but I went all digital for the PS4 and I love it. See I have two PS4's one in my living room for the kids and one in my room for myself. My main system is the one in the living room and I log in on mine. What this allows me to do is buy a game on my primary system and let my kids have access to it without having to buy multiple copies of a game. This has allowed me to play online with my kids while in different rooms...aka no need for split screen MP.

Since there is little tax I save $5 off of each title and since I buy around 15 plus games a year that's another game I will be able to pick up without spending more than my regular budget.

Going all digital was the best move I could make. Plus I never have to get up to swap disks I just turn on and hop into any title in my library.

I'll be picking up a 2 terabyte hard drive so I won't have to worry about space management for several years.

indysurfn3790d ago

Microsoft said they took the 10 time family share out when they reversed their policies. How are you doing that? Even with the share it was suppose to be a one at a time share, no sharing the same game playing each other online, did they bring it back already without announcing it?

Better research replacing the Hard drive everything I've read so far is Microsoft is working on a external solution because if you pry open the machine to replace the hard drive you void the warranty. You didnt do the full math.
You may save $5 per game on tax but lose at least $20 per game on trade in.

http://www.gamespot.com/art...

Naga3790d ago

The only real benefit I can see is not having to get up to change out discs. That and my understanding is that you can access them on other people's consoles as though they were your own...?

I can get the draw, but without perks like the long-lost Family Share plan that went the way of the dodo, I don't know that it's worth going digital.

Also, the article is misleading - the prices aren't higher. Maybe it's a different story for the UK, but I just checked here in the US, and they're the same as they've ever been.

Gamer6663790d ago

Digital makes sense for people who travel a lot or have multiple homes. And if you don't bother trading/reselling.

I only buy digital so I don't have to lug blu-rays around everywhere. I download to both of my X1's at my two homes and download to my third X1 that I take traveling.

One less thing to worry about.

ragincrinz3790d ago

digital works great with xbox one I can play one game pause it play something else then watch tv and carry on from where I was on any game I was playing and I doesn't even have to be the last game

Volkama3790d ago

-I buy games to play them, not sell them
-Downloading can be more efficient and convenient than shopping/delivery
-Steam sales. Best prices out there. Consoles need to catch up.
-Boxes aren't cool, they're clutter. Games are cool.
-In 40 years time a digital copy is still perfect. No wear and tear, no misplaced discs. But very few games are still worth playing at that age.

-Instant switching
-No maintenance or care required (and care is a significant challenge if you have kids)

My reasons for buying digital might seem insignificant to you, but your reasons for buying physical are not things I find important either.

JeffGUNZ3790d ago

It's about preference.

Conveinence of not having to wait in lines or see if the game is still in stock at the store.
I don't have to worry about the disc being defective, causing it to brick the system or the system eating the disc and scratching it.
I never paid more for a DD copy of a game then I would have paid at the store, never.
I could care less about a "cool box on the shelf", I prefer it on my HDD so I can play it whenever and not worry about grabbing a box, opening it and putting the disc in. I simply say "Xbox; play Dead Rising 3" and boom, DR3 is on my screen.
40 years from now I will be 68 and probably not eager to play BF4 lol.

To each their own, but DD is very conveinent.

Tetsujin3789d ago

The ONLY time I'd go Digital on a game if its something I know 100% I will keep forever, AND its cheaper than retail. On the PS3 I have some digital games, and guess what? I play them for hours on end with 0 thought of returning them. At the same time, there's a lot of games I'd prefer to own on disc; biggest reason is to let friends test a game before buying, and second just in case it does end up being garbage I can either return it or trade with a friend. Third reason is in case my ISP does start capping bandwidth at least I still have a physical copy and patches/DLC would be my only concern at that point.

Do I want an all DD future? Hell no. Do I support it if they have the right games? Yes.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3789d ago
TheEnigma3133790d ago

I don't really buy digital anyways, so if it's higher I won't buy it anyways. If they go all digital with higher prices, I'll just stick to steam.

Flipgeneral3790d ago

Makes me wonder if SONY will follow suit

TheEnigma3133790d ago

I don't think they will. They've been doing the opposite of MS.

DanielGearSolid3790d ago

Why? They just lowered their prices. Now they're gonna raise them?

DCfan3789d ago

Oh, the old counter arguement of "bu..but SONY will do the same" gets me everytime.

Show all comments (132)
220°

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.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7218h 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.

solideagle5h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18813h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio2h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga5h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21834h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga3h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

purple1018h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos7h ago

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

XBManiac6h ago

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

SimpleDad6h ago(Edited 6h 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.

purple1016h ago

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

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic4h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (21)
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

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 15h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 12h ago

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

Barlos1d 10h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 3h ago

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

peppeaccardo1d 5h ago

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

ChasterMies1d 1h 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 15h ago (Edited 1d 14h 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 12h ago

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

Mr Logic23h ago

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

Crows9022h ago

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

Profchaos1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h 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 14h ago

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

Profchaos1d 14h ago

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

Yi-Long1d 11h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel1d 13h ago

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

Profchaos1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

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

TheColbertinator1d 12h ago

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

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197212d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville12d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier11d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto12d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts12d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)