Chinese Xbox One Games Contain A One-Time Activation Code, Cannot Be Resold

Xbox One’s software in China will contain a single-use activation code, therefore preventing its games from being resold, according to photos posted on the ali213 gaming forums.

[daggertoes83]

Ouch.

[Webbyy]

Ouch is right.. but somehow part of me believe this is something the Chinese government had a say into.

I don't think this one is on MS..

[jmac53]

I'm sure if that was the case, MS was more than happy to oblige.

[BattleTorn]

I feel you're right, but I can't imagine MS put up much of fight.... seeing as this was what they originally wanted.

^jmac53 beat me to it.

[LordMaim]

Considering this isn't far from Microsoft's original plan for DRM, why would you doubt it was Microsoft's doing?

[Fireseed]

@jmac53 And Battle Torn

You don't argue with the Chinese government. Do you think if Microsoft pushed hard enough it would reform something over there? No. They'd just go about banning consoles again.

[Eonjay]

@n4gaminm

Its Disagree not Dislike...
I disagree because it is well known that Microsoft has long spoken out against China due to piracy. Microsoft was quoted saying that as much as 95% of revenue was lost due to piracy in China. So, I could DEFINITELY see them doing this if they really believe what they themselves have said on the subject.

[BG11579]

Oh look, Microsoft's E3 reveal of 2013 came back like an Chinese terminator.

[NatureOfLogic_]

This is all MS. What better time to test DRM on console. China piracy is an excuse to test their DRM on consoles. China is a test market for MS's original plans for Xbox One.

[darthv72]

We will know if it really is the government that imposed this when other consoles get the green light to release in china.

If they too have the same policy for sony and nintendo games then yes....blame the govt.

[Pogmathoin]

Darth,
You know well if PS4 has the same, in a country that likes to control everything, it will be seen as a smart move by Sony, not DRM. I see this as the government.... they even dictate what google and others can do in China. This is nothing new... oh MS.... drm!!!

[bmf7364]

Piracy is no stranger in China, so DRM is something more necessary there than in the West.

[turdburgler1080]

Well since the ps4 is being destributed by the same company now expect it on Chinese ps4's as well. Amazing how us western types care so much about how a console in China is going to do. Those folks will be putting legit consoles out one end of the factory while pumping out rip offs on the other. I wonder if they will get a really cool ping pong game.

[guitarded77]

I don't know why you're getting disagrees. It's most likely so the Chinese government can keep tabs on who is reading, watching, hearing, etc which game.

[MrPink2013]

Once the PS4 comes out at we will know for sure who is responsible.

[BlackWolf12]

You know, now that I think about it. The original DRM vision for the Xbox One was probably a plot hatched between Microsoft and the US Government for World Domination.

I don't think we can blame that one on Microsoft either, they probably didn't have a say.

[Death]

The original plan was to allow gamers to rip their store bought games to the HDD and access them like digital downloads. You also had the ability to share these ripped games with friends online. DRM is used in all game consoles, it isn't unique to the Xbox One. The reason we can't play games that install on the HDD without the disc is due to the disc based DRM they use. What was unique about the DRM Microsoft planned was it made game sharing possible with out passing around physical media.

Games could still be traded, but they needed to be unlocked from Microsofts online database. This was only possible at authorized retailers.

[Ra3030]

This is all on Microsoft the Chinese Government IMO had nothing to do with this little gem. Microsoft is use the Chinese games as a beta DMR run. See how it goes before they make it the norm for the rest of their gamers.

[mananimal]

@Webbyy

41 agreeable sheeple and counting.....42...43..44...etc

You have to be brain dead to not see how this benefits MS and how it was at least partially there idea also....SMH lol

[mananimal]

Double post. Oops

[chuckyj1]

Wonder if all these dislikes will happen if Sony has to do the same thing... Nope. Then there will be a bunch of people saying $ony has to do it.

The very fact X1 is also region locked makes me think it's Chinese Govt policies. Because, the Chinese Govt. has to approve every game launched in the Country that is why it's region locked, otherwise Chinese could simply import games effectively evading the Govt oversight of games sold in its Country. The X1 is not region locked any where else where it has launched.

We will see the policies of the PS4 when it launches in China. I suspect a lot of people on this forum will look stupid.

[mmcglasson]

I will say, I don't know why you are getting dislikes. Obviously MS had to implement it but it's highly possible the Chinese government requested this. Not that MS would fight it, but it's likely MS wasn't going to say... oh hey China btw you are the only country that can't trade in or sell your games you beat...

[XB1_PS4]

I love the back and forth..

MS DID IT
CHINA DID IT
MS DID IT
CHINA DID IT

None of you know.

[Alsybub]

@Death

I don't know why you're getting so many disagrees. That's exactly what the plan was.

People didn't like the fact that they couldn't then trade their games and so MS dropped it.

For me, at least, it would have been much more convenient to be able to find a disc copy of a game at a competitive price from a retailer and then install it on the Xbox and play without the need for the constant disc swapping. As far as lending is concerned it would have been great because a friend could download the game from the store and play it with your permission. Much better than the convoluted share play on PS4.

[Godmars290]

Even though this sounds very much like the original DRM?

I mean restricting systems to one user is just one step further over restricting games.

[morganfell]

It may not be the government but rather Microsoft:

http://www.gamesinasia.com/...

"The news of the Xbox One launch price last week was met with a surprising level of positivity from China’s gamer community. The reason, in part, was that although Microsoft hadn’t announced anything, some e-commerce sites were advertising the system would not be region locked.

But those ads have since been revised, and Microsoft China VP Xie Enwei made it very clear that the console and its games will be totally region locked.

Specifically, according to Sina Games, Xie said that Chinese Xbox One games will not be playable on other Xbox One consoles. Similarly, Xbox One games and apps from other regions cannot be downloaded or run on the official Chinese Xbox One.

In other words, Chinese gamers who’ve already purchased an imported Xbox One will need to buy a new console if they want to play any of console’s official China titles. Similarly, Chinese gamers who were hoping to import foreign Xbox titles to play on their official Chinese Xbox Ones are out of luck."

[raymantalk1]

@Webbyy

are you a 5 year old ?

why would the chinese goverment want a single use activation code it would have no gain for them, it would only benifit MS or the game companies who make the games you complete idiot! lol

[jerjef]

We'll certainly see if Sony has to do it as well. If so, it's a good thing they patented that anti-used game tech back in 2012 for the PS4. That's some good forward thinking Sony.

[fr0sty]

China embraces piracy, it's one of the worst nations out there when it comes to piracy. Most of their products are shameless knockoffs of other more popular products, and you can find pirated movies and such being sold on a massive scale over there. To say this was done at the request of the Chinese government is ridiculous.

[Darrius Cole]

Bull$###

They tried this everywhere else. It just didn't work anywhere else. It's what they wanted to do all along.

Perhaps they wanted to go into China all along and this was the reason for their DRM in the beginning, because of Chinese piracy. But this is Microsoft's doing, not the Chinese government.

[jerjef]

What's with the disagrees for my comment? What I said was true.
http://www.giantbomb.com/fo...

[Enigma_2099]

Rrrriiiiiiight. So instead of banning games flat out, they're gonna do MS a solid and ban resale of games.

Yeah, I don't see Microsoft having anything to do with this. [/sarcasm]

[Godmars290]

@jerjef:
It doesn't matter that Sony put out a patient in regards to DRM. What does is that they saw the heat that MS was getting for it months ahead of the official announcement and backed down from any plans to introduce it.

Whereas MS ignored months of internet chatter and went ahead anyway.

What you and others need to be concerned about is when BS like this happens again. Because it will happen again.

[jerjef]

@GodMars290

You're right, Sony changed their policy after seeing how bad things got for MS. So that leaves the question, what would Sony have done if they revealed their DRM policy first instead of MS? Even if they did drop it after the fact, the public would've torn them a new one instead for going ahead with it, then MS would've stripped theirs and they would be the hero and be leading in sales today.

[Godmars290]

No. By all count MS was expecting Sony to do the same. They only finally reacted and reversed DRM because of the reaction Sony got for not doing it. That and the sudden dip in XB1 pre-orders.

And if both had, with it being kept secret till the actual E3 announcement, just like with the reaction to the initial rumor, gamers in general would have lost their sh*t. I for one wouldn't be touching a PS4 let alone an Xb1.

[jerjef]

@Godmars290

Right, it was the public backlash that caused the reversal for both sides. Both sides knew each were going to do it, but when the angry mob wanted MS's blood Sony tossed the DRM in the closest trash bin and proclaimed they would never do such as thing because they're all about the gamers. What's worrisome is that Sony was indeed going to go to market with this just like MS and it was all about timing that saved their hide. Besides, I don't understand the huge backlash that MS got for this when digital sales in the month of November 2013 were over a billion dollars. Why complain about something that you weren't going to use anyway?

[NatureOfLogic_]

@jerjef, lmao. Much conspiracy, such wishful thinking.

[jerjef]

@ArgumentumAdPopulum

No wishful thinking or conspiracies, just reciting what happened back in 2013. Was anything I said incorrect?

Sony patents DRM for PS4
http://www.giantbomb.com/fo...

Sony reverses DRM policy after bad MS backlash
http://www.tomshardware.com...

[Godmars290]

@jerjef:
Okay. One more time.

Within the *months* between the official reveal and internet chatter regrading DRM backlask, Sony had *months* to reverse themselves. Some as MS, who only reversed themselves *days after* they had stepped into a mess they had had *months* to avoid.

And the backlash was because MS was taking an option and making it mandatory.

[NatureOfLogic_]

@jerjef, You don't have to link me to those old articles. I was here during those days when the media were saying, "Sony Too, Just wait till E3."(damage control) E3 2013 rolled around, no DRM. Then conspiracy articles like the ones you linked started appearing with no hard facts. So please until you can present facts and not conspiracy articles, lets stop with the Sony Too thing. It didn't make sense then and it doesn't make sense now.

[raymantalk1]

@Godmars290
@jerjef:

you are both wrong sony never had any plans to use drm they merely took out a patent to cover the fact that it could affect them show me one statement where sony actually claimed they were going to do it.

[Mikelarry]

China is rampant with piracy, so I can understand why this step was implemented

[MRMagoo123]

It wont stop piracy at all, they will have knock off xbones with in weeks and the games will all be copied at the same time. If I heard right, they can only sell 5 million xbones in china ever as well per the contract.

[LackTrue4K]

( in the Termanator's voice)
(DRM)

"I'll be back"

[troylazlow]

That's it! I'm done with China

[Darrius Cole]

(the magic whisper, warning about Voldemort and Death-eaters)

"they're coming, They're Coming"

[SonyMontana]

And here we go again, MS up to their same tricks...

[Death]

PS+, PSNow and the PS Store are all offering games you don't actually own and can't trade. Bravias this fall will offer consoleless gaming that doesn't use physical media. If that isn't DRM, what is it? Not actually owning something is the ultimate DRM and is the direction Sony is heading very quickly. You want to talk tricks? Sony fans are too blinded by their console loyalty to see what Sony is doing.

[jrshankill]

PSP Go. Explain that. The DRM arguement is futile.

Anyway, reading this Chinese forum, with bad translation and their use of pics is absolutely hilarious.

From what I gather too, they don't seem to care much about the activation code. Also, they are suggesting importing the games without the activation code. I would have thought the Chinese Xbox would be region locked but these guys are already discussing ways around it.

[r2oB]

@ Death

Except you are missing one important fact; if you want to own your games rather than licensing them you still have an option, buying the physical disc. So no, Sony is not heading in that direction as long as you have the option to buy physical media without restrictions. Sony never announced any plans to restrict physical media.

Microsoft on the other hand wanted to restrict physical media, by dictating what you can do with the physical disc purchased. That is what people complained about. I buy a disc, I should own it. If Microsoft had their way people would not own their physical media purchases because they couldn't resell them a their will or lend them out without jumping through hoops.

[Darrius Cole]

@Death

Not today.

[Baccra17]

People forget that the chinese are very good at stealing and copying things, so it makes sense why MS would go this far.

[DanielGearSolid]

Lol wow

[imt558]

So, DRM in China.

[BattleTorn]

*without having to online.

pretty much.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Its China... still shocked they are allowing outsider gaming consoles to be sold into the country. I have zero doubts there are going to be many quirky weird things about that market. Given how crazy piracy is over there I am also equally sure MS was more than happy with a one time code being ok'd/required (who knows who asked for what) for all games.

[jriquelme_paraguay]

DOA

[stuna1]

Pretty much! This alone will ensure that the Xbox1 doesn't gain much traction. That's not even taking into account what software will actually be approved or playable after the Chinese Government imposes its strict sanctions on content that's considered suitable. I'm not even going to speak as far as Kinects is concerned.

The PS4 is likely to suffer the same restrictions, the only one I forsee doing marginally well is the WII U, and that's only because it's more family oriented.

I guess only time will tell.

[Mega24]

Lol family oriented, in china? I've seen, read, and heard of several news articles of parents killing/selling/abandoning their children in china just to play video games.

@below

They sure as hell weren't playing family games that's for sure. Unless it was Monopoly video game, then I can understand.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@Mega24 ... and we have seen countless articles about parents / kids hurting/killing others because their game console was taken away or messed with in the U.S. and elsewhere. Its pretty much a crappy world period, doesn't matter where you live these days.

[NatureOfLogic_]

Lmao, really guy? "Sony Too" already. This reminds me of X1 reveal all over again.

[joeorc]

Think again about Sony, the playstation Tv is Sony's entry point into China, and since you need a playstation Vita of some sort to play the physical game carts, that is why with its base price point of $102.00 usd there combined with the majority of games are digital released combined with back catalogue of ps1,ps2 and PS3 games that are local stored and streaming the cost entry along with lower game pricing. Would far better served to the chinese market than even the ps3 or even the PS4 for entry to penetrate the market there.

Which Andrew House even stated in china it is the playstation Tv and not the playstation 4 set to the main driver to market penetration there and with price and restrictions applied to physical disc basrd game's in china, Andrew may in fact be correct.

[mhunterjr]

I think we'll need to see how this plays out. It could be a gov't mandate. I'd like to see how Sony's launch is handled, considering that by the time the ps4 lands, both console makers will be partnering with the same cable company. This will let us know if it's a corporate strategy or a mandate.

[WeAreLegion]

Intelligent response. We definitely need to wait and see what happens with the PS4. This could easily be the government's doing. We also need to factor in piracy rates.

[gangsta_red]

I think it has more to do with the extreme piracy that goes on in China.

[vivid83]

these consoles wont sell after they're reverse engineered

[stuna1]

I've been saying this from day 1! Let em get their foot in the door, then slam the door shut on that foot! They've done it with practically every popular item from different countries worldwide.

And food for thought! They are limiting Microsoft to only sell 5 million consoles initially.

[MRMagoo123]

I really dont think MS has any chance at getting to the limit lol

[Enemy]

Lol Microsoft really wants DRM don't they?

[jrshankill]

So does Sony, and they have for a while. PSP Go... why does everyone forget about this?

PSNow also, and they want this service to succeed. Hence why no EA Access on Sony consoles.

[RiPPn]

It's baaaaaAAAAaaack.

[1nsomniac]

I don't generally trade or sell my games but that is disgusting!

Whether it's Microsoft or Chinese policies, they have to be stopped.

[TheFallenAngel]

I think china deserves it though.

[user367272]

Does China even buy unpiratable consoles? I wouldn't be surprise if 1/2 country uses a single MS windows 8 OS. Can't blame MS or even Sony if they decide to follow as Piracy in southeast Asia..esp China is so Rampant. They gotta try some new measure to try to combat it. I heard about those SNES games bootlegged on 3.5 floppy disk drive back in the days and you can find them in the streets for sale.

[Mexxan]

Its a pretty cursor for sure.

[OculusRift]

Do you mean precursor?

[Mexxan]

Quite possibly, yes. Thank you.

[Revengeance]

Xbone confirmed DOA in China

[TheTwelve]

Microsoft has so much money, they can keep acting stupid for a looooong time.

[bandit905]

well that's what happens when you live in the worlds biggest pirated country

[hello12]

X BOX 1 launches this Tuesday coming, the 23th of September around China, be interesting to see what happens.

Not going to make any predictions because i am not sure about the market. Hope Microsoft does well though.

[hellothere1977]

Lol, MICROSOFT AND CHINA of one mind on stamping out customers' ability to resell paid for merchandise.

It's funny so many people in America deride China's communist principles on business and the economy, yet here is an AMERICAN company whose original plan goes hand and hand with Chinese policies...hypocrisy at its finest.

[quenomamen]

This has little to do with Chinese gov, this is all 100% MS. Remember pre E3 last year ?

[Illusive_Man]

Let ignore the that little nugget about rampant Piracy in China.

PS4 doesn't have DRM......wait....

[MasterCornholio]

You mean the DRM that the Xbox One has in China?

Well as far as I know it doesn't have that.

[Bzone24]

As far as you know, you don't know whether or not it has it.

[ArtificiallyYours]

When has China ever had it fair with media?

[oSHINSAo]

Yeah, coz you know who leads Piracy ?? this is a 2 sharp weapon

[DeadManMMX]

*shrugs* so? They get cheaper games. I don't really see the downside to this. Here come all the conspiracy theorists with their tin foil hats "ohhh MS is bringing back DRM ohhh" SSDD. After all that mess last year they are not bringing it back to us especially now that they are just starting to recover from it. China is a whole other world with a whole other set of problems.

[ghostface9]

Wow idiots these days have you noticed how china is the only country with the drm policies and region locked. Probably because there government is enforcing you grow up and stop with all the anti xbox talk.

[DLConspiracy]

People are so quick to jump on MS without knowing everything. Hate hate hate.

[Scatpants]

Considering this is exactly what they wanted to do here I would not be surprised at all if this was Microsoft's idea.

[DLConspiracy]

What advantage would it give MS to try and bring DRM back and trick the consumers? If they didn't like it the first time because MS didn't explain it nor care to show advantages. Why would they just sneak it in there so all the obvious MS haters can try and ruin their product again?

There is more to it.

[Scatpants]

It's China, people are poor. If they can buy the game used for less they are going to. This eliminates that. Sounds like a pretty decent advantage to me.

[MRMagoo123]

So you missed the majority of ppl saying its either the government or to wait and see if the other consoles do the same, instead you just jump on your poor MS band wagon again. Why not make an actual comment about the article at hand instead of trying to start some MS victim campaign.

[DLConspiracy]

Take things too serious do you? Good luck with that pal. Victim campaign? Calm down.

[stuna1]

Exactly! Now it's poor Microsoft. Whether it's Microsoft or the Government imposing DRM it's bad for the consumer.

Example: If this is Microsoft's idea, they could potentially ban gamers for numerous reasons, requiring gamers to rebuy games they already brought.

Example 2: If this is the Chinese Government imposing DRM, they are limiting the full capabilities of the console that the general public has brought! Thereby limiting what they perceive as suitable for the general public. Be it to combat piracy or enforce control.

Either way the consumer ends up on the short end of the stick.

[goken]

While we cannot discount the possibility that ms did this due to chn gov regulations, but i find it doubtful since i don't see the purpose of this other than making it a huge pain for gamers.
I think it might be likely that it is actually ms policy for the x1 in china. Possibly ms is going to market games in China at low low omg low prices... if so it may not be so unreasonable after all. I guess we'll see in less than a week.

[Scatpants]

So they managed to get away with it in China. I guess Chinese people are just grateful they get to play console games at all.

[hazelamy]

well, shows they still want the drm bullshit, if they thought they could get away with it, they'd bring it back in a heartbeat.
guess they think they can get away with it in china.

seems what's best for the gamers is still low on ms priorities list then.

and people say "they'll handle Minecraft properly" and wonder why most of us don't believe that.

[Angerfist]

All of sudden everyone is Chinese on N4G....
Who cares really?
The System is way too expensive for the average Chinese and those that can afford probably don't care.

[CervantesPR]

Lol wow

[ScaryMonkey]

DRM by way of China.

[user367272]

If China can control how many kids you can have...what make you think they arnt trying to try the same on software?

I wonder what the tone of the peopel here will be when Sony is forced to follow when they release their PS4 in China.

[MRMagoo123]

Probably the same as most ppl in here if you dont just concentrate on fueling your anti sony agenda.

[joeorc]

Things like this is one of the main reasons Sony created the playstation Tv for.

Say if this is Govt. Restrictions in China, Sony may of thought ahead of such a problem. Example:

"Andrew House expressed hopes to find success in the Chinese market for both the Vita TV and other Sony products, primarily due to the expectation that China’s ban on home console sales will soon be lifted. He said that even if the ban is dropped in say, the free trade zone in Shanghai that’ll be a massive market opportunity for Sony."

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

[rexwongwh]

I am Hong Konger. I don't think this will happen.
If this is happen, selling figure of Xbox one in chinese wont be good.

Chinese people come to hong kong and the world to buy a lot of milk powder and iphone. If they find out the Xbox one in Hong Kong better and less limitation than China, those guy will go to Hong Kong and buy.

I would like to share some information for all of you.
There are already a lot of Chinese gamers in china. They played PS3 and Xbox, even china is not allowed to import console. They still have a lot of channel to buy and play.

For the last generation. Chinese people in china love XBOX360 because it have pirate copy.

However, In Hong Kong, PS3 is very very strong as well as PS4 because hong kong people used to play Japanese game and Playstation do a very good job here to translate many good japanese game to traditional chinese

[sovkhan]

Well done Ms, Xbone future in China is sealed!!!

If this is real of course.

[Remy_Chaos]

Oh man if it turns up that MS is indeed behind this and not the Chinese Government, them 180's will be hilarious again! Guess we'll find out soon enough, but if even the PS4 is forced to follow this, well that sucks for everyone there.

[Spore_777]

So, MS gets to see the effect of its original policies, huh?

[mr233]

I'm sure Microsoft had a say in this. But let's be real, China is the pirating and counterfeit capitol of the world.

[wannabe gamer]

even so the system has to be cracked first and i dont think that has happened. so as of right now there is no piracy on xbone. unless M$ is expecting it to happen.

[wannabe gamer]

so they want to sell even worse than they already are in asian regions. nice plan

they might know they are going to sell so few units that they have to do this in order to actually make any real money by forcing people to buy all new games

[Jamaicangmr]

MS finally got the X1 they always dreamed about.

[ThunderPulse]

If that happened to my PS4 in NA I might as well just play my PC.

[masterfox]

So China will make MS dream come true for its original DRM practices ? daamnn

[DJStotty]

I think the main reason for this is the volume of piracy in the area and this will combat it. If it is the original policies in place then they will still be able to trade their game in at selected stores. Also they will have full family sharing or can sell to someone on their friends list.

Nice attempt at creating negative Xbox news though I'll give you that.

[kryteris]

thats funny, not surprised considering their *copy culture. I do wonder if this will also push for a lower msrp.

[scoltar]

You know, pretty much all modchips are produced in China. This may just drive some smart folks over there who know how things work to start work on breaking the Xbone wide open.

[D-riders]

they don't learn