Activation codes to prevent sale of pre-owned games and new Kinect to ship alongside console, claim sources
Microsoft’s next Xbox will require a constant internet connection to work, according to a report.
Sources “with first-hand experience of Microsoft’s next-generation console" told Edge that a new version of Xbox Live would play an “integral” role in the new console, suggesting digital distribution will play a bit part for the hardware.
It was also claimed that a new version of Kinect would ship alongside the console, and that games for the new hardware would be manufactured on 50gb Blu-Ray discs.
The sources said that each disc will come with its own activation code, meaning only the initial user can install and play the game. This effectively stops the ability for users to sell or buy second-hand games.
As also previously reported, the next Xbox’s specs are said to feature an AM eight-core x64 1.6ghz CPU, 8gb of DDR3 RAM and D3D11.x 800mhz graphics.
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People will make a big deal out of this but second hand sales in the USA are tiny so it's just the reduction of a small vampiric market that is sucking the industry dry. Microsoft is a market leader and deserves every penny it can earn from these little fleas.
The next Microsoft console will be a shining beacon of light in this downward trending industry and lead us all to the promised land. All praise Ballmer.
I think we should make selling pre-owned automobiles illegal as well. Look at how much that hurts the auto manufacturers and their lost revenue !!
When will people stop the used car comparisons?
Do you not realise they are entirely different situations?
A used game is 'exactly' the same as a new game.
A used car is no where near the same quality as a new car. The used one will have had some form of wear and tear and will eventually require repairs to be allowed on the road.
Spare parts cost money and give money back to the original manufacturers. Even if you don't buy official parts, the people who made the unofficial parts have to pay the original manufacturers to be allowed to make the parts.
Basically:
Used game are exactly the same as new and give nothing back to the devs.
Used cars wear out and spare parts bring extra money back to the manufacturers.
Well data may suggest that used sales may be "tiny", I think you may be underestimating how quickly and fiercely the gaming community will cling to what they perceive to be the principle of the matter.
Not to mention the surprising chunk of gamers who don't have an internet connection.
If this is the case, I really don't see gamers shrugging this off. I think there will be tremendous backlash.
There will probably bee at least two versions of the next Xbox if not more.
One the version will be like a normal cablebox but it will always bee on connected to your home network.
Microsoft will probably use Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast technology too mirror the picture from the Xbox to multiple devices like tablets, TV's ... so you only need to have Xbox in your house for your devices.
You will also be able to watch TV and watch replays of shows on demand.
This Xbox will probably be subscription based Xbox attach to Live and to a cable company. And the device will only work so long you keep subscribing. When you stop paying you need to send back your device you can't purchase the device since it needs to be attach to certain user.
There will be other Xbox you will able to purchase but it will be more like upgraded X360 and will not have a built in video recorder / streamer.
Of course cars can be compared to software.
When you build a car it costs the manufacturer 1.
To build 2 it costs 1.99. To build 3 it costs 2.98...
But for software the cost of producing 1 is EXACTLY the same of producing 10.000.000.000 !!!
The only costs post production are costs associated with net servers and traffic (when there are online features in the title).
On some Consoles (XBOX being one) those costs supposedly were covered by XBOX Live subscription.
But even if companies cover those costs with game sales, If I sale my copy I stop playing so no increase in gamers...
Today companies charge for game, Online Passes, DLCs, upgrades (that's what I call going from FIFA 12 to FIFA 13)...
That's enough man!
We have some rights. It's time to defend them!
In Europe Germany is suing Valve for their licencing schema (that forbids resells). I hope Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony go next...
As jurrabi pointed out, we're *already* getting nickeled & dimed (oh, how I wish they were actual nickles & dimes...) with an ever-expanding list of "monetization" practices. It seems that publishers actually want nearly double the cost of a game when it's all added up, but don't have the 'nads to actually double the up-front price.
There's plenty to play in the mobile & indie markets, and I'm no longer concerned about missing out on all of the latest "AAA" console titles.
