Microsoft Clarifies Used Game Sales on Xbox One

[Chark]

Zappykins said:

Chark said:
That's one way to do it. Or they could have it so games can't be installed and played without the disk, therefor not needed to do an always online console and isolating potential consumers.

True, but this will give you the option of switching between all your games on the fly.  No need to go sort down a disk or anything like that.

It's a trade off, and while it seems creepy, I doubt it will really be that inconvenient.  Usually, when I bring a game to a friend, I'm there to play it with them.  Not being able to loan is kinda of annoying, but the freedom of switching between games instantly seems like it will benefit me more.

It’s sort of a hybrid between all digital and current retail games. 

 

 

What it is is all digital with a physical backup as opposed to a backup over the internet. I'm not even sure if they are seperating the two. You might be able to download a game you own at a friends house without needing the disk. Since the console requires internet connection, unless they eliminate the need after the consoles life span, the physical backups are not the same as having a phsyical copy. Their existence only facilitates quick installation without using bandwidth, in store retail presence, and a physical second hand market. Otherwise for all extents and purposes it is a digital only console. Selling rights to digital titles has been done on Steam and their are rumors MS might do the same. If true then the only thing MS is really doing is releasing a digital only console that has familiar in store software pressence.

They probably would have gone digital only if they could have retained software pressence on store shelves, but they don't want to risk that kind of advertising space and further reduce their target market even though they essentially are eliminating the greatest part of the physical advantage.