Bethesda: Used games 'absolutely' a concern

April 16, 2013 4:43AM PDT

By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Marketing VP at Elder Scrolls, Fallout studio says company has tried to mitigate second-hand market with DLC, other initiatives.

Used games are "absolutely" a concern for Elder Scrolls and Fallout developer Bethesda. Speaking with Destructoid, marketing vice president Pete Hines said his company has attempted to lessen the impact of second-hand sales by supporting games with downloadable content that encourages users to hold on to their discs, among other things.

 

"Absolutely it's a concern," Hines said. "We have tried to mitigate it by creating games that offer replayability, by supporting them with DLC that's worth hanging onto the game for, or offering tools that let them take things further."

Hines conceded that Bethesda does not have all the answers when it comes to the multifaceted issue of the used game market. He said an solution that works for everyone--retailers, publishers, and developers--may be hard to come by.

"There's no doubt that being a videogamer is expensive. Games are not cheap to buy because they're expensive to make, and people are looking for ways to keep it affordable," Hines said. "I'm not sure anyone has figured out a solution that works for everyone, and there simply may not be one until someone figures out how to include developers and publishers in the loop on used games sales instead of keeping it all for themselves."

Most recently, debate and discussion has surrounding the second-hand market has related to the possibility of the PlayStation 4 and still-unannounced Xbox 720 blocking used games. GameStop management said last month that it has a "high degree of confidence" that the PS4 will play used games, while reports have claimed the next Xbox will block second-hand titles.

You could just make bigger and longer games. Then again they already do.

I said it before but I hope PS4 and NeXbox blocks used games.  As long as they both make the commitement together their shouldnt be a backlash from the community.  Sony has been shady about the situation and Microsoft hasn't said anything yet but I'm hoping if one does it the other does it as well or it will be useless.  I'd like them to be 100% honest about the situation.  

Only gamestop wins with used games, developers don't, it's a problem because they make games, not gamestop or whatever.

I wish they found game breaking bugs a concern.

Um what about Nintendo?

This. Worried about used game sales?  Make games we can actually play without worrying about crippling bugs please.

Also, no f'ing thanks to a used games ban. Idk why publishers and some gamers act as if video games should be exempt from second hand sales.  Virtually every other industry has it. Imagine how many less games would be sold if people could not go and trade in old games for credit. Imagine how long games would stay at full price if they were not competing with used games. Hell, imagine the price games would release at. You think EA would bat an eye at releasing a $70 game if you couldn't go in 2 weeks later and buy it used for $50? It would also ruin renting and borrowing. A friend of mine has a fiance who was laid off so he's footing all their bills and had no money for Bioshock Infinite. I platinum'd the game and then let him borrow it. I also just got home from Blockbuster where I used my gamepass to get that new DC fighting game Injustice or whatever. If I like it, I'll buy it. If not, oh well. With a used game ban, neither of these things could have happened.

Good thing I live in Europe, they are legally not allowed to block used games (I think).

Fine... next game instead of buying it second hand i'll pirate it.. you win Bethesda

They do. At the moment those bugs are just too unreliable for them to count on every game getting broken, but they're slowly creeping their way up to 100%.