Xbox One performs u-turn on pre-owned games policy

Microsoft has performed a u-turn on its plans to impose restrictions on the free trade of pre-owned games and its requirements for an always-on internet connection for its new Xbox One consoles, following criticism from gamers.

Xbox One Console

The Xbox One announcement at this month’s E3 games conference was widely considered by gamers and industry commentators as the inferior upcoming console compared with the Playstation 4. This was owed to its restrictions on trading and sharing used game discs, the requirement for gamers to log on to its Xbox Live system daily in order to play games and the Xbox One’s higher price point.

Sony even openly mocked the Xbox One used game policy by posting a satirical YouTube video entitled “Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video”.

In a statement posted on the Xbox website last night (19 June), the president of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business Don Mattrick, said the company had listened to “candid feedback” from the gaming community.

He added: “We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.”

The company has now announced gamers can trade-in, lend, resell, gift and rent disc based games just as they do today – with no limitations to those offloading games or additional charges to those receiving them.

In addition, Microsoft says an internet connection will not be required to play offline disc based games.

Microsoft’s share price fell 1.11 per cent to $34.59 at the close of trading last night, following the Xbox One statement.

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