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No. 175350
Microsoft has finally attempted to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the Xbox One, including the next-gen console's reported ‘always online’ functionality and its approach to pre-owned games.
The next generation console doesn’t need a constant internet connection to function, nor does it completely block the use and sale of pre-owned games. But there are still some restrictions in place.
Here’s all the facts, according to a post on Microsoft’s Xbox Wire website.
Buy the way you want—disc or digital—on the same day: You’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release. Discs will continue to be a great way to install your games quickly.
Access your entire games library from any Xbox One—no discs required: After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend’s house, you can play your games.
Share access to your games with everyone inside your home: Your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.
Give your family access to your entire games library anytime, anywhere: Xbox One will enable new forms of access for families. Up to ten members of your family can log in and play from your shared games library on any Xbox One. Just like today, a family member can play your copy of Forza Motorsport at a friend’s house. Only now, they will see not just Forza, but all of your shared games. You can always play your games, and any one of your family members can be playing from your shared library at a given time.
Trade-in and resell your disc-based games: Today, some gamers choose to sell their old disc-based games back for cash and credit. We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.
Give your games to friends: Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.
Beyond this, Xbox Wire also confirms some other issues, including the console’s need to connect to the internet once every 24 hours and the extent of the power publishers have over game sharing.
With Xbox One you can game offline for up to 24 hours on your primary console, or one hour if you are logged on to a separate console accessing your library," clarifies another Xbox Wire page. "Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies."
Microsoft continues, “Games licensing will be tied to consoles, and third-party publishers may charge a fee for activating used games at their discretion. Renting and loaning games will not be available at launch. Microsoft is working with publishers to make it happen."
And lastly, Microsoft has moved to calm fears that the new Kinect unit will snoop on users.
“Kinect won’t record you while the console is in stand-by mode, and won’t share your data without permission,” reads the post.
The Xbox One was announced at a special reveal event last month. It’s expected to launch later this year.
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