If E3 was all about introducing the Xbox One and PS4 to gamers, this week has been about taking the next-gen console war to the masses via late-night TV shows. Doing his best to play the role of Switzerland, Jimmy Fallon has hosted representatives from both Microsoft and Sony to showcase the Xbox One and PS4, with each party obviously hoping to improve their respective lots in the PS4 pre-order vs. Xbox One pre-order debate (hint: it’s pretty one-sided toward Sony at this point). Fallon opened his week with Microsoft … [Read more...]
Microsoft’s Xbox One Used-Game Policy Makes Sense – And Could Win the Console War
When clarifying its Xbox One used-game policy, Microsoft seemed to send a troubling message to the very customers who made it the current-gen console sales leader. If customers can only resell games “at participating retailers,” can no longer rent games (link) and may be banned from loaning games to more than one friend, will we ever truly own a next-gen game? If gamers are paying full MSRP, why put such restrictions on the games they’re buying? The questions have been legit, but amid all the outcry, one interesting … [Read more...]
Could the Xbox One Kill GameFly and Redbox?
Microsoft clarified its Xbox One used-game policy in the days leading up to E3, causing quite a stir among gamers. From games not working if the console hasn't connected to the internet in 24 hours (link) to only being able to pass along a game to one friend (link), to the ability to only resell used games “at participating retailers” (link), the Xbox One manufacturer gave all sorts of fodder for gamers to chew on. Yet it’s the Xbox One game rental policy -- or lack thereof -- that may be the most intriguing policy of … [Read more...]