Next-Gen Xbox (Durango) to Require Internet Connection, No Used Game Functionality

A source held by EDGE Magazine has confirmed that the next-gen Xbox’s rumored specs are accurate.  These specs include “an AMD eight-core x64 1.6 GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM.”  The hard drive capacity is unknown for now, but it’s speculated that “Microsoft’s extended commitment to online delivery suggests that it will be the largest unit it has put inside a console to date.”

EDGE is claiming that their inside source is saying that the next-gen Xbox games will be on 50GB Blu-ray discs; it’s also believed that these discs will ship with a one-use activation code that will have no use past the first redemption.  What would this mean for the average consumer?  No more used games would be functional on such a console!

We have already begun to see a similar model when it comes to the online component of console games.  Quite a few big budget games are packaged with an online multiplayer activation code these days.

Development sources have told EDGE that Sony’s console unit architecture is more preferable.  Apparently, development studios working with the next-gen Xbox are being forced to work with a more oppressive operating system compared to Sony.  If Sony doesn’t follow suit with game activation codes, they are going to have numerous advantages going in to the next-gen market.

Hopefully, the one-use activation codes are just speculation and never come to fruition.  Something like that would be devastating to stores like GameStop and services such as Gamefly (both of which rely heavily on the used game market.)

EDIT:  Forbes has reported that, because of the article published by EDGE, GameStop shares took a 6.8% dive at a loss of $1.81 per share.  They also stated that used game sales account for 28% of GameStop’s overall sales and 48% of their gross profits.

For more information, please visit the good guys over at Kotaku and EDGE!


Valve Sued Over Steam’s Refusal to Allow User Resale of Games

Straight out of Germany, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) is suing Valve due to the fact that it doesn’t allow its users to resell their digital games.  VZBV had filed a complaint with Valve that went ignored for months which led to the legal action.

The group tried to file a legal complaint in 2010 regarding the inability to transfer user accounts on Steam, but that complaint failed.  The new case may have a better, albeit slight, chance due to a case in the European Supreme Court last year.  The Court ruled in favor of the used game front and declared that the customer/consumer must be able to resell any software purchased, regardless of what the Terms of Service states.

In my personal opinion, I think that if you purchase a game, regardless of how or where, you should be able to do with it as you please.  It’s ridiculous for a developer or company such as Valve to be able to say “No, even though you paid full price, the game is still ours!”  I understand why there is a need for DRM but it’s getting a little out of hand.  The people the DRM is supposed to hurt are being largely unaffected; it’s the legitimate consumer that is being hindered and inconvenienced.

Source article: Destructoid