Xbox 720 vs PS4: Microsoft’s Used Games Ban IS Real, Sony’s Might Not Be Says Xing Interactive Exec [REPORT]

By Mo Mozuch on April 23, 2013 3:28 PM EDT 15 Comments

PS4 vs. Xbox 720 Release Date 2013, Specs, Price: Who's banning used games first? (Photo: YouTube screenshot/niklas1723))

Last week, the hottest Xbox 720 rumor revolved around an anonymous source claiming to be a Microsoft employee telling everyone to calm down and breathe because, allegedly, the always-on rumor that has been causing massive amounts of grief for fans wasn't true. This came on the heels of an Xbox 720 vs PS4 report that showed the differences in the RAM for both systems.

Follow Us

In general, when it comes to Xbox 720 vs PS4 public relations the victory (for now) is Sony's. The Xbox 720 rumor mill is plagued with awful stories like $70 games and increased microtransactions, Sony is being criticized for forcing gamers to subscribe to the Gaikai streaming service to play PS3 games rather than building support into the new system, but the company hasn't come anywhere near something like the Adam Orth controversy. The latest Xbox 720 vs PS4 debate, according to Xing Interactive Managing Director David Connolly, is on which system will allow used games.

Xbox 720 Used Games Ban Is Probably Real, Sony's Not So Much

In a recent interview with NowGamer, Connolly claims the Xbox 720 will not allow players to play used games on the next gen system. Sony, he claims, is being a little more developer-friendly in their approach to the issue.

"We hear different things from the two big players," Connolly said in the interview. "Sony are actively asking for more retailers 'past, present and new' to help them support their next PS launch. I have spoken to sources close to Microsoft on the other hand who insist that the next Xbox will not be compatible with second hand."

Sure, Connolly's "sources" could be full of BS, but the Xbox 720 used games ban has been a thriving rumor since The Edge reported on it back in February. I think the fact that Connolly's sources aren't contradicting a widely reported rumor lends them some credibility. Everyone knows Microsoft is being tight-lipped about details, so the small leaks and rumors that have come out so far are all fans and writers have to go on. However, we still haven't heardANYTHING official from Microsoft regarding the Xbox 720 so the rumors could still be that, just rumors. This gives them a bit of a PR advantage over Sony at the moment, whose own stance on used games has been inconsistent at best (see below). We can throw all the awful rumors we want at Microsoft, but until they give us an official target nothing will stick. Sony, on the other hand, has had to take a position. And then they decided to un-take it. Kind of.

Sony's PS4 Used Games Stance Shifting

Right now, the Xbox 720 vs PS4 used games issue is hard to nail down because Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything and Sony has confirmed, then unconfirmed, that they will support used games. Sony initially said it would support used games for the PS4.

"That's the general expectation by consumers," said Sony Worldwide Studios exec Shuhei Yoshida told Eurogamer. "They purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation."

That interview was on February 21. The same day Gamespot ran an interview with Yoshida where he said, well, something a little different. When asked about used games the official word was "It's a publisher decision. We are not talking about it. Sorry."

Since then, Sony has backtracked a little on whether or not the PS4 will support used games and are sticking to the story that they will leave it up to publishers to decide whether or not to allow used games to be played on the PS4. It doesn't take a super sleuth to deduce that a lot of game developers HATE the used games market, so if given the option to prevent a game from becoming one I'm sure plenty of companies will take it. What does this mean for consumers? Well, according to a report from Bloomberg is could mean that consumers will take their money elsewhere.

Xbox 720 vs PS4: Will Used Games Ban Kill Both Systems?

I think the pressure from the upcoming Xbox 720 vs PS4 battle might be clouding the judgment of both parties. While they foresee only dollar signs as a result of banning used games, they might lose sight of the fact that gamers expect to get some measure of value out of the $60 titles they buy; if the $70 game rumors circulating online prove to be close to the truth, buying used is only going to get more popular.

Which is what was revealed in the Bloomberg report on the used games ban. They spoke to officials at GameStop, the nation's largest game retailer, about what their company thinks a used games ban will do to the marketplace.

"We know the desire to purchase a next-generation console would be significantly diminished if new consoles were to prohibit playing pre-owned games, limit portability or not play new physical games," Matt Hodges, a spokesman for GameStop, told Bloomberg. GameStop surveyed some 21 million customers regarding the used games ban, so they have real weight behind their predictions.

If the Xbox 720 vs PS4 debate becomes about which system is the least awful as opposed to which is truly the best, then everybody loses.Gamers lose interest in what should be a great next step in the legacy of console gaming. Microsoft and Sony lose revenue and respect if a used game ban eviscerates their launch numbers. And GameStop could lose as much as half its annual profit if used games no longer exist.

The next gen consoles should be about making customers, not shareholders, happy. If they fail to do that, well, there's plenty of fun to be had with PC gaming. And a Wii U price drop could make things very interesting, too.

For tips, complaints and observations on all things digital, email us at tips [at] idigitaltimes.com

Check out more hot tech & gaming articles from iDigital Times