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posted by martyb on Tuesday April 30 2019, @08:23PM   Printer-friendly
from the It-plays-for-sure-dept dept.

Microsoft is gearing up to release the next version of the XBox with the key feature of the latest release is that the new XBox won't have a disc drive. While this may reduce the cost of each unit for Microsoft some buyers may regret the absence of the disc player given that many homes no longer have a standalone disc player relying on the games console for playing DVDs.

Perhaps this is a gift from Microsoft to Netflix introducing a new raft of customers looking for online content delivery.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 01 2019, @09:57AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 01 2019, @09:57AM (#837153)

    Immediate first reaction: "No more used games? Screw 'em all! I'm just gonna play Whist."

    But after calming down, I think there are a number of futures for the used game market.

    The key point is that Microsoft (and Sony and Nintendo... let's not kid ourselves, they *all* want the used game scheme to change) will ultimately rule it.

    Games-on-media are currently priced as they are because after that first sale, the developers & publishers get no further income (ignore IAPs or subscription fees). Only so many new copies are sold because only so many people are willing to pay that initial price. After these people have played the game enough, they either shelve it or resell it. In other words, some percentage of initial price buyers expect to reduce the cost of that game by recouping part of it back when selling it on. If Microsoft et al kill the used game market, they're also going to find fewer new sales because that percentage of initial price buyers won't buy it.

    So what might Microsoft (and Sony and Nintendo) do, after bemoaning the downward trend in sales?

    1) Eliminate the used game market, but decrease new game prices over time. This is like how many other things work. Last year's model is cheaper than this year's model, etc. Microsoft clings on to the highest price as long as they can, then drop it a bit until sales lag again. Repeat. Eventually reach the "Now it's retro cool!" point and start raising the price again.

    2) Eliminate the used game market, but price new games cheaper. Market studies will be (have already been?) done to figure out the new price sweet spot that will bring back enough of those people who stopped buying, and also add in some of the people who never bought new because it was too expensive.

    3) Control the used game market themselves. Since you don't really *own* the game anyway, you may be able to "sell" your game back to Microsoft in exchange for Microsoft Points or whatever fake currency they use. Store Credit, essentially. Microsoft revokes your account's ability to play that game, and you get back something that's not exactly money but can be redeemed for other stuff from the Microsoft store. Microsoft gets to decide how much you get back. Yay!

    4) Control the used game market while making it seem like a community marketplace. You "sell" your game to other people, but through Microsoft. Like an Amazon or an eBay, but with Microsoft in charge. You decide what you want for it, list it for sale with Microsoft, and if somebody buys it then Microsoft revokes your ability to play that game and the buyer gets authorized to play. Microsoft takes a flat rate or variable percentage or something so every change of hands makes them some money, and your payout is in Microsoft Points redeemable only at the Microsoft store. Microsoft may not allow a game to be sold "used" for some number of months after a new release, kinda like how movies don't come out on DVD until the cinema run is finished.