Microsoft have explained the game licensing regulations behind Xbox One.
Or, at least, tried to…
A new blog post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft’s own Xbox news site, has outlined the game licensing regulations behind their latest console.
There’s good news and bad news…
Firstly, you can buy brand new games on disc or digitally on the same day.
You’ll also be able to access your full Xbox One games library on the cloud without the need for discs and will be able to play your Xbox One games digitally on any Xbox One console anywhere.
Microsoft have also cleared up the sharing of games. Friends, family and guests on your console can have unlimited access to all your games. What’s more, you don’t even need to be logged in for them to play those games. Although, that does seem to go against what we’ve just said above. How can a player access all those games if they need to be logged in to gain access to a games library on the Cloud?
The best news, though, is that Xbox One allows up to ten members of your family to log in and play from a shared games library. This means they can play your games at any given time. This hopefully means that multiple copies would not need to be purchased for local co-op/multiplayer.
There’s also the option to give games to friends and there are no fees attached to these transfers. However, 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. Also, Xbox One allows publishers to enable you to trade in games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers or consumers, though that doesn’t mean the third party won’t choose to do so.
As Microsoft state…
In our role as a game publisher, Microsoft Studios will enable you to give your games to friends or trade in your Xbox One games at participating retailers. Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this. In addition, third party publishers can enable you to give games to friends. Loaning or renting games won’t be available at launch, but we are exploring the possibilities with our partners.
Confusing policies to say the least.
What are your thoughts?