Microsoft has sent some mixed messages over the Xbox One's stance on used games. At first it was reported that the Xbox One would require mandatory installs to the hard drive, thus rendering used games useless. Then they clarified that gamers will be able to play games belonging to other people, but only if you are on their Xbox One or signed into their account. But either way, Gamestop president Tony Bartel told Forbes that he is confident Sony and Microsoft will continue to support the used games market.
"Both Sony and Microsoft have said games can be resold and that's exactly what we anticipated...It's a recognized way to make these games more affordable. All three new platforms understand that. As people upgraded to PS3 they traded in their old systems and libraries, which is why Sony made the move to not support backwards compatibility with later iterations of PS3. That's why the 'buy, sell, trade' model works well. It enables people to purchase new games by trading in their old ones. We expect to see the same thing with this transition for PS4 and Xbox One. Trade-ins allow for a seamless transition."
Bartel also revealed that he is sure that Gamestop will be able to adapt to the new consoles, as the 23-million PowerUp Rewards members give him and his company a host of data to understand the shifting market.
"We now know exactly what our customers are playing, what systems they're using and what they're excited about," said Bartel.
"We can pinpoint our programs and information to those people who most interested in that product. With prior console launches, we'd push information out there and it was first come, first served. Now it's more surgical. We have a relationship with our customers and we see that as currency."