PS4 And Xbox 720 News: Comparing The Next-Gen Consoles' Stances On Used Games

One of the hot button issues that will define the next generation of consoles will be the ability to play used games on a system. While this has long been a staple of the video game industry, its time may be coming to an end. Many are predicting that the next generation of consoles will start the shift towards digital distribution only. Indeed, many indie consoles such as the upcoming "Steam Box" by Valve and the Ouya will use digital distribution only. However, most gamers are curious what the juggernauts that are Sony and Microsoft will do about the issues.

Keep in mind that neither Sony or Microsoft have declared their official stance on the issue. Indeed, Microsoft has yet to show off the next-gen Xbox in any official capacity, but each company has offered hints at what gamers can expect concerning the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720's abilities to play used games.

Sony has taken a more friendly stance towards consumers being able to play used games on the PlayStation 4. Sony Worldwide president Shuhei Yoshida is quoted as supporting his company's next gen system playing used games.

"That's the general expectation by consumers...They purchase physical form; they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation...So, used games can play on PS4," Yoshida told Eurogamer.

However, in that very same article, it is noted that Sony has filed patents for a "Electronic Content Processing System" and "Use Apparatus." This technology is implied to allow the company to track games to individuals, thus making sure that only one individual will be able to play a single copy of a game.

Microsoft, from the information leaked on VGLeaks about the next-gen Xbox, appears to taking a different stance towards the subject. The Xbox 720, if the rumors are indeed true, will fully download games into the system's hard drive, and thus the disk will only be used for installation. The next-gen Xbox is also rumored to always be required to be connected to the Internet, making it easy for Microsoft to require activation codes for games and locking them into one individual Xbox Live account or console.

Some speculation from outside Sony and Microsoft has also been reported. Edios president Ron Livingstone was interviewed by MCV India concerning the next-gen systems. He believes that both companies want to go to fully digital in the near future, but technological restraints prevent that from happening.

"The next iteration of consoles--the PS4 and the next Xbox, have got optical disc drives even though they probably don't want to have them...Broadband speed globally isn't at a level that justifies digital-only," he said.

This in turn would make it so both Microsoft and Sony would have to have the option of offering physical copies of a game at least, so the option of playing a used game is always there.

Bear in mind, that some form of a digital exchange service for authentication codes between accounts could also pop up, satisfying both the companies' desires to go digital, and gamers' desires to keep the used-game market alive. 

No matter what either company decides to do concerning the use of used games on their newest consoles, it is apparent that the age of games being distributed on physical copies are approaching its twilight. Both companies are looking towards the future and digital distribution is rapidly making gains on all fronts. Eventually, the issue of used games will become a moot point, but for now it could be one of the defining features for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720.