Xbox One could add digital game-gifting after launch

Microsoft may give gamers the ability to gift digital Xbox One games sometime after launch next month, Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb said on Reddit yesterday (via Polygon).

"Great feature we'd like to add in someday, but it won't be there at launch," Hryb said.

Digital game-gifting is a relatively new concept. Valve's Steam service is one of the only online game marketplaces to support the feature, allowing its 65 million users to buy games for friends.

Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison said last week that Microsoft has some "really exciting things" coming to the Xbox One after launch, though none were immediately specified.

Xbox director of product planning Albert Penello said in September that Microsoft originally planned to support trading and loaning of digital Xbox One games for launch. This functionality was dropped, however, when Microsoft changed some of its controversial policies this summer.

Like Hryb, Penello said gamers can expect various digital game benefits to come to Xbox One sometime after launch. "I think we need to do that. That has to be part of the experience," he said.

The Xbox One launches on November 22 for $500.