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Next Xbox to play Blu-rays, block used games - Report

Microsoft's Xbox 360 successor will supposedly use high-capacity discs, smaller controller, and Kinect 2; could keep gamers from playing secondhand games.

Speculation over the next generation of consoles--specifically Microsoft's Next Xbox--has spread like fire as of late. The latest hearsay suggests the processing chip for Microsoft next console is already in production, with debug kits available to game studios as soon as April. Now, new light has been shed on Microsoft's Next Xbox, the latest word suggesting it could play Blu-ray discs, block users from playing used games, and introduce the Kinect 2.

Microsoft is taking a stand against used games with its next console, says a source.

Microsoft is taking a stand against used games with its next console, says a source.

According to "games industry sources" speaking with Kotaku, the Next Xbox will use Blu-ray as its disc technology, an upgrade from the DVD drive the Xbox 360 currently sports. Sony's PlayStation 3 supports Blu-Ray, and it has since it was first launched in 2006. Blu-ray disc capacity is significantly greater than that of DVD.

Additionally, a "reliable industry source" tells Kotaku that Microsoft's Next Xbox may incorporate a system that blocks gamers from playing used titles. Further details concerning the implementation of such a system were not offered.

Further, a source familiar with Microsoft's plans told the blog that the company will ship the Next Xbox with an updated version of the full-body gesture-recognition technology Kinect. According to Kotaku's source, this new iteration of the Kinect will contain an onboard processor for greater motion detection, a feature that was supposedly considered for the first Kinect.

Lastly, the gaming blog reports that Microsoft is "interested" in creating a smaller controller for the Next Xbox. Further details on this controller were not made available.

A Microsoft spokesperson told GameSpot, "As an innovator, we're always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that, we don't comment on rumors or speculation."

The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's second home console, following the original Xbox. The Xbox 360 was released in North America in November 2005 and has gone on to sell 66 million units worldwide. The Kinect has shipped 18 million units worldwide since it was launched during the holiday 2010 season.

1315 Comments

  • ILuvAnju

    Posted Feb 13, 2012 1:20 pm GMT

    Microsoft can kiss their console sales goodbye if they block people from playing used games. Its true, used games affects sales negatively. But face it, the market for used games is too enormous for Microsoft to simply restrict it. Facing competition from Nintendo and Sony in the next-gen, next Xbox will shrivel up and die if they implement this.

  • Anterline

    Posted Feb 13, 2012 4:53 am GMT

    I'm not buying that console if they block used games. Simple.

  • TriggerManX97

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 9:37 pm GMT

    I have been an xbox gamer for almost 10 years now and if they do remove used games that will hurt me very badly (mainly because half of my games are used and even twice used in some cases), If that happens i will only buy one to burn it in it's own box in front of my house.

  • avngr9

    Posted Feb 10, 2012 5:04 am GMT

    Why do I rent games through gamefly? I'm tired of paying $60 to play a few hours and then watching it collect dust. Plus I don't have the time and money to devote to gaming as much as I would like. So lets speak really SLOW. I don't buy games now. You blocking used games isn't going to make me buy them in the future. All you are going to accomplish is putting businesses like Gamefly out of business and guess what that means? THEY won't buy your games either. Now you are losing sales AND pissing off your fan base. GOOD !@#$ING JOB. Wow.

  • placksheep

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 2:46 pm GMT

    I don't understand where game developers get off trying to FORCE people to buy new copies of their games. Big time movie budgets still usually dwarf games', and you don't see movie studios trying to lock DVD players to prevent movie borrowing... They're getting SO greedy.

    What would happen to Redbox?

  • karlpenlington

    Posted Feb 9, 2012 2:43 am GMT

    for me i get my games new from NZ's version of amazon, when i can get a game at upto 80% off and new (provided i have the money on the one day it's on deal ) but if i can;t sell my games then i might not buy as many as i do. when i was younger i used to get lots of used games (and sometimes still do when looking for a older game, my point is stopping used game sales is only going to hurt the dev when less pll buy games

  • otgkhan

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 6:30 pm GMT

    It would Behoove Microsoft to not get too cocky the next generation as Sony did after PS2

  • Zid96

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 3:36 pm GMT

    Blocking used games??? Well it looks like Im going to be a Nintendo or PS4 fan this time around. (IF it happens)

  • vaevictusdeus

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 11:42 am GMT

    A pretty ballsy move for a console that, at it's core, is little more than a half-assed PC port machine, especially considering how utterly pathetic their list of exclusive titles is. Do the actually assume this would boost game sales? PC gamers can't return or resell their games either, and that's helped leaps and bounds with the issue of video game pirac...oh wait. Hell, I rarely use my 360 for anything beyond netflix these days, and with the new dashboard interface it even accomplishes THAT poorly.

    As for the majority of the game devs, a single tear rolls down my cheek. The ratio for good to mediocre in the gaming world, as far as simple game quality is concerned, is roughly 1 to 37. This fact does not stop them from creating crappy titles at break neck speed, nor does it prevent them from slapping a $60 price tag on it after they do. There's a reason I don't pay filet mignon prices for grade D horse meat at the grocery store, and it's not because I'm an awful consumer trying to "stick it to the man". It's because "the man" in question repeatedly overestimates the monetary value of his own mass produced sewage. If dev's want to stop LOSING money, they should just stop throwing it into the production of horrible games. The combined budgets of Fable 3 and Dragon Age 2 -including ad-budgets- alone could likely recoup the last 3 years worth of fiscal losses due to used game sales at gamestop.

  • anakissed

    Posted Feb 8, 2012 8:28 am GMT

    Blocking used games? What about trying before you buy? Well done Microsoft. Smaller control would be good though as current one isn't quite as comfortable as others. Updated Kinect sounds fun too, I'd like to see what they do with that.

  • mbchfdh2

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 5:08 pm GMT

    Bones9650;

    It might be possible for rental copies to carry a specific rental ID (like "Rental Copy" movies from Blockbuster etc.), which would allow rental games to be run on multiple machines. I would think that the rental market pays the industry very well 'per disc pressed', in addition to offering a gateway to sales from gamers who are 'on the fence' and want to try the product first. I'd be surprised if the rental market was damaged at all by this move.


    Personally, I don't buy used. I did in the days of the Nintendo 64, when a new cart was £60 and it was £32 used. But it seems to me that the trademark value-for-money in the used market has been gradually stripped away, over the years. I was in the Birmingham branch of Gamestation the other day, and picked a copy of Skyrim for £37.99 off the shelf. I took it to the counter and the guy muttered to himself, "okay... pre-owned copy of Skyrim...", and I said, "hang on there, mate. That's new, isn't it?". He looked at me like I had a head injury and said, "uh, **no**. The new copies are £41.99".

    Seriously, now. Four quid? Less than ten percent discount, for something that someone else has used? Doesn't seem enough, to me...

    ... so I went home and ordered it new from Amazon. For £37.99. Winner.




    DH.

  • Bones9650

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 2:59 pm GMT

    If they block used games, then rented games will most likely be blocked. I rent from Gamefly. So if that happens, screw Xbox. I'm switching to PS4. And they will have more people resorting to piracy because of that.

  • FLOWZMENTAL

    Posted Feb 7, 2012 12:15 pm GMT

    If Microsoft decides to incorporate a way not to play used games then my future gaming days are over. I will play and finish the ones I have. I can't be shelling out my cornbread, cheese, cabbage, and baconstrips for every $60+ game. I ain't a billionaire, millionaire, or even a thousanaire. I make $35,000 a year enough to pay bills have my car run, pay insurances, save a little, and splurge when I deserve to. If that means buy a used game so be it. If Microsoft decides to take that away from me so be it too, but remember I only one of millions you will be losing.

  • TheGamer232

    Posted Feb 6, 2012 3:59 pm GMT

    Smaller controller? Heck no..... the x360 controller size is perfect and one of the many reasons I like xbox better then playstation.

  • emacdaddy08 posted Feb 6, 2012 3:48 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    emacdaddy08

    Posted Feb 6, 2012 3:48 pm GMT (hide)

    They SHOULD block the ability to play used games! Developers don't get any money from the sale of used games which I personally think is sickening. Dev's lose out on more money from used game sales than they ever could from illegal pirating. If a dev isn't getting money back for a product they created why the hell would they keep making it? If your not going to buy a game new then you might as well pirate it, it affects the people that made the game no differently. It's simple, if dev's started getting more return on what they made then they would have a larger budget to work with, which should in return result in a better product. But companies aren't taking risks, they aren't trying anything new, they're afraid of losing a lot of money so they just follow the same old formula's that are proven to turn a profit. If used game sales were a non-factor just think of how much more freedom developers would have, they would be more apt to take risks, and create new IP's rather than running a good series into the ground with sequel after sequel.

  • woolysockofdoom

    Posted Feb 5, 2012 10:36 pm GMT

    I don't want a smaller controller, the 360 one is a perfect size for me. Hopefully, the controllers will be backward compatible.

  • newbie4lyfe

    Posted Feb 3, 2012 1:11 pm GMT

    boooooooooooo

  • M1ghtyGuard

    Posted Feb 3, 2012 6:50 am GMT

    I think microsoft will cut in their own skin like that.
    Yet I can imagine that publishers want to do something about piracy, about 1/3 total of a game product is pirated. About the free to play formula, Zynga can't keep it up, they are losing unfortunatly a high amount of budget, money...

    Yet a block system makes a console useless. Games that are very old are collector items. Collectors (and nostalgia players) don't want to buy a digital version for a too high price (nintendo ware is crazy expensive for their retro games)... People who get new in the gaming world will never know history of games (that are born in xbox 270 era) and therefore don't know storylines, memories. It's a value that many games have and is the roots of the longelife of their francise (to continue further thanks to nostalgia crf. Mortal Kombat, ...). And ironically there will be more hacked xbox consoles that will use illegal copies, and that has a cardhouse effect on the sales. If you spent money on a game u really want u buy it, but if you have to hack your xbox (or future console) to be able to play a gift from a friend and because of that unable to play legit games, than you're suicidebombing your console, product. conclusion: Good thinking microsoft! Just remember you don't have that monopoly anymore to justify those choises.

  • Jinzo_111887

    Posted Feb 3, 2012 6:22 am GMT

    I buy new games, but I can't stand companies thinking they can be a-holes for whatever reason. When it comes to Gamestop and companies that use online passes, sometimes it feels like a losing situation no matter who wins.

    Now maybe this used game lockout could lead to something good. NextBox gets hacked to bypass the used game lockout, which could lead a lawsuit, and with any luck, a ruling will be made that destroys anti-used measures.

  • Jimagik

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 5:41 pm GMT

    Blue Ray's rights are not owned by Sony. Sony is just one of the members in the board of directors. Apple is one too, LG Electronics plus a dozen or more companies too. As for the used games...What is the next step? Pay-by-playthrough? Having a net-cop over your head when you want to play a game? What?

  • Agent-M

    Posted Feb 2, 2012 4:36 pm GMT

    In Other News: Due to next generations systems blocking of pre-owned games, console piracy reaches an unprecedented high.

  • brylynt

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 1:16 pm GMT

    and then valve will release a piece of hardware that will include some kind of HDD and GPU making it possible to view your game library and launch any game from the comfort of your couch via steam (where you actually get good deals on games) and ultimately murder these oppressive money hungry bastards. Hope ur listening gabe the time is coming to really stick it to em.

  • Casey1967

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 8:59 am GMT

    I know that consumers love the used game option but it is absolutely killing the video game idustry just as piracy killed the pc software industry. Most publishers don't even bother to stock games older than a year anymore or reprint as they just can't sell the inventory. It probably doesn't matter anyway though as I suspect we're only 3-5 years from all games being pay to play anyway and no physical products. Maybe this will kill off EB/Gamestop.
    I won't be shedding any tears. If you like being able to buy physical games then you need to buy new ones so that the industry makes money not just EB/Gamestop. If you love games open up a store. It's been almost 10 years since I spoke with a video game store owner under 30. Is this what you want ?

  • johnlyw

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 6:18 am GMT

    Wow, blocks used games... I can hear Sony rubbing their hands in glee and waiting for this to be real.

  • bluespire1

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 2:58 am GMT

    The feature that Blocks used games can out a company like Gamefly out of business.

  • valdarez

    Posted Feb 1, 2012 1:24 am GMT

    The XBox 360 controller is the reason I chose the 360 as my primary gaming platform. The controller is actually big enough for me to use properly. If they make it smaller, I might as well be using the junky / itty bitty PS3/PS2 controller of years gone by... *sigh*

    It ain't broke size wise Microsoft, so don't fix one of the things you actually got right!

  • THE_DRUGGIE

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 10:58 pm GMT

    @steveguttenberg

    I buy used games almost all the time. I swear, the last game I bought new was Shadows of the Damned and, before that, Peace Walker. I've literally bought 90% of my games used. Why? Other than the obvious reason that I'm broke as a third world beggar when it comes to buying a $60 game, I tend to play old games. I'm talking NES, Genesis, and almost any system up to the PS2, but I do buy a new game on a very, very rare occasion.

    But really, is there a reason beyond that? Why yes there is! I like to go to local used game stores (not Gamestop or anything like that, mind you - but rather stores that are like record shops for games) and they do honest business. They refurbish discs good-as-new right in front of your face, they know how to price a game and they're just awesome people to talk to about video games or anything in general. Now, if they refuse to buy back Xbox 720 games, they're not going to dissuade me from buying more used games from their store. In the end, I'll just avoid the Xbox 720.

    I make no excuses for buying used because there's absolutely no shame in buying used.

  • Elderscrolls101

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 8:35 pm GMT

    i hope this report is false

  • Darthkaiser Site moderator

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 5:08 pm GMT

    Block from playing used games?
    WTF?

  • Aedus_Xerxes

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 1:00 pm GMT

    make the controller smaller? thats how i decide between cross platfrom games ........if this is true i expect alot of dilema in my future

  • Xeogua

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 11:27 am GMT

    Why change the controller? All they should do is fix the dpad. As for the used game thing, all the more reason to game on PC.

  • DaBaka

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 8:27 am GMT

    @BryanParksSuper So how do you explain Samsung having blu-ray players, and alot of other brands. Sony has a majority of the patent together with Philips and Panasonic.

  • ultracool374 posted Jan 31, 2012 8:01 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ultracool374

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 8:01 am GMT (hide)

    I see a lot of you complaining the next Xbox not playing used games. You should consider that the price of a new game may be substantially lower.

  • ultracool374

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 7:54 am GMT

    The next big thing is the Free-To-Play model. It makes the concept of used or pirated games obsolete. Does it make sense to pirate Angry Birds or to buy a used copy of World of Warcraft? Also, developers are finding they are making more money off of micro-transactions than direct game sales.

  • ultracool374

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 7:50 am GMT

    Blocking used games will hurt GameStop more than anything else. That is where they make their money!

  • robx360

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 6:34 am GMT

    @BryanParksSuper Sony doesn't own blu-ray! Perhaps you should do a bit of research first! :-)

  • Jinzo_111887

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 6:10 am GMT

    @SuperSandwich5

    Nah. While nontransferable digital content may not be as bad as blocking used games, I still can't get behind that. I think they should be more like Nintendo is with the used game issue. Offer a rewards system where you can register your games online for free points that can be traded in for some cool merchandise. What XBox fan wouldn't want cool merchandise from their favorite games just for registering their new games online?

  • mad_krips

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 5:31 am GMT

    lmao! block used games... wow.. So what if we borrow a game from a friend?

  • Wormkid_64

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 4:43 am GMT

    This had better be bogus. Block used games? How can that even be legal? If I can drive a used car,watch a used DVD on a used player hooked up to a used TV living in a used house that was built in the 50s,why can't I play a used game?

    I doubt that part of this rumor is real,especially since M$ recently said they aren't launching any console in 2012.

  • fenrirx

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 2:26 am GMT

    I don't buy many second hand games but I tend to sell mine as soon as I complete them to offset the huge cost of the game. Should I be unable to sell them I could not maintain the hobby and would switch to a rival console.

  • fnman14

    Posted Jan 31, 2012 2:00 am GMT

    I'm so sick of hearing all this BS about how used games are ruining the gaming industry. I really enjoy my 360, but if this is implimented...I'm out of Microsoft gaming. There is nothing inherently wrong with used game sales, just like there is nothing inherently wrong with used book sales, or used car sales, or any used goods sales. Could you imagine if Chevy started locking out power locks and keyless entry to second-hand buyers as a measure to discourage second hand sales of their cars/trucks? Why aren't car companies crying to everyone about second hand sales??? It's my opinion that the gaming industry is truly milking its fanbase...and they're pushing it way too far. I haven't bought the new Batman game due to the content lockout for second hand sales and I will not buy the new Microsoft console if it impliments this feature.

    Also, to make it clear, Panasonic, Sony, and Philips are the MAIN patent holders of blu-ray technology. And YES, they will allow Microsoft to pay $.10/disk and $10 per disk drive in royalties to use their technology. Sony is not going to deny access to their disk format out of spite. There is WAY too much money in it for them.

  • DuffBaby

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 11:29 pm GMT

    Sony may own the patent for blueray, but in a couple of years my guess is that you will download games straight to you hard drive.

  • BryanParksSuper

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 8:33 pm GMT

    Sony developed and owns Bluray Technology. Nobody can use it without Siny's permission. Since Sony and Microsoft are Rivals, Sony will never allow Microsoft to use there Techology. This Rumor and it's only a RUMOR will never come true. Sorry Xbots your stuck with DVD Format.

  • SuperSandwich5

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 6:20 pm GMT

    While I agree that blocking used games means more money for game development, there's definitely something to be said for the used-game market. There's a lot of people who can't afford a $60 new game that rely on used games.

    Maybe have some good content or some sort of DLC for people who buy the games new, but don't wipe out used games completley.

  • pokemondude2012

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 5:15 pm GMT

    I was actually looking forward to this, But then I read this... blocking used games. WOW, and the dreaded kinect is being... remade.. No don't get me wrong I love Microsoft but this is just stupid.

  • mos2000

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 4:44 pm GMT

    Of course the biggest what if will be whether used games will be blocked. If this is in the works, 1 of 4 things will happen:

    1 - The next Xbox will become paperweights in stores across the globe, because no one will buy it

    2 - The PS4 will outsell the new Xbox 100 fold - again because no one will buy it

    3 - Gaming purchases will become severely stagnate next gen and less games will be released because both companies will submit to idiocy and practice this

    4- (Most likely) MS will come to their senses and drop this method

    Look - we all know that console makers get the bulk of their money from actual purchases of new games. However, they and the industry will have to get smarter and adequately give gamers the biggest bang for their buck to properly address this concern. Granted, everyone can't put out games with close to thousands of hours of gameplay like Skyrim, however skimping on the product isnt viable either. Industry - make more fulfilling and longer lasting titles; stop using cheap development (aka multiplayer) as your answer to a "long lasting experience" and utilize DLC to your advantage. It worked for Borderlands - it can work for you to as long as your willing to be INNOVATIVE!

  • Diablo-B

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 12:26 pm GMT

    Block user's from using used games... If thats true then they are crazy.


    I was really hoping that the next gen consoles would move away from optical drives and instead use flash memory as their primary format for game distribution because optical drives are the slowest and most hardware intensive form of data storage. Games on some form of non-rewritable flash memory just makes more common-sense.

  • Jinzo_111887

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 11:01 am GMT

    If live costing money wasn't enough to prevent me from buying an XBox, the lack of the option to sell my old discs would kill it for me now. I hate how Sony's using online passes for first party games. I guess my only options right now in terms of console gaming is Nintendo, unless they decide to do the same thing as one of their competitors, in which case I'll have to make a hard choice.

  • sirius237

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 10:55 am GMT

    what's that about used games??? holy crap.. that's insane, that's not even piracy it's called "being efficient"

  • edgie18

    Posted Jan 30, 2012 10:48 am GMT

    Am I missing something but didn't Sony invent Blu-rays, and hold the rights to its use.

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