The successor to the Xbox 360 will play Blu-ray discs and prohibit the use of used games, an anonymous games industry source told Kotaku.
The news comes only days after another all-but-confirmed report stated that production of the processing chip for Microsoft’s next console is already underway. The latest gossip suggests the console will abandon the aging DVD format, opting instead for the Blu-ray technology Sony has used with its PlayStation 3. Blu-ray discs can hold 25-50GB of data, whereas DVDs top out at 9GB.
Sources also point out that Microsoft may use new technology to block gamers from playing used titles. Publishers have been begging for such a system for ages, especially with stores like GameStop profiting heavily off of trade-ins. No specifics about the implementation of such technology were given.
Further, a source also told the blog that the next Microsoft console will ship with an updated version of its Kinect technology, sporting a powerful processor for more accurate motion-detection.
A smaller controller was also mentioned by the source, but only as something Microsoft is “interested” in creating. Again, no further details were given.
The same report that detailed the new processor points to a late-2013 release for the console.
[Kotaku]
I can tell you one thing, if I can’t play “used” games, You bet your ass I’m switching to the PS3. Haha. Do you really think that making a system that will not allow the user to play previously purchased games will help you… hope you have an idea that GAMEFLY will support along with everyone I know that trade in their games after they, “100%” or get bored of them. Good luck with that.
Agreed. This is not good for the consumer.
The only THEORETICAL benefit is that devs/publishers make more money and put that added profit back into making better games in the future. But will that actually be the case?