Xbox One on used/pre-owned games

Microsoft isn't handling the flow of information regarding their upcoming console the Xbox One very well. The biggest question right now is - How used games/pre-owned games will work on the new console? Well, its unclear at the moment but a big rumor is circulating that you will be charged to activate a 2nd hand game into your Xbox Live account, with a small cut going to the developers. Don't go raging just yet, again, its a rumor that has been denied many times. But how crazy is that?

A lot has feared that the next generation of consoles will aim to hit the second hand market hard by restricting players from using used games, or in this case charge them for it. I never agreed that they would go this route since I don't think either of the console companies want to be on the chopping block, and since Sony and Nintendo's next-gen consoles doesn't have any form of way to affect second hand games, I highly doubt Microsoft will do anything drastic like charge you for borrowing a friends game.

Charging gamers to activate a second hand game is absurd. Gamespot has reported that this could be the case, but later updated that this is inaccurate. Official Microsoft Xbox blogger Major Nelson also released a statement regarding 2nd hand games on the Xbox One:

The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox. Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games. Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future.

Now the power of these rumors have already taken its toll to companies like gamestop showing share going down by 19% right after the rumors started circulating.

It's understandable that the second hand game market affects sales, but including a fee to activate already used games is crossing the line. It was bad enough that Online passes were created to battle second hand purchases. They should realize more people get to play other games they couldn't afford before thanks to second hand purchases, thus providing more exposure and more need/use of their console.

Information about Xbox One is indeed foggy, but with regards on how second hand games will work on the new Xbox, let's wait for official word before we gather the mob and rage.