One of the things I was looking most forward to about Xbox One when Microsoft first announced it at E3 was the ability to digitally install every game from a game disc (and then never need that disc again) and then use Kinect's voice commands to hot swap. Of course, then 'hardcore' gamers went nuts and complained and Microsoft reneged: discs were back. Of course, you could still buy games digitally via the Xbox One store and utilize the hot swap feature, but now you had to download them instead of installing from disc (takes a while when it's a 40GB game). The worst part, though, is that now Microsoft seemingly has a monopoly on the sale of digital games. Or does it? Can I buy digital download codes from third-party retailers and download the full digital version of Xbox One games? I ask because I notice that many retailers (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc.) have already discounted some titles, but the Xbox One store has not. So I can either pick up the disc version of Ryse for $50 at WalMart (and then also have the ability to re-sell it later) or I can buy it for $60 from the Xbox Store (and not be able to re-sell it later, although this feature would've existed previously if Microsoft would've stuck to their guns).
So, what was once a huge selling point for the Xbox One, and a big part of Microsoft's strategy--digital distribution, now disadvantages consumers in more ways than it advantages them--that is, unless I'm missing something and I can buy digital games from other vendors. As a side note, digital games should be cheaper than their physical counterparts as they incur no additional costs of manufacturing, transport, and retail sales. But, of course, Microsoft can't make their digital games cheaper or they risk alienating the Xbox One from powerful retailers like Best Buy and Gamestop.
UPDATE: I've decided to bring this problem to the attention of Microsoft via Twitter, tweeting to
@notwen (Marc Whitten, Corporate Vice President, Xbox)
@XboxP3 (Phil Spencer, Microsoft Studios VP)
@majornelson (Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox LIVE)
@Xbox
Feel free to re-tweet me here and here. The more dings their accounts get, the more likely they'll address the problem.
So, what was once a huge selling point for the Xbox One, and a big part of Microsoft's strategy--digital distribution, now disadvantages consumers in more ways than it advantages them--that is, unless I'm missing something and I can buy digital games from other vendors. As a side note, digital games should be cheaper than their physical counterparts as they incur no additional costs of manufacturing, transport, and retail sales. But, of course, Microsoft can't make their digital games cheaper or they risk alienating the Xbox One from powerful retailers like Best Buy and Gamestop.
UPDATE: I've decided to bring this problem to the attention of Microsoft via Twitter, tweeting to
@notwen (Marc Whitten, Corporate Vice President, Xbox)
@XboxP3 (Phil Spencer, Microsoft Studios VP)
@majornelson (Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox LIVE)
@Xbox
Feel free to re-tweet me here and here. The more dings their accounts get, the more likely they'll address the problem.
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