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Pachter On Rumors Of Next-Gen Consoles Locking Out Used Games: "Not Happening"

The next-gen console rumors are running fast and thick, and one in particular has gamers talking: Will they support used games or not? Michael Pachter, industry analyst and managing director at Wedbush Securities, has some choice words on the subject.

When asked about rumors that the next Xbox system would not include a disc drive and not support used games, Pachter says those rumors are "so stupid as to be laughable."

Pachter thinks that both rumors make no sense because it's a divisive issue that could only give an advantage to the competition. If your console doesn't support used games, the other systems would gain ground simply by including the feature.

"Unless you believe in collusion – unless you believe that all the console manufacturers are going to get together and scheme to screw the consumer, and at least in the U.S. we have laws against that, so probably none of them would do that – then if one of them did that unilaterally (any one of those things), the others would say, "Hey wait a minute, we have a disc drive. Ours will play used games. Buy ours instead of there's.'

"[It's] not happening. Not even a prayer of that."

Pachter also thinks that the sheer number of gamers who deal in the used games market – or would at least appreciate the right to do so – is too large to freeze out. 

"No used games: Stupid."

For more on what Pachter and others in the industry think about some of the next-gen console rumors, be sure to check out the latest issue of Game Informer Magazine (#229). It's out now for Digital subscribers, is rolling out to magazine subscribers, and will be on newsstands shortly.

[Full disclosure: Game Informer is owned by GameStop]

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Comments
  • Finally some common sense.
  • Finalement, si microsoft ne utilise pas les jeux utilises, ils sont stupides
  • I hope he's right. Not only would it be stupid for when the console is released, but it would completely ruin the retro gaming community in the future. How are you supposed to get new games for these systems after they are no longer being produced? Imagine if older systems such as the NES were unable to play old games today. It would completely destroy the collecting aspect of gaming, which to me is one of the things that makes me love it. Such a terrible idea.
  • He pretty much hits the nail on the head.

  • Well Pachter is never wr.... Oh god...
  • Sometimes i think people forget that all these new things about the next-gen consoles are rumours. There are also rumours Obama is an alien from another galaxy. Should rumours be believed? For most cases, no.
  • If they wanted to discourage used games, they could lock them out but "unlock" them by being a subscriber to Live Gold or Playstation Plus. Having said subscription could be used to "unlock" used games and allow some money to still be funneled to the developers so they aren't being totally screwed by the cheapskates who only buy used.
  • First thing Pachter's said that I agree with. Although, that logic didn't ring with Sony when they removed the disk drive and locked out used games on the PSP. And the console failed. I hope they aren't really stupid again.

  • Unless Sony and MS want to lose money, they best stick up for used games. This is the 8th year of money loss for Sony, and they lost 10 Billion Yen this quarter, they are on their knees. They better act smart.
  • If the new Xbox does not support used games, Microsoft just lost a potential customer.
  • Well you have to that the videogame industry isn't exactly business savvy. Companies like EA and Capcom seem to be influencing other businesses to squeeze out as much money as they can from their product. I doubt the next gen consoles will spit out used games but don't think for a second that there won't be some sort of "consequence" for buying used games. They'll probably take away even MORE content from the actual game for buying used instead of just online passes and whatnot.
  • I'm going to have to agree with him, both notions are completely idiotic IMO.
  • I think I just put down my torch and pitchfork. Yay!!!!

  • Did anyone really think that the consoles would block out used games? It doesn't even sound remotely like it would happen. If you believed it for a second I have ocean front property in Montana you would be interested in.

    But since I want to be cool I am going to start my own rumor. The Nextbox will be 100% controlled by kinect. It will not have a standard controller. The only input it will accept is Kinect.
  • He's right,it would be a really bad idea on any companies part.

  • For once I want him to be right.
  • Glad someone from a decent level of authority agrees. When I first heard these rumors, I bashed them and considered them stupid. And I was met with the same front of response from others in the article. That I was captain of the Dreamboat, and it's bound to happen sometime.

    Now, though, I have back-up.
  • I've been saying this all along and collusion, while not likely, isn't as far fetched as I'd like to think.
  • It doesn't require them to "all get together and scheme." If THAT were the concern, there wouldn't be one. The issue of used games is a major one that has a serious negative impact on all publishers and developers. As it only really became feasible to avoid it with this console generation, it makes sense to take this opportunity to do away with it. It hurts Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo independently, it only stands to reason that they would come to this conclusion independently and rely on the others to do the same, independently.

    If he presented more evidence for why the risk might outweigh the benefit, I would be more eager to believe this guy who's almost never right about anything, but until he does so I think I'll stick with the old wives' adage: "Patcher's always wrong."

    That's not to say that I necessarily think that they WILL block out used games. I'm just saying these arguments aren't unknown. Nor are they the strongest arguments, or the least addressed. And I'm going to need more than some idiot saying "this is dumb" to sway me in either direction.
  • "No used games: Stupid." Yes sir. I honestly can't think of any other non-consumable product that prevents the buyer from reselling what they own and there's a reason for that: they own it, they can do what they want with it. Pissing off consumers is not good business practice. I hope Patcher's right (he usually is, but only because he makes common sense statements) and I have a feeling these "rumors" are just plants by the console manufactures hoping the competition will bite on one of these awful ideas and try to copy it.
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