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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
  • I do not believe this will occur. If it does, then it will be a huge mistake.

  • They only way there would not be a demand for used games is if every game went completely digital and even then it would take years and years for the demand to die down.  Take a look at NES and Gameboy for instance, even those are still in demand, and they've been in the used category for years.

  • Gamestop was probably freaking out when the rumors started i kind of wanted them to be true to see where it takes that messed up company
  • This guy is pretty sensible!

  • <---fingers crossed

  • I don't think this will, nor do I want it to happen next-gen either. However, I imagine disc free consoles will happen in the somewhat near future. It seems inevitable with the way technology and the culture it's pushing are going. I can only hope that, with this eventuality, the decreased/nonexistent manufacturing costs of digital products will bring lower purchase prices as well.

    Unfortunately, this also means that once games are gone, they're gone.
  • If the Next gen xbox doesnt support used games,im gonna start aquainting myself with the PS4.Though i wanna play the future Halo games,these rumored xbox next features wont make the purchase worth buying the xbox.
  • Who is this guy?

  • only video game industry analysts get to use the word "stupid"

  • i agree with this guy

  • good looks like all gamers wont have 2 start rioting (yet)

  • Does anyone else think these rumors are being suggested by Sony and Microsoft as a way to test the waters and see what the reaction is? Just a thought
  • Pachter is the bomb! This silliness has gone on long enough.

  • He is right it would only seem to hurt a company to phase out the used market

  • Does anybody really care what this guy has to say? Because it seems to me that he's usually wrong in his predictions, or he just "predicts" something we all already knew.
  • Is this a surprise?

    I felt this was a rumor to drum up console manufacturer hate since it started.

  • I agree, I don't know why anybody is taking this seriously. If this did ever happen, it wouldn't be for a very long time

  • Pach attack speaks the truth

  • I seriously do not think this would ever come to bear. It would just be a horribly wrong way to do gamers I think the bad will the companies create with a move like this would enentually catch up with them in the long run as fans will not settle for this terrible move in any way whatsoever. I'm not sure that fans would stop buying games per say, but I'm sure there would ramifications to the companies in some way.

  • Mod

    About time. This is great.

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