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Microsoft confirms Xbox One will have 24-hour offline gaming limit

Selling used games will be decided by publishers and only allowed through 'participating retailers'

James Vincent
Friday 07 June 2013 15:57 BST
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Xbox One Controller is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington
Xbox One Controller is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington

Xbox One users will be unable to play games for more than 24 hours without connecting to the internet, and that it will be games publishers who will decide whether consumers can resell titles.

Two blog-posts have put an end to mass speculation from the gaming community as to just how strictly Microsoft will seek to control the use of their console.

However, the details of the announcement also suggest that Microsoft no longer wants to handle the flack associated with certain issues, such as the selling of used games, and will instead pass the responsibility onto games makers.

“We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers,” says Microsoft. This will also mean that individuals will not be able to sell games personally – through eBay for example – but will have to go through a Microsoft-approved vendor.

When it comes to just giving your game to someone there are more restrictions. “There are two requirements,” says the statement: “you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.”

With regards to the issue of internet connection Microsoft have said that “while a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed.”

This essentially means that period checks will be enforced, and that although users will be allowed to “game offline for up to 24 hours” after this time “offline gaming is not possible.” However, consumers can still watch TV, Blu-ray and DVD films on their consoles.

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