Disc-Free Xbox One S Could Land on May 7 (techcrunch.com) 105
Microsoft is about to launch an even cheaper Xbox One S. In order to cut costs, the company is removing the Blu-ray disc drive altogether. According to leaked marketing images spotted by WinFuture, the console could launch on May 7th for $258 in Germany. From a report: Given that the launch is just a few weeks away and that those marketing images line up perfectly with previous rumors, chances are this is the real deal. As you can see on WinFuture's images, it looks exactly like an Xbox One S without the disc slot. The console is called Xbox One S All Digital and comes with a 1TB hard drive -- most standard Xbox One S consoles currently also feature a 1TB hard drive. Microsoft states clearly that this console is only for digital games. If you already have physical Xbox One games, you wonâ(TM)t be able to insert them in the console.
Is price of the XBox the biggest problem? (Score:4, Interesting)
I thought the sales problem is how the xbox one is lagging in technology. Making it difficult for the next generation of games to come to play.
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From original versions, Xbox One was slightly behind PS4. But the One X is more powerful than the PS4 Pro.
Technology isn't the issue.
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Price of data (Score:2)
Part of the cost of ownership of a console without a cartridge slot or optical drive is the cost of an Internet connection. I'm not familiar with the German ISP market, but there are a lot of areas in the USA where only satellite and cellular are available. Last I checked, satellite ISPs imposed a monthly quota and charged exorbitant fees for data overages, as did cellular ISPs' mobile hotspot provision.[1] In some places, the cost of downloading 30 GB of data that make up a game can exceed the $60 purchase
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To what extent is such fibre available in the countryside, where your food is grown?
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Nobody gives a shit. Despite the contention of many Slashdotters, very few people in the world live out in the countryside operating farms.
America isn't even the reason so much of the world population lives in rural areas. According to the UN, in 2014 [un.org] "Today, 54 per cent of the worldâ(TM)s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 66 per cent by 2050." It appears that the much of he rural population is in China and India. "The 2014 revision of the World Urbanization Prospects by UN DESAâ(TM)s Population Division notes that the largest urban growth will take place in India, China and Nigeria."
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the places with only cellular and satellite internet (and WISP) would be outside of city/town limits, wouldn't they. Even in rural counties, the majority of people live within the towns of those counties and thusly have regular high speed internet.
While there are a lot of those "cellular/satellite/WISP" only places, they actually have very few people living in them even in rural areas.
And why are you so focused on this edge case? Aren't you a townie yourself? And also if it has been some time since you "
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And why are you so focused on this edge case? Aren't you a townie yourself?
First, I have both rural relatives and rural friends on other message boards. Second, one need not be personally affected by a particular problem to sympathize with the impact it has on other people.
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Not really, since the Xbox One X pretty much has trumped the PS4 Pro in that department. It's why no one claims the graphics throne anymore (other than some PS4 fanboys now backtracking about "it's not about the graphics"). In fact, the usual complaint is how the Xbox One X graphics are hobbled by the PS4 Pro - if the latter runs at 4k30, the Xbox port runs at 4k30 e
Re:Is price of the XBox the biggest problem? (Score:4, Informative)
No, the sales lag stemmed from multiple problems. The announcement of the Xbox One was a PR disaster. From the always-on requirement to the heavy DRM which discouraged used games, MS had to roll back many of "features" of the Xbox One as consumers revolted. At launch, the Xbox One was more expensive and less powered than the PS4. While the differences were arguably not deal breakers, the bad PR had turned many against getting the Xbox One over the PS4.
Since launch the problem, MS has released the Xbox One X which is more powerful than the PS4 Pro; however, the problem now is the lack of good exclusive games [digitaltrends.com] compared to the PS platform. For example, in 2018 one of the most hyped games for the Xbox One was Sea of Thieves which many found to be incomplete, repetitive, and boring for a $60 cost. I can't think of one good Xbox One exclusive in 2018. For the PS4, there was God of War, Spider-man, Days Gone, etc. While there have been good games on the Xbox One, few of them were exclusives like Red Dead Redemption 2 which was on both platforms. Right now there are few reasons to choose the Xbox One over the PS4.
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Xbox has no quality exclusives. PS4 does. Simple as that.
The few we could get excited about they butchered, like Crackdown 3.
y tho? (Score:2)
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I guess this is better only that it's not the only option available.
Physical media for video games are declining in sales. Online consoles is the next logical step. GameStop will become the next Blockbuster.
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Microsoft already faced huge backlash over trying to make XBox One online only.
Sega faced backlash about the use of CDs instead of cartridges. The thing is times change, technology changes, and consumer acceptance changes.
1999 me: An online game? WTF Do you have any idea how long it would take me to download that 650MB game over my internet! ... better be quick when I make my coffee while it's downloading or the game will start without me.
2019 me: 45GB download
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Seriously, does anyone even want this? Microsoft already faced huge backlash over trying to make XBox One online only.
They needed to offer discs, and they still do. And they needed to prove that they could do digital delivery competently, which they have. By the next generation they might get away with not doing discs, but I wouldn't bet on that even.
No disc = no offline gaming? (Score:5, Informative)
For my child, I frequently disable the Xbox network connection, so that annoying advertisements, brainless Youtube videos, intro-freebies, and toxic multiplayer games can't get through. Basically, playing offline greatly reduces all the addictive ADD-inducing garbage that's peddled by the online marketplace.
Without a network connection, disc-based games still work. Digital download games usually don't work anymore. So removing the optical drive isn't just a cost-saving move, it's another dick move that reduces people's privacy, keeps people always-online, and increases Microsoft's revenue opportunities at your expense.
Tabletop games instead (Score:2)
Some parents don't introduce video games until a child is older, instead introducing their children to a rich variety of tabletop games (and not just Hasbro's overplayed products). Board, card, and dice games work offline so well that most even work without electric power. It's an option.
Re:No disc = no offline gaming? (Score:4, Interesting)
Huh? Why would that be? Offline gaming works just fine on other platforms.
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If by "just fine", you mean that it works for a short time until a new login is required.
It must also be "just fine" that you have to go through their service to sell a game and disassociate it from your account, if they allow resale at all.
What's the point of ownership / right of first sale anyway?
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Said person probably didn't activate said machine as their "primary". That changes things to NOT require logins.
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The point is that restrictions are put in place and the ultimate control over your access and ability to resell is in someone else's hands. Just because your cage is relatively comfortable, doesn't negate the fact that it restricts your freedom.
I don't have any of the latest consoles. I won't support them unless I can actually own a copy of the content (with full ability to play, archive and resell as I choose). The same goes for all of the PC games with phone home license checks and other forms of DRM.
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If by "just fine", you mean that it works for a short time until a new login is required.
Even on fairly decent holidays with a portable device I've never been without internet long enough for this to be a problem. So yeah, just fine is the right phrase without a need for qualifying quotes.
It must also be "just fine" that you have to go through their service to sell a game and disassociate it from your account, if they allow resale at all.
Well yes. That has nothing to do with it being part of a disc release or an internet download. Please leave your complaints for a story in which they are relevant.
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As long as you are aware that you are only renting content that is dependent on an internet connection, then fine. I disagree with it philosophically, so I won't "buy" consoles or games where I can't actually own copies of the content. But just because we disagree doesn't mean that either of us is wrong. I just ask that if you see the problematic parts of that type of business practice, you try to keep that in mind when making decisions on which games/developers/markets you support (even if it isn't you
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Not to mention it ruins the used game market. No more trading in old games. You no longer own a game either. You own a license to a game.
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What isn't 'digital' ?? (Score:2, Insightful)
So these new consoles aren't compatible with analogue games, apparently.
Digital phonorecord delivery (Score:2)
The term "digital" for paid downloads appears to come from a generalization of "digital phonorecord delivery", a term of art in U.S copyright law. The statute, 17 USC 115 [copyright.gov], recognizes a compulsory license for making distributing a "phonorecord" (copy of a sound recording) of a musical work, intended to allow for cover versions with the payment of an appropriate royalty. It defines "digital phonorecord delivery" so as to distinguish a permanent download from an ephemeral download associated with streaming, as
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Umm no, it's not that complicated. People just needed a word to describe games downloaded and the consensus word became "digital". It is NOT a reference to "digital phonorecord delivery"
You have this annoying habit of reading to much into things and overcomplicating things...stop that.
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I was attempting to describe my theory about how it came to be that "the consensus word became 'digital'."
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It's much simpler than that. You buy a game physical or digital. Physical gets you a disc or cartridge, digital just a download copy.
Take away options. (Score:1)
Profit.
I cringe at the thought of only being able to use one platform for digital purchases. I only buy physical games (PC I use steam and gog) for consoles because I can sell the game on Ebay for half the original cost. 50% all games? ill take that deal. Its not like you are given digital games for a lifetime, they make you repurchase them when you buy new hardware so digital games are almost worthless.
People like to say how impressive it is games have not gone up in price, well, they have quite a
You'll own nothing. (Score:4, Insightful)
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Comparing two utter fails from Microsoft to enter a market in which they briefly existed only to lose money, to one of their greatest successes is... disingenuous.
Will you be able to connect a USB blu ray drive? (Score:4, Insightful)
XBONE SAD (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft continues to lead the pack in terms of ludicrous names.
First we had the Xbox, which made sense. Then we had the Xbox 360, which didn't make much sense. People called it "the 360", so being proper villains, they decided to come up with a name that would make people call their new system "the one", like complete with religious overtones, because that's a good use for whatever part of our meat computers experience religion and awe, some disposable plastic box.
To accomplish this, they named it the Xbox One, which no one calls it, because there's already an Xbox 1, it's the thing that came before the Xbox 360. It gets labelled "one" in retrospect because that is how numbers work.
So it's the Xbone. Microsoft fought this because they thought it was some slur, but really, it's just what it's called.
So then we ended up with the Xbonex and the Xbones.
And now this one- the "Xbox One S All Digital", which is now the XBONE S.A.D.
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So it's the Xbone. Microsoft fought this because they thought it was some slur, but really, it's just what it's called.
They should just be glad that Xbox 180 never caught on.
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“No, you don’t it to be the ‘2’. Name it the ‘360’. Makes it sound powerful.” *snickers*
“No, you don’t want it to be the ‘720’. It should be the ‘One’.” *snickers*
“Oh you have a slim and more powerful variant now. Don’t use ‘Slim’ and ‘Pro’. Too much like Sony.” *holds back laughter
100% Irrelevant in 2019 (Score:3)
When you purchase a hard copy ( disc ) of a brand new game, it is likely already useless as the game developers seem to be incapable of launching and shipping a game that actually works right out of the box. ( It's called incompetence )
You'll put your disc in and your game system will usually tell you that an n gigabyte level patch ( where n is a ridiculously large number ) is necessary before you can actually play the game. It may or may not also require a console firmware update as well.
The way I see it, owning the physical disc is pretty pointless as it usually contains a broken / buggy version of the game. ( Assuming you even get a physical disc. Some are giving you a pretty box with nothing more than a download link / code inside. Even high $$$ professional software is guilty of this. )
Additionally, moving to an all digital / download model is pretty much the final nail in the coffin for the secondary / used game markets.
This will do for consoles what Steam did to PC's.
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> When you purchase a hard copy ( disc ) of a brand new game, it is likely already useless as the game developers seem to be incapable of launching and shipping a game that actually works right out of the box. ( It's called incompetence )
This may be your perception, but it isn't reality for most games. And very very few single player games.
Pretend you either buy a brand new Nintendo Switch, or you find one from launch in a warehouse. Then you grab any Switch game, plug it into that thing, and turn it o
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I used the Switch as an example because pretty much everything works just fine on that console. But in *most* cases, this is also true of Xbone and PS4 as well.
I think that the Switch is the only flagship console (such as it is) with console updates on game media. All the other consoles' updates are too large and incremental for that. Lots of games work fine if you don't update them, but lots of them don't — those updates exist for actual reasons.
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The Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Wii U also had firmware updates for consoles on game discs.
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I think that the Switch is the only flagship console (such as it is) with console updates on game media.
The Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Wii U also had firmware updates for consoles on game discs.
Those are former flagships. What we are talking about now is current consoles. Those other consoles are irrelevant now, especially when talking about the future.
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This will do for consoles what Steam did to PC's.
Render consoles even more irrelevant?
Consider me Miles Davis (Score:2)
Why does this generation have optical drives? (Score:1)
I don't understand why the current generation of game consoles even have a optical drive in them. From what I can tell, a good chunk of the game has to be downloaded anyhow. Did they include it because physical media has been the norm historically?
When the PS3 came out, it was probably the best option for a Blu-Ray player. But these days a Blu-Ray player is so cheap, I would guess that anyone that wants one, already has it. From what I understand, both the current XBox and PS require an internet connection
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From what I understand, both the current XBox and PS require an internet connection to even play single player games.
Your understanding would be incorrect. For the PS4 it works like this. There are Primary and secondary PS4's. One's first PS4 is automatically the primary now, though if you have more than one you can choose which one is Primary.
On Secondary PS4's, a user needs to be logged into PSN to use content downloaded to the machine, and they can only use their own content. If the PS4 has multiple users, they can only use their own content, not content other users have downloaded to the machine. Benefits of Plays
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I don't understand why the current generation of game consoles even have a optical drive in them.
The PS4 sells globally, including in regions of the planet that have poor Internet. Most PS4 games are completely and playable on disc; Day 1 updates will contain a lot of fixes and improvements, but if you're not playing online (which you probably won't be if you have crappy internet), then you don't really need them.
Yaz
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Only a tiny, tiny fraction of games, though they are the AAA stuff, actually REQUIRES a download. The Xbox is worse than the PS4 in this regard. For those, yes, the disc is just a physical access token. But the overwhelming majority of single player games will install and run from the disc on any retail console without patches. And while all games bar a few have patches, they are usually for multiplayer content and some minor bugs that in days past would have just gone unpatched.
There's loads of reasons why
Take THAT backwards compatibility! (Score:1)
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Everything you bought digitally for the 360 is available on the one without a disk. You could also buy the version with a blu ray drive if you need disks. You know options, microsoft is giving them to you.
That is part of my point. Its available - but who has a 360 library they want to revisit that doesn't already have an Xbone? How many few thousand people is that? This locks new users into purchasing from the store when anyone with a optical drive has the option of used/older games.
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I own an Xbox 360. I do not own an Xbox One. For the past few years, MS has been giving me Xbox 360 and Xbox One games every month as part of my Xbox Live Gold membership. I already own close to 100 Xbox One games that don't require an optical drive to play. This new Xbox One S All Digital is a perfect way for me to get into the Xbox One hardware generation. I don't need an optical drive to play 100 games I already own. I don't need or want a BluRay player. Why pay more for something I don't need? I
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And cost 3 times as much
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