MICROSOFT LAUNCHING DISC LESS CONSOLE

[Darth Knox]

With the recent news about Google Stadia (read the thread here http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=41158.0) Microsoft make their own announcement that they will be launching a disc less version of the Xbox. It will do everything a current Xbox does, except play discs. And this non-feature will apparently make it cheaper to buy. Thoughts people?

https://www.t3.com/news/microsoft-one-all-digital-edition-release-date

[Infinit01]

Makes sense since the industry and others are going via the digital realm. I know, I know. Not everyone likes to have everything on digital copy and want a disc.  I game a lot and rather have everything in one place but not everyone's like that so these will be geared towards gamers like myself and the wife

[Darth Knox]

I know the industry is going that way, but if there is an option to buy a disc, I will do that. Right up until they disappear as an option. And there's nothing you can do to stop me! 

[Golden Fedora]

I know the industry is going that way, but if there is an option to buy a disc, I will do that. Right up until they disappear as an option. And there's nothing you can do to stop me! 

I'm with you. I much prefer discs to digital downloads.

[Infinit01]

To each his own, we all like what we like

[Greywolf]

I know the industry is going that way, but if there is an option to buy a disc, I will do that. Right up until they disappear as an option. And there's nothing you can do to stop me! 

Well, I was like you but became a 'digital but without DRM' guy over the years...
While I'd prefer to have a physical copy, the 'incomplete version on disc with gigantic day-one-patch for download' strategy rendered that kind of moot ...

[Darth Knox]

While I'd prefer to have a physical copy, the 'incomplete version on disc with gigantic day-one-patch for download' strategy rendered that kind of moot ...

Another reason why I usually wait about 18 months before buying a game. Gives the developers time to iron out any kinks. So by the time I get it any patches are usually downloaded when I first pop the disc in. And presto, smooth gamey fun.

[Lord_S_Gray]

Another reason why I usually wait about 18 months before buying a game. Gives the developers time to iron out any kinks. So by the time I get it any patches are usually downloaded when I first pop the disc in. And presto, smooth gamey fun.

I do exactly the thing with till a game is on sales and fully patched up.  As to the main topic I understand why they would go discless and whilst I am fine with that I think taking away the choice is an issue. I always prefer moor choice over less and this takes it away from consumers - expect at least some back lash....but in the end of people want to play new games they will be forced to play by the industry rules.

There are also ramifications around the side industries - if Sony/Nintendo follow suit there will be no more game stores expecting perhaps some Retro gaming specialists, gone are the days you can peruse a stack of preowned games for a bargain or chat with a fellow gamer you just pass instore about what new releases they are looking forward to. I think that will be a definite loss to gaming culture that we have had since the start.

[Infinit01]

All modern day consoles have to download the entire game whether it's a digital or a hard copy.  I rather have my downloaded digitally since I can download it to any console or future consoles and the updates happen automatically.  I used to love hard copies myself until I have to move again, then they suck.

[Darth Knox]

Lord Gray makes a good point about game shops. Getting recommendations from people in a shop as to whether a 12 month game is good or not will be nigh on impossible with digital only content. However, like it or not, this will eventually be how things. But I don't think we have anything to worry about as the digital only option probably won't exist for at least another 10 years.

I used to love hard copies myself until I have to move again, then they suck.

You get used to it. I have vinyl, dvds, bluray and a huge comic collection. All part of the experience of packing and unpacking when you move. Plus they build healthy teeth and bones (because boxes can be heavy)

[scifidude79]

I've known about this for a while. It's definitely not for me. Even if I didn't already have an XBOX One S, I wouldn't want one without a drive. One of the main features that drew me to the One was reverse compatibility. I can take many of my original XBOX and XBOX 360 discs, put them in the One, download a file, then play the game. It's really hard to do that without a disc drive. It's also hard to watch a DVD or Blu-Ray without a disc drive. (unless they came with a digital code) I also sometimes buy games off of Amazon on disc because the discs are cheaper. Though, I do buy digital games too. So, I do a mixture, but taking away that drive removes an option, and I don't like options being removed.

From that article:

the Xbox One follow-up could also be bundled with a gaming subscription to enable players to jump into the action as soon as they plug-in their brand-new console.

Yeah, right. More like, after they plug in their console, go through the setup process, update the console and update the games. Then they can play something.

[Lord_S_Gray]

Yeah, right. More like, after they plug in their console, go through the setup process, update the console and update the games. Then they can play something.

Vry good point, i remeber getting Starcraft 2 and having to get a Blizzard online account just to play it, Star Wars Battlefront needs an EA account, and later some bonus content on Assassins creed i think but you need to set up a ubisoft account. All need to be installed set up etc. download bits and pieces get annoying messages (but you can generally shut off so not usually an issue) but it is annoying compared to just slap in the disc and go, if everything is digital i fear companies will make these sign ups even more common to try and push more stuff on you.

[ThreadJack]

TBH, I don't really care too much if I have a disk or not, I've bought games both ways. That said, this eliminates one of the pros the X-Box One has over the PS4, backwards compatibility.

[scifidude79]

I remember getting my PS4, plugging that in all excited. After I did all the setup, I had to download an update. It took FOREVER because nobody told me that the PS4 downloads at a snail's pace if you don't put it on rest mode. Then I popped in Battlefront, and I waited some more. Ugh. So much pain.

Fortunately, by the time I got the XBOX One, I was prepared for pain. Plus, it actually downloads at normal speeds without being in sleep mode. But, Microsoft updates in general take FOREVER, just because.

[Infinit01]

It eliminates the backwards compatibility for discs but you can still purchase older games and have to pay for it again. I think this will be a feature for those that won’t use the disk drive like myself.

I’m glad it’s an option and I believe that consoles with discs will still be around for quite some time. This is just geared towards those that don’t want the drive installed due to buying games digitally

I like them both but I lean towards digital games for personal preferences while still having some physical discs for games. It’s true, there’s really nothing like opening a new game with that new game smell pretty much like opening up a brand new CD for your favorite artists which is why these things still exist