Microsoft Confirms an Installation Fee for Pre-Owned Xbox One Games

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Just when all things looked great for Microsoft, they confirmed a bit of news that might catch the attention of quite a few people. Microsoft has confirmed (via Wired) that all Xbox One games will require an installation onto the console’s hard drive.

Each game will be paired to Xbox Live accounts so Microsoft will be able to track where the games are, such as being given to a friend to borrow or sold to a retailer or even repurchased. With each game being paired to an Xbox Live account, this stopped people from simply installing a game and then sharing it amongst friends. The hard drive installation stops this and keeps the games to single users only.

For discs that are bought pre-owned, users will be given the option to pay a fee to then be able to install the game from the disc to the hard drive. Both people the original owner and the new owner will then be able to have the game installed and paired to their account. No information as to what the fee might be was given, but we will keep you informed when this information.

Let us know what you think about the idea of having to install every game onto the Xbox One. Does this mean you’ll have to delete or reinstall games in the future to make space for others? We will find out soon enough and it will all be available for you at VGU.

Update: It seems that Xbox Support on twitter for the Xbox has replied to a customer about the alleged Preowned Fee

As of now, it means the preowned fee could of just been a rumour. 

Update #2: Kotaku have also reported that the fee is still in place and could be up to the price of the full game. Microsoft’s Larry Hryb has issued the following clarification:

Another piece of clarification around playing games at a friend’s house – should you choose to play your game at your friend’s house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to your profile.

At the moment it is quite clear that communication within Microsoft is a little haywire with Support saying no fee and Phil Harrison, Microsoft corporate vice president saying there is. Stay tuned for more updates.