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New leak suggests next-gen Xbox won’t play used games

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:40PM EST
Xbox 720 Used Game Block

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Following a number of reports claiming Microsoft’s (MSFT) next-generation video game console, codenamed “Durango,” will block users’ ability to play preowned games, a new report appears to back up those claims. In a series of purported screenshots from Microsoft’s Durango SDK published by Vgleaks.com, several earlier rumors regarding Microsoft’s next console appear to have been confirmed. Among them is the claim that game play from a disk will not be supported, and users will instead have to install games to the device’s hard drive in order to play.

Previous rumors suggested Microsoft plans to require that users install games on their hard drives and enter a unique activation code in order to play. The console will then require an always-on Internet connection and will ping a server to verify the activation code.

It should be noted that early rumors suggested a similar authentication system would block used games on Sony’s PlayStation 4, however the rumors were debunked when the device was unveiled last month.

The leaked Durango SDK screenshots also mention a “new high-fidelity Kinect Sensor” that will be sold with every console, and that must be connected in order for the system to operate. The most telling of the leaked images follows below.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.