160°

Valve being Sued in Germany; Microsoft an Sony Will be Watching for Next-Gen

With the lawsuit pending against Valve in Germany, expect that Sony and Microsoft, with their next-gen systems coming soon, will be watching closely. With rumors about the DRM features on the next-gen games Sony and Microsoft will eye this closely.

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cinekatz.com
NewMonday4109d ago

a lawsuit and winning it are 2 different things

and this doesn't concern games only but all digital software on all devices.

if they win(unexpected), then we should get used to cloud computing

konnerbllb4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

Companies get around this by adding it in their terms of use. The only problem right now is valve still locks people out of playing their old games if they don't agree to the new terms of use, so they will have to fix that.

But at the end of the day I really doubt people will be able to trade or sell digital content on steam or the console platforms. Illegal or not, it's all in that digital contract you agree to each time you either install update or use the service.

Dark_Overlord4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

I believe this was discussed in detail before, but to sum it up, no company regardless of what they put in their EULA/TOS can over ride law (and your rights associated with it).

If you read the EULA of most games, you'll find that you are not allowed to sell/lend/give away etc that game again, so why do shops like Gamestop exist? It is due to the law saying they can, regardless of what restrictive crap has been wrote into the EULA you accepted :)

MikeMyers4109d ago

Bruce Willis made a comment about his iTunes content and being able to leave it to his children when he dies. This is the slippery-slope many fear going forwards. What do we actually own? Services like Playstation Plus lean towards a rental service like Netflix. What about XBLA games and all the PS3 games I bought online?

People are often lenient when it comes to Steam because of the service and the prices but as digital gets more cemented into our buying we will have less flexibility. You know going forward that the big guys will be selling more and more games day of release and slowly get consumers to adopt buying online and all of those games will be locked to our accounts.

I don't think the U.S. will support the notion that consumers have a right to sell digital content. That will just open up a can of worms nobody will want to go to. The movie industry will push hard as well against it since they too sell their movies online through services like iTunes.

Knight_Crawler4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

This is BS and hope Valves looses.

If I pay for something then it should be my property and I should be able to do what I want with it.

This is like Apple holding your content hostage on iTunes and telling you that when you die you cannot give it to anyone else...I hope Bruce Willies who has investested millions in iTunes content wins this case against Apple and he can leave all his content to his daughter.

If this is the way digital downloads is going where you do not own the content you pay for and have to agree to some corporate agreements then I will stick with physical copies of what ever I purchase.

Yes some of you will try to justify this by saying that Valve already gives you the game for dirt cheap but it is still our money and we paid for something which means that it is ours and not the company who sold you ot.

aquamala4109d ago

You can't resell digital games on psn and xbl either, MS and Sony have the same problem as Valve

Dark_Overlord4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

They're probably waiting on the result of this case first. Though if Valve lose, MS, Sony and even Nintendo will need to implement a resale feature. It would be silly and very expensive for them to argue against it.

KrisButtar4109d ago

If gaming went all digital, I couldn't play games anymore as Internet is not offered in my area, I hope the Germans win as Why shouldn't you be able to sell the product you bought or lend it to a friend or even trade. That's why I myself would never go digital or even use steam or iTunes or any other service where I don't get the physical copy of the product

jek74109d ago

WOAH! you don't have internet in your area but your commenting here in n4g? did you use your rice cooker to connect?

KrisButtar4109d ago

iPhone and I drive to a coffee shop everyday.. They have Internet, it's still 25 min drive

sypher4109d ago

They don't have a resale value, that's the problem. They are either free (downloaded from piratebay or your favourite torrent site) or at the price the original content holder ransoms it for not to be attained 'illegally'.

You aren't paying for the product, but the service of acquiring that product hassle free. Digital goods are of infinite supply i.e. duplicated endlessly thus there is no 'second hand' market where its true value can be attained. Because goods of infinite supply have no value (in terms of money).

I wrote a big article explaining all this about a month back, if anyone is interested;
http://www.ign.com/blogs/5y...

ironfist924109d ago

Valve have a right to defend their digital distribution of games on their own first-party software, however I hope Sony and MS dont introduce the dreaded System locked DRM, meaning no one can lend or resell their PHYSICAL product once its been purchased.

ziggurcat4109d ago

don't worry, sony/MS is not going to implement that "feature' into their next systems. rumours are just rumours, and patents don't mater since almost all patents don't see the light of day (that, and an identical patent was filed just prior to the PS3 launch and we all know how that turned out).

talisker4109d ago

Sorry to disappoint you but current gen consoles have had DRM since day 1. You just didn't realize that...

Dark_Overlord4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

@ironfist92

One example would be the Blu Ray discs (PS3), they contain 4 (That I can think of)

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP)

Advanced Access Content System (AACS)

BD+

BD-ROM Mark

Now I'm not sure what DRM the Xbox360 Discs employ (though I remember it taking up about a GB of space on the discs until the update last year? was it)

Like I say, thats just the discs, the actual consoles have DRM implementations too :)

P.S on a side note, virtually every console in history has used some form of DRM.

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300°

Microsoft Survey Asks About Handheld

A new survey from Microsoft has further hinted at the possibility of an Xbox handheld being in development.

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twistedvoxel.com
EasilyTheBest5d ago

This is definitely happening, I just hope they have 2 versions one with a much bigger screen.

GamerRN4d ago

I'll be happy with this, and a PC console hybrid that rivals anything we have power wise

Number1TailzFan4d ago

The problem with bigger devices is playing them on your side in bed, Vita and before that was fine. Since the Switch you gotta have a gooseneck holder & controllers detached so you can lie down holding them, or your arm will quickly get tired.

1Victor3d ago

@thesofware: “A much bigger screen than what?”
A gaming laptop 🤷🏿🤣

Kosic3d ago

Than the screen originally planned...duh... :D

darthv723d ago

it kinda already did... https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

They are just gauging interest in one of their own.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

A Xbox version of Logitech G-Cloud?
I mean, why bother? Not like the G cloud is flying off shelves and what would Xbox add to make it better?
They're surely not going to create bespoke architecture here and there are already a few Windows handhelds out there. I have little confidence in their ability to put together an attractive UI in the way Steam did. So I doubt anything will come from this.

KicksnSnares5d ago

Day One buy for me if they'll make a dedicated handheld device.

darthv724d ago

i have that logitech g-cloud. Its a sweet little piece of kit. I like that it can also install games from the play store unlike the other android based handheld.

mudakoshaka4d ago

It sure is! Don't understand why you get the down-votes. Whoever does not like the G Cloud must have been dropped down a well, head first, when they were of a younger age.

PassNextquestion4d ago

I wonder if Microsoft will perform better in Japan if they do actually make a handheld since everyone says handheld and mobile are king over there.

TiredGamer4d ago

This looks like the future of the game industry... all three platforms with a handheld option.

I wonder if the Playstation Portal is a technology test-bed/prototype for a future Playstation handheld?

rlow14d ago (Edited 4d ago )

It’s a possibility but I can’t help but think would that be the best way to go about it? Though it would give you data on how much it is used and game type. It’s still not a true portable device and so people approach it differently. I think that data on phones, tablets, and of course the competition would give a better indication.

But I really think if Sony is considering a new PSP that could play ps5 games, now would be the time to dive in. Honestly, if they do this, it would be huge.

Traecy4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Doubt if Sony PS wants to support a new handheld with first party games. Something they lacked with the Vita. What they should do is have a handheld that is like the PS Portal which can play all games but play those games on the go as well as at home. Something like that is a better investment.

TiredGamer4d ago

Agreed that you will probably never see a separate line of games specifically for the handheld (a la PSP or PSVita). The modern economics and expectations of game development make that cost prohibitive. What makes more sense is if the full-fat game on PS5 or PS6 has a special "handheld" profile that is automatically optimized for the lower spec handheld. There would be some significant compromises compared to the bigger console variant, but it would be the same game overall and would only require a single purchase.... somewhat what the Switch does with a lower resolution when playing handheld versus docked.

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310°

Xbox Games Showcase Followed by [REDACTED] Direct Airs June 9

- Xbox Wire - Mark your calendars! The Xbox Games Showcase followed by [REDACTED] Direct airs June 9. More info inside.

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news.xbox.com
bionicstar4d ago

Will they show Fable 4, Stalker 2, GoW 6 & Perfect Dark?

PhillyDonJawn4d ago

Crossing fingers for Fable and perfect dark. And State of Decay 3

RaidenBlack4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

And maybe Clockwork Revolution, South of Midnight, Contraband, Project 007 & OD? lol
and whatever happened to Everwild ?
+ that rumored Wu Tang RPG

Sonic18814d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Will they have official release dates and gameplay?

anast4d ago

Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming.

4d ago
Lightning774d ago

It's an Xbox showcase that they have every year.

Make smarter comments for once.

anast4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Tell me what a smarter comment is.

If they don't sell game pass the entire time, then I will be wrong. All of this can be proven once the show gets underway. Let's wait and see.

InUrFoxHole3d ago

@Anast
Anything you didn't type. Good day sir!

4d ago
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Lightning774d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Wow too easy.

You went from MS going all streaming to selling gamepass content in which we all know they are.

Which one is it?

Pretty clear you don't know what a smart comment is at least you admit you don't know.

4d ago
anast4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

"Another game pass event with their plans to go all streaming."

It's both. I would worry about your own intelligence at this point. It seems that there is not enough to go around for you to worry about how smart other people are.

Lightning774d ago

It's just a regular event announcing games. Nice one captain obvious they're gonna mention gp stuff like they do every year what else is new.

The all streaming part is just you, being you I guess. They have streaming options but going all streaming again is just you pulling stuff outta thin air.

anast4d ago

You don't know what a smart comment is or isn't. You're welcome for the help.

Lightning774d ago

No you said something dumb then you tried to back track and mention GP.

Again make smart comments for once.

anast4d ago

And we have broken record syndrome.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
darthv724d ago

Wonder if they will address the handheld rumors....?

jimb0j0nes4d ago

For a brief moment I thought we might get a whole Direct for Gears 6 - seems like it's COD though!

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv729d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle9d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18819d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio9d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning778d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga9d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv728d ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19928d ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21839d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga9d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan8d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit8d ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus238d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv728d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier8d ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan8d ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 8d ago
purple1019d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-8d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac9d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1019d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic9d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead8d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

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