Disc & Digital Confirmed, How Licensing Works

Today, Microsoft released a ton of information regarding the Xbox One. They have confirmed that games for Xbox One will be available at Retail stores in disc format and Online in the Marketplace as a Digital Download on Release day.

Buy the way you want—disc or digital—on the same day: You’ll be able to buy disc-based games at traditional retailers or online through Xbox Live, on day of release.

Also some bizarre unexpected news that confirms rumors, you will not need a disc to play games after installing it. After signing in and installing, you can play any of your games from any Xbox One because a digital copy of your game is stored on your console and in the cloud. So, for example, while you are logged in at your friend's house, you can play your games.

"While a persistent connection is not required, Xbox One is designed to verify if system, application or game updates are needed and to see if you have acquired new games, or resold, traded in, or given your game to a friend. Games that are designed to take advantage of the cloud may require a connection."

Share access to your games with everyone inside your home: Your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.

Give your family access to your entire games library anytime, anywhere: Xbox One will enable new forms of access for families. Up to ten members of your family can log in and play from your shared games library on any Xbox One. Just like today, a family member can play your copy of Forza Motorsport at a friend’s house. Only now, they will see not just Forza, but all of your shared games. You can always play your games, and any one of your family members can be playing from your shared library at a given time.

Trade-in and resell your disc-based games: Today, some gamers choose to sell their old disc-based games back for cash and credit. We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers. Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games.

Give your games to friends: Xbox One is designed so game publishers can enable you to give your disc-based games to your friends. There are no fees charged as part of these transfers. There are two requirements: you can only give them to people who have been on your friends list for at least 30 days and each game can only be given once.

I very rarely trade in games so for me I am really looking forward to the buying digital.

I very rarely trade in games so for me I am really looking forward to the buying digital.

Originally Posted by ikmyer

I'm surprised that they didn't got completely digital tbh. I guess its a good thing they didn't, otherwise everyone would be outside Microsoft's building with pitch forks probably xD

everyone would be outside Microsoft's building with pitch forks probably xD

Originally Posted by GameOverViper

Exactly. I think they really wanted to push for digital but knew this would happen if they ditched the discs all together.