It's not just future Xbox One customers and Microsoft fan boys celebrating the company's change of policies for its next-gen console, but game retailers and lenders as well.
Both GameStop and GameFly are praising Microsoft's move earlier this afternoon to ditch both the online check in requirement every 24 hours, but the businesses are probably more excited over the policy switch over used games.
Prior to today, Microsoft's Xbox One policy towards used games was that players would be allowed to trade a game with a buddy who had been on their friend list for at least 30 days. As far as selling them back to retailers, it was possible, but not fully explained. The official word from Microsoft before today was the following: "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."
GameStop's celebration of the policy switch makes sense, after all, "used game products contribute to more than half of GameStop's profit despite," according to a 2012 article from Forbes.
As a company rep described, "GameStop welcomes today's announcement from Microsoft about changes in functionality for its next-generation console, the Xbox One. This is great news for gamers and we applaud Microsoft for understanding consumers and the importance of the pre-owned market."
But it's probably GameFly who stands to benefit more in the long run. The company's entire business model is based on the concept of trading games back and forth between customers. GameFly co-founder Sean Spector explained the company's jubilation, "I always felt good about the future of GameFly, but I feel better today. Today is a win/win for consumers, as well as GameFly. I think choice is always important and now consumers have more choice. And I give [Microsoft] credit for listening to their consumers. I think the original proposal would have been detrimental to lots of people's [business] systems. Not just GameFly. And, most importantly, gamers. Based on what I've read today, which is all I know today, it's business as usual for Xbox. Their statement is really cut and dry."
GameFly plans to have titles for both Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 up and listed on the company's site by the end of the summer.
