Games will not arrive on Xbox Live on the day they hit retail shelves any time soon, says Microsoft.
The computer giant has not been influenced by Sony’s push
to launch titles on its online PSN platform the same day they arrive in
stores in boxed form. Many PS3 titles – such as Mass Effect 3 – are
released like this, while all Vita retail titles are available to
download.
Instead, Microsoft will continue to release its Games on Demand titles around six months after they hit shelves.
“It comes down to choice,” Xbox Live’s UK product manager Pav Bhardwaj told MCV.
“The customer has the choice of going to retail on day one
if they really want to buy a particular title, or to wait a couple of
months and buy it full price from the Xbox Live marketplace.
“It’s a successful part of our business, we’re very
pleased with the growth and it continues to do really well. Clearly
there’s an audience out there who are happy to purchase a product at
full ERP six or so months after [its retail release].”
When asked if Microsoft would follow Sony’s lead and
release new games at retail and in download form on day one, the
platform holder emphasised the importance of retail.
“We don’t do Games on Demand on day one, we focus on boxed retail for day one,” added Bhardwaj.
“That’s where our focus has always been and will remain that way for the foreseeable future.
“We release a game roughly six months after it arrives at retail at full ERP. That’s our model and we’ll be sticking to that.
“It’s a successful model, so why change something you don’t need to?”
Source: mcvuk.com by Dominic Sacco
