Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
The Sims 4 burglar
The Sims The Sims 4 Marketplace is coming with paid mods – because that's definitely what fans of EA's life sim want
Jack Black as Steve in A Minecraft Movie.
Minecraft Former Microsoft VP says it "maybe" should have taken "full advantage of Minecraft" before buying more studios
Xbox Series X and controller.
Hardware Project Helix "might be Microsoft's last attempt to make their hardware business work," analyst suggests
Xbox Project Helix logo on black background
Xbox Xbox Project Helix announced, "next generation console" will "play your Xbox and PC games," Microsoft says
Xbox Project Helix logo on black background
Hardware Everything we know about Xbox Project Helix - the next-gen Xbox console
games like Resident Evil - Bioshock
Games Ex-Square Enix exec says "every AAA single player game since Bioshock" is the same, while Roblox evolves "like Tiktok"
Xbox - Future Owns
Hardware Xbox Project Helix might arrive in 2028, analyst suggests – and it "could be priced at $900" at minimum
Xbox Gamescom 2023 logo featuring a stylized city skyline in green
Games Xbox will be "sunsetted" under new CEO, co-founder expects: "Her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor"
Xbox Project Helix logo in front of Series X silhouette with Game Pass box art in backdrop.
Xbox The next-gen Xbox is basically being pitched as a Steam Machine rival
The Sims 4 tattoo artist career
The Sims The Sims 4 Marketplace sparks angry fan reactions and comparisons to paid Fallout and Skyrim mods
Xbox Series X
Xbox Microsoft CEO says "we'll always" keep investing in gaming amid Xbox's announcement of mysterious Project Helix
Atsu playing music for a camp of merchants in a field of yellow flowers in Ghost of Yotei
PlayStation Sony reportedly ending PC ports of single-player PlayStation games like Ghost of Yotei and Saros
Leon Kennedy, wearing a black leather jacket, checks his watch in a hospital waiting room in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil I own 23 Resident Evil figurines, and I'd still rather buy Requiem's amiibos instead of a $300 statue
Halo
Games Xbox co-founder says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has "a hammer called gen AI" and "there's a nail with an Xbox logo"
Xbox Series X
Xbox "You will hear more about that soon": New Xbox boss is "committed to returning to Xbox," and that "starts with console"
  1. Games

Microsoft, publishers to receive fees for used-game retail sales

News
By Ryan Taljonick published 24 May 2013

MS and publishing partners to get a piece of the pie

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

According to a news report from MCV, the used games market will continue to exist--but Microsoft and publishers will be getting a slice of the used sales pie.

This information was provided by anonymous retail sources, who say that Microsoft "briefed key retail partners on how it intends to take ownership of the pre-owned market." Here's an example of how the system works, as posted on MCV:

"A gamer walks into a retailer and hands over the game they wish to sell. This will only be possible at retailers who have agreed to Microsoft’s T&Cs and more importantly integrated Microsoft’s cloud-based Azure pre-owned system into its own.

You may like
  • Phone reading "this is an Xbox" Xbox revenue declines across the board year-over-year with Microsoft CFO blaming a fall off in first-party game sales
  • The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox didn't charge $80 for The Outer Worlds 2, but Microsoft still has to run a "healthy business" moving forward
  • Halo Infinite Season 2 As Xbox exclusives come to PS5 and Switch 2, new CEO says "we're going to keep meeting players where they are"

"The game is then registered as having been traded-in on Microsoft’s system. The consumer who handed it over will subsequently see the game wiped from their account – hence the until now ambiguous claim from Phil Harrison that the Xbox One would have to ‘check in’ to Microsoft’s servers every 24 hours.

"The retailer can then sell the pre-owned game at whatever price they like, although as part of the system the publisher of the title in question will automatically receive a percentage cut of the sale. As will Microsoft. The retailer will pocket the rest."

Unconfirmed reports on UK blog consoledeals.co.uk suggest that used game retailers may pocket as little as 10 percent of the sale, leaving us wondering how brick and mortar stores will sustain overhead costs, let alone stay in business.

We've reached out to Microsoft for comment.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
TOPICS
Microsoft
CATEGORIES
Xbox One Platforms Xbox
Ryan Taljonick
Ryan Taljonick
Social Links Navigation

Ryan was once the Executive Editor of GamesRadar, before moving into the world of games development. He worked as a Brand Manager at EA, and then at Bethesda Softworks, before moving to 2K. He briefly went back to EA and is now the Director of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. 

Read more
Phone reading "this is an Xbox"
Xbox revenue declines across the board year-over-year with Microsoft CFO blaming a fall off in first-party game sales
 
 
The Outer Worlds 2
Xbox didn't charge $80 for The Outer Worlds 2, but Microsoft still has to run a "healthy business" moving forward
 
 
Halo Infinite Season 2
As Xbox exclusives come to PS5 and Switch 2, new CEO says "we're going to keep meeting players where they are"
 
 
Xbox Series X
Microsoft CEO says "we'll always" keep investing in gaming amid Xbox's announcement of mysterious Project Helix
 
 
Arc Raiders screenshots
Arc Raiders had an auction house-style trade system at one point, but Embark removed it because it ruined loot
 
 
Steam Machine with beige backdrop and sad face on front made from closed bracket and colon.
"I could see $1,000": Steam Machine is "a PC with console benefits," analyst says, "next Xbox" will be "just like it"
 
 
Latest in Games
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 support agent says "there's no balance team" at Arrowhead because "it's all a team effort"
 
 
Ghostwire Tokyo
Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami has been working on a new AAA action RPG for at least 1 year, and no one noticed
 
 
Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab
 
 
Big Walk
"Complicated feelings on our end": Indie devs behind new Peak-like co-op understand you think it's friendslop
 
 
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi agent Nona weaveworm
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract walkthrough and how to find the Necrotic Sample and scan your shell
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Legends
How to start Ghost of Yotei Legends online co-op
 
 
Latest in News
Spider-Noir aiming his webshooter
Spider-Noir is the "same character, different version": "It's not a continuation of Into The Spider-Verse"
 
 
A Na'vi draws a bow in Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making $870 million less than The Way of Water
 
 
A close-up of Grace talking with someone through glass in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem actor says Capcom wanted "cinematic performances" to keep up with the technical side of the game
 
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator
Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll be in the next Predator movie and a Conan the Barbarian sequel
 
 
Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Elijah Wood says he "wouldn't want anybody else to play Frodo", and now we're thinking he's in The Hunt for Gollum
 
 
Marathon assassin runner shell holding knife
Bungie doesn't want Marathon to repeat Destiny 2's vaulting controversy: "It doesn't matter when you join"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Spider-Noir aiming his webshooter
    1
    Spider-Noir is the "same character, different version": "It's not a continuation of Into The Spider-Verse"
  2. 2
    Helldivers 2 support agent says "there's no balance team" at Arrowhead because "it's all a team effort"
  3. 3
    Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami has been working on a new AAA action RPG for at least 1 year, and no one noticed
  4. 4
    Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract walkthrough and how to find the Necrotic Sample and scan your shell
  5. 5
    How to start Ghost of Yotei Legends online co-op

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...