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Microsoft refutes reports about Xbox One used game sales

But the software giant won't disclose its policy regarding the resale of used titles for the new video game console.

Jay Greene Former Staff Writer
Jay Greene, a CNET senior writer, works from Seattle and focuses on investigations and analysis. He's a former Seattle bureau chief for BusinessWeek and author of the book "Design Is How It Works: How the Smartest Companies Turn Products into Icons" (Penguin/Portfolio).
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Jay Greene

Ever since the Xbox One unveiling Tuesday, gamers have wondered how Microsoft will handle the resale of used games for the system.

In the absence of a clear answer, speculation and rumors have flooded the Web.

Microsoft is now telling gamers that the speculation and rumors aren't true. But it's not saying what the new policy will be.

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"The ability to trade in and resell games is important to gamers and to Xbox," Larry Hryb, director of Xbox Programming (better known by his gamer handle Major Nelson), wrote on his blog Friday. "Xbox One is designed to support the trade in and resale of games. Reports about our policies for trade in and resale are inaccurate and incomplete. We will disclose more information in the near future."

Hryb didn't say which reports were inaccurate. But earlier Friday, the gaming news site MCV, citing information from "retail sources," reported that Microsoft and gaming publishers will get a cut from each game resale. MCV also reported that when gamers sell a title, the game will be erased from their online account so they no longer can play it.

It's unclear when Microsoft will reveal its policy regard game resales for Xbox One. The company is holding a press conference on June 10 at the giant E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles.