14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft initially intended to make the Xbox One a digitally focused home console, but its initiative was criticized by the fans and the company has settled for a number of policies that are close to those used on the 360.
Now Pav Bhardwaj, a product manager working on the new platform, says that digital and physical content can co-exist in the marketplace and that the rise of sales that do not involve a disk will not lead to a decline in traditional purchases.
He tells The Official Xbox Magazine that, “I actually think the entire market will grow. I think there’s room for both – there’s a certain type of customer who really wants a physical product, because who doesn’t want those steelbook limited editions?”
Microsoft seems to be focused on the traditional or hardcore gaming fan, but there are plenty of players who are interested in just the content of a game and do not want to clutter their houses with any physical packaging.
Pav Bhardwaj adds, “I think there’s room for both, and it’s our job to grow with the entire industry going forward, and offer people who want a certain product a certain way, that particular product in that way, and for people who want a physical product, to carry on buying that.”
Most next-gen titles will be launched as physical products and via digital distribution at the same time, in order to make sure that gamers have options when it comes to their purchase.
Plenty of content for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, including television shows and streamed sports content, will only be offered in digital form.
The Microsoft device will be launched on 13 major markets on November 22.
The rival PlayStation 4 will be out on November 15 in North America and two weeks later in Europe.