10 Bold Predictions For The New Gaming Generation
7. The Ability To Re-Sell Digital Games Is The Generation's Defining Issue
Every gaming generation has one big issue which prevails over all others - last gen it was unquestionably the increasing pervasiveness of microtransactions and addiction-encouraging loot box mechanics.
But this gen will be something quite different - the contentious issue of digital games rights, and whether players should have the ability to sell their digital licenses onto other players.
Traditionally this hasn't been allowed if the game key has been redeemed - beyond selling your entire account, that is - yet just last year, a French court opened up a massive can of worms by ruling that Steam users should be able to re-sell their games.
It's a massively complicated issue and one which Steam has unsurprisingly pushed back against, yet expect to see this heavily debated throughout the generation as digital adoption continues to surge in place of traditional disc-based play.
It's of course highly likely that Microsoft, Sony, and especially Nintendo will put up a considerable fight against giving players the ability to re-sell their digital games, but don't be surprised if one of the big companies - most likely Microsoft, who probably has the least to lose - introduces a limited facility for digital re-selling.
It'll likely be governed by a multitude of caveats, but there could be a legal and totally above-board way to sell-on at least some of your used, incorporeal games within the next seven years.