When will the full game downloads on demand, from Microsoft, be available?”
After its E3 press conference, Microsoft announced during a press lunch that full game downloads will be available on-demand starting late summer. Those games include Bioshock, Assassin’s Creed, and Oblivion, all full-disc experiences. On August, 30 titles will be available at the start of the service. It’s not clear yet whether these will be “classic” 360 titles or will also expand to cover newer holiday releases. Considering the bandwidth drain this will already cause, it seems likely the supply will be (for now) lower-demand titles from the past. For these on-demand purchases, direct credit card charges will be accepted in addition to Microsoft Points. Games will be priced to match retail, meaning that–for now–no “disc-free discount” will be applied. But it does seem that, together with the PSP Go, our disc-free future is getting closer and closer.
The full game downloads on demand, from Microsoft, be available at any time. Microsoft had more news than they could fit in their press briefing, announcing an on-demand download gaming service during a post-briefing lunch. Microsoft points not required. Xbox Live’s Marc Whitten announced that, starting in August, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download full Xbox 360 games. Titles shown in a dashboard mock-up included Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, BioWare, LEGO Star Wars and Oblivion. New games will be offered each week. Microsoft points will not be required, as the service will support credit card purchases. Whitten declined to say how closely the games will be released to regular retail releases. Prices were not announced.
