We’re slowly approaching a future where all games are digital. Instead of driving to a store, dealing with likely uninformed GameStop employees, and picking up a game that you were forced to pre-order weeks in advance, we’ll soon only have to worry about hopping online and downloading a product. However, the sheer size of some games makes the time between making the purchasing and actually reaching the menu screen pretty substantial, and that can end up just as frustrating as visiting the store. Sony had previously announced that PlayStation 4 owners would be able to play new games before they were fully downloaded, and according to a Microsoft representative, it’s the exact same case with the Xbox One.
Polygon was told this news earlier today, and while we had hoped that this would be the case with Microsoft’s box, it’s always better to get a real confirmation. We also know that since all disc-based games must be installed before play, people will be able to start the game up before the full process is completed. Essentially, long downloads and painful installs shouldn’t hold gamers back from enjoying the product that they just purchased either online or at the store.
If the community outcry and reversal of the Xbox One’s DRM and online check-in policies are any indication, the world just doesn’t seem fully ready for an all-digital, always-online industry. However, small changes like playing games while they’re being downloaded are both welcomed and a nice way to streamline the system.
