We're not sure how much stock you should put into this news, but we're putting it out there anyway because Microsoft has been so dodgy on the topic since it announced the Xbox One.

While Microsoft is being a little bit cagey about how it will handle used games on Xbox One, GameStop is trying to reassure consumers that next-generation games will be able to be bought and sold. Speaking to Forbes, GameStop president Tony Bartel explained why having the ability to buy and sell games is important as consoles transition.

Ryan Sharpe from Get-Well Gamers Foundation posted a statement on Facebook condemning the way Microsoft plans to handle pre-owned titles. We have extensively detailed the confusion on that topic here. Sharpe says that this idea of a fee on used games is an alarming trend that bothers him so much the he has decided that he will not include Xbox One systems and games in the inventory of games for the 180 hospitals in its network.

Microsoft's messaging on how used games will be handled on the Xbox One seems to be muddled, contradictory and confused as different individuals within the company offer out-of-step messaging on the subject. At issue is a report in Wired indicating that when software purchased on discs at retail or through the Xbox Live Marketplace is installed on a system it is associated with the purchaser's user account.

Electronic Arts has decided to do away with its controversial online pass system for used games, the company confirmed with GamesBeat last night.

"Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass," EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg confirmed to GamesBeat in an e-mail. "None of our new EA titles will include that feature."

According to the image to your left, GameStop will no longer be accepting trade-ins on various PS2 related items and systems as of June 1, 2013. That means if you want to trade those PS2-related items in for something new you'd better do it in the next couple of weeks. The image comes from a Reddit user named eGORapTure, who spotted the sign at his local GameStop.

In a recent interview with Destructoid, Bethesda Softworks marketing vice president Pete Hines told the publication that used game sales are "absolutely" a concern for his company but that they have handled it by lessening the financial impact through lots and lots of DLC for its various games including Fallout 3 and the last few games in the Elder scrolls series.

A research report on GameStop from equity research firm Baird Equity Research predicts that the games retailer will miss estimates for Q4 earnings. The company is set to release Q4 earnings next Thursday, along with initial guidance for fiscal year 2013. Baird Equity points to weak hardware sales and software prices that are " under pressure." GameStop could see a boost from the next Xbox announcement, the E3 trade show in June and launch of new hardware in the fall, according to the firm.

Lynx2Games launches today, promising a new online video game "collaborative consumption service" that lets users rent and own popular titles at "highly discounted prices." Powered by a social e-commerce marketplace called LynxSquare, Lynx2Games uses a share-the-cost system enabling players to team up on purchases of new releases. Lynx2Games lets members rent a new game for three weeks for $19.99 and then ship it to a buyer within the community that wants it for $39.99.

New data gathered by NPD Group offers some insight on how core gamers feel about digital distribution and the purchase of used games. The data comes from a new survey the retail research firm conducted. According to the results of that survey, core gamers have embraced digital distribution, but downloading full game titles has not yet outpaced second-hand game purchases. The NPD survey found that 78 percent of core gamers said that they frequently purchase used games, compared to 70 percent who reported buying full digital games regularly.

Speaking to MCV India, Eidos life president Ian Livingstone threw some gasoline on an old rumor: that the Xbox 720 might block used games. Livingstone also said the next-gen consoles weren't prepared to go fully digital quite yet as its only method for selling and delivering content.

Eurogamer delivers bit of good news this evening from Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida: the PlayStation 4 will not block used games. Catching up with Yoshida a few hours after last night's two-hour PS4 press conference, Eurogamer asked him directly if Sony had any plans to block used games on its newest console:

In a recent Gamasutra interview (as reported by Destructoid), Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen said that the publisher would shed no tears over the loss of used games or the used games market, but noted that there are benefits to having such a market exist.

Speaking to Bloomberg GameStop VP of public and investor relations Matt Hodges said that the consumer's desire to purchase a next-generation console will be "significantly diminished" if manufacturers were to block the ability to play used games.

Microsoft's next Xbox system will use Blu-Ray and will require users to be always connected to Xbox Live, according to an Edge report citing sources with "first-hand experience."

The new raft of rumors are an echo of an older rumor post by VG247 back in April 2012 - also citing anonymous sources close to the company.

The German consumer advocacy group The Federation of German Consumer Association has filed an official complaint against Valve Software for its Steam's end-user license agreement because it does not allow consumers to resell digital content. The European High Court ruled last year that digital content games can be sold. The complaint against Valve filed with the German courts is directly related to that ruling.

Dish Network announced that it plans to close hundreds of Blockbuster stores in the next couple of weeks and expects to cut thousands of jobs as a result. The video and videogame rental company was bought by Dish in 2010 after the company went bankrupt. CNN Money reports that 300 stores will be closed in the United states and 3,000 jobs will be lost.

Video game retailer GameStop revealed that sales for the last nine weeks of 2012 came in at $2.88 billion, a 4.6 percent decrease from the 2011 holiday shopping season. The retailer blamed a lack of in-store traffic as the primary cause. Second-hand sales were also down 15.6 percent because of limited inventory, according to GameStop. New game sales were also down by 5.1 percent, while hardware numbers were down 2.7 percent.

A patent application unearthed by a NeoGAF forum post and picked up by Kotaku reveals that Sony has plans to implement a technology to deal with the use of used games on more than one console.

Video game retailer GameStop announced that it suffered a $624 million net loss in revenue for the third quarter that ended on October 27. While GameStop said that results exceeded expectations for Q3, it highlighted the fact that sales were down on new software, used software and new hardware. Total sales fell approximately 8.9 percent to $1.77 billion while store sales also fell 8.3 percent. Overall, GameStop recorded a consolidated net loss of $624.3 million.

Online marketplace eBay is offering a unique program to give you cash for that old console you have laying around so that you can buy a new console like the Wii U... You can exchange select models of the Wii, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS Vita for cash beginning today and up until November 18 - which just happens to be release day for the Wii U in North America. You can get started with the transaction  at eBay's Instant Sale page.

In a recent interview with Joystiq, GameStop CEO Paul Raines clarified a recent story about plans to sell vintage games and systems at retail stores throughout the United States.

While some game publishers and developers have come out hard against the sale of used games, GameStop's president Paul Raines says that the myth that used games are cutting into new game sales is just - a myth. Speaking to Gamasutra, Raines said that 70 percent of all income derived from used game sales by consumers is almost immediately spent on purchasing a new game - to the tune of $1.8 billion to the US games industry every year.

GameStop is apparently paying close attention to the recent decision by the European High Court that digital purchases could legally be resold. Speaking to GameSpot, GameStop CEO Paul Raines said that the video games retailer is seriously looking into the idea of creating a business out of reselling digital downloads in Europe, but cautions that it is too early for him to say if it is something they will get into. At this point the company is simply investigating the idea.

Earlier this month, the European Court of Justice ruled that game publishers cannot stop European consumers from reselling their downloaded games.  Not only that, but a publisher may have to facilitate such a transaction by allowing the recipient of the sale to download their “used” copy from its website.

Oh yeah, they’re going to love that.

The European Court of Justice has made a ruling that could cause lots of problems for publishers in Europe. The highest court in Europe has ruled that game publishers cannot stop European consumers from reselling their downloaded games.

"An author of software cannot oppose the resale of his 'used' licences allowing the use of his programs downloaded from the internet," the ruling read. The Court said the exclusive right of distribution covered by a license is "exhausted on its first sale".

According to a new report (Q1 2012 Games Market Dynamics: U.S.) from research firm NPD Group, estimated total consumer spending on used and rental game content in the first quarter of 2012 reached $525 million, and content in digital format (full game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games) generated $1.38 billion. This is in addition to the $1.5 billion spent in the U.S. by consumers on new physical video and PC game software.

If you were concerned that Nintendo might consider some type of technology or software to block the use of used games on its new Wii U console, this GameSpot report should put your mind at ease. Speaking with GameSpot, Nintendo of America marketing exec Scot Moffitt said that he doesn't know if Nintendo has a formal position on used games.

The First Sale Doctrine has been an important part of copyright law for well over a hundred years now and an important part of the gaming culture for the last 30 years or so. Unfortunately, these last few decades have also seen a lot of effort to erode what protections consumers have to resale their property without the permission of the copyright owner. Once again, the Supreme court is poised to rule on how far the protections the First Sale Doctrine go when it comes to copyright.

Despite all the talk about a next-generation console future where consumers are not allowed to play their used games by evil platform holders like Microsoft and Sony, retailer GameStop says that such a future is unlikely. The video game retailer firmly believes that the next generation consoles from both Sony and Microsoft will handle the business of retail trade-ins and used game sales the way they always have - by mostly ignoring them. The company made its remarks during an investor meeting with analyst firm Baird Equity Research.