Sony hints the PS4 does contain a feature to block used games, but its up to publishers to use it
During a recent interview with Gamespot, the boss of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida discussed more details regarding the subject of used games and the PS4.
While in past interviews he stated the PS4 will not block used games, he teased the tech to do so does exist in the console itself. The feature would be entirely optional and left up to individual publishers to decide if they want to use it for their games. He also teased Sony would not be using this feature for any game they develop on the PS4.
The feature would work similar to the Online Pass system which uses activation codes as a way to "lock" a disc to an individual user or account but in a larger scale. Instead of just locking out the game's multiplayer, the entire game itself would be locked out if the game is detected as a used copy. His answer:
GameSpot says -
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g1 DISCUSSIONS
Ruzlok
Well publishers like EA can already block used games on consoles with their online pass program. So I don't see the real difference.
Quark
Well I think it's nice to hear that they're not going to be using it in their IPs, but to be honest it's still really really crap. I just hope that Gamestop will refuse to sell games that do this, as they're a hindrance to their profits anyhow. That would certainly go a long way to discourage this sort of practice.
MagnumMagnus
Nice way to shirk any sense of responsibility.
Ryujinjakka
Sony: We let our PARTNERS do whatever they want...its their IPs, their money, so let them decide it.
FANBOYS: SONYS IS THE DEVILZ!!!"@!"...
Let the HATE pour fanboys.....
yggdra324
They still put in their system, they didn't have to, they could of took that out and cut the price a little bit
Ryujinjakka
Ever heard: "better have it and dont need it than need it and dont have it"? Same thing, well, unless you like buying used or trade in deals...its a very open ended statement and people are already whinning like crazy....I really would want to see it if would be the same thing if Nintendo did this or if MS did this...im really suspicious it would be somewhat different...
enahsd
Sony is the devil in this case, they put the technology into the console to appease the publishers who are just as evil. You don't see Nintendo doing that with the WiiU, as for the NextBox, we will have to wait and see if they are evil.
Now, as I said earlier, Sony is trying to appease to the publishers (each of who will be a worse devil than Sony until they implement it), and other than making a console that is easy to make games on, the only ones they should be trying to appease is the consumers who buy the games,
So yeah, Sony is the Devil in this case, maybe not as evil of a devil as they would be if they made all games not playable used, or they make their own games into that category (which I hate to say I can't take their word at face value, as by the current point of the PS3's life all games for it required an online pass), so they can be considered a low evil.
Also, before you say I'm hating on Sony just for the sake of it, they do have one thing that ups them from the competition, region free gaming (assuming they keep it, though I don't think that they would get rid of it) which we all know the WiiU doesn't have, and would be very surprised if the NextBox has it.
Ryujinjakka
And what would people say if said devs didnt make PS4 games? Sony has no games......its a game of blame, they will be trowing it to each other, but the industry ITSELF dont want to keep used games around..thats a consumer thing. We want to trade in the games we either dont want to keep or regreted buying. But the companies DONT make money on it, and yet you want said companies to keep pushing out AAA games every year...I know Im playing devils advocate here, but it is as it is.
The same thing about backwards compatibility (here comes the rant...). When PS3 was out for 600USD people werent buying it. IT had no games, but PS2 games..., and yet people didnt want to pay up that absurd 600 price tag for what it was a 3 in one console + the best bluray player around, with access to the internet, and had Linux as a boost! The hypocrisy! They wanted the damn thing, just were too damn CHEAP to yield it. When Sony managed to push the price down, by taking some of the nice things people tooked for granted but didnt want (And I REMEMBER so many forum posts elsere and everywere saying that they didnt want PS2 compatibility, LInux and whatever else...), they automaticaly wanted it BACK. Just because it became affordable, they wanted it. And thats a human thing, and so its alright. But if you want these companies to keep afloat, to keep this little entertainment we love so much, the oh so many families that actually work building, developing, working for said companies, you should just accept that they are here to make money, that they will do their best to reach a middle ground and try to make it the best they can for EVERYONE(users, partners, suppliers and such), and not just one of the parts of the equation.
Ive been playing video games for the best part of the last 25 years. Im too damn old to throw childish tantrums when multibillion dollar companies are trying to keep thenselves alive in a economic world recession by appeasing everyone with their choices (even when some of them seen dumb to a consumer's point of view...).
enahsd
You realize that many people only buy used games, don't you. I hate to say it, but if many 3rd party developers do this tactic then these people will not buy the console, and thus Sony will lose alot more, also many people buy games day 1 and return it if they don't like it, so these people will not buy the games (and possibly not waist time on the system). So the big thing I am saying is, Sony has a lot more to lose than it has to gain with this being on their system, and if 3rd party does only Sony, then they can loose more then Sony will.
Ryujinjakka
Please define "many people". Lets say 5 in 10. 5 will follow your logic. Still, the other 5 will buy the console either way. Not everyone will buy only used games...why do you think they sell games on the bargain bin for? The Platinum, Greatest Hits collections are exactly for this. Teh surplus per say of games for sometimes half the price. It may end up being a matter of perception on everyone part taht will make it or break it in the end.... We can conjecture all we want, but none of us have actual numbers to base our assumptions, and these companies actually spend money on their surveys, as innacurate as they may end up being...
Now who says they will do it only with Sony? Youre either very naive or have a very limited view on things. If it works on Sony, they will use EVERYWHERE, just in another ways, use other ways of DRM. These guys are looking for profit anyway they can, and killing the second hand/used games market is a sure way to keep some modicum of profit with the surplus games(re-tag the price on the cases and voila...minty new games for more affordable prices). They will either make a trend for the market or follow it if they cant help it. They could pretty much walk to MS and say do the same thing, or we will go with more exclusive DLC to Sony, at least our money will come easier/surer from that side..(quite vague, but this is just a what if anyway)...Nintendo has no legs for 3rd parties...and WiiU is showing it how badly Nintendo deals with 3rd parties right now...So it would up being a MS and Sony thing, and MS will go with the sure way to keep said 3rd parties happy, because pretty much its all they got (their 1st party studios are nowhere near the level of Sony's currently...). See where we are going here?
We can spend a lot of time with 'what ifs' and get nowhere. Im just finished here.