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e3 2013

Sony Reaffirms Used Game Policy, Online Passes Up To Publishers

by Mike Futter on Jun 11, 2013 at 09:05 AM



This morning, Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment spoke with GameTrailers about Sony's stance on used games. He raised some questions with comments about leaving some things up to publishers. We received a detailed comment from Sony that clarfiies the matter.

The Online Pass program for PlayStation first-party games will not continue on PlayStation 4. Similar to PS3, we will not dictate the online used game strategy (the ability to play used games online) of its publishing partners. As announced last night, PS4 will not have any gating restrictions for used disc-based games. When a gamer buys a PS4 disc they have right to use that copy of the game, so they can trade-in the game at retail, sell it to another person, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever.

Essentially, this means that publisher-driven online passes may not be going away. Licenses, DRM, and other new restrictions are not going to be in play at all the PlayStation 4.