For a second there today, everyone thought Sony had tricked us last night by announcing there would be no restrictions to playing, trading or selling used games. In an interview with GameTrailers, Jack Tretton said:

The DRM decision is going to have to be answered by the third parties, it’s not something we’re going to control, or dictate, or mandate, or implement.

While the Internet exploded over this comment, Sony issued a statement to GameFront clearing up speculations that they had walked out on their incredibly strong promises to gamers:

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.

You may be subjected to Online Passes or third party publishers' regulations when playing online, but the PS4 will still be able to play, trade or sell used games. Phew.

Comments

  • Edwin P. Avatar
    Edwin P.
    10 years, 9 months ago

    This makes me wonder if EA will go ahead and bring back their online passes somehow, or forge something new. It doesn't seem too far out there that Microsoft did a deal with EA and maybe some other publishers to get this thing whole DRM and used games policies into the Xbone. I doubt giving Microsoft timed exclusive content is really enough for them.

  • Avatar
    Golem100
    10 years, 9 months ago

    Sony has shown it's hand and reaped the rewards and plaudits.
    Microsoft has shown it's hand and is now suffering badly for it's choices.

    So now that we have had the clarifications from both console makers it's long passed time that this whole issue gets focused firmly on the publishers where it belongs.

    Game journos need to start demanding to know precisely what EA and the likes of Activision were up to. What pressure did they put on Microsoft and Sony? Most acutely, what do THEY plan to do about DRM issues now and in the future?

    They've hidden behind the console makers long enough.

  • Nolan Hedstrom Avatar
    Nolan Hedstrom
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I think Sony made the right move. DRM and no used games is the future. Their console can handle the current demand for used games now and in the future the switch over will be simple for them.

  • theottomatic91 Avatar
    theottomatic91
    10 years, 9 months ago

    I expected that some of what was told at the press conference to be too good to be true but even so I am not going to switch over to the xbone any time soon.