Mon, Oct 03, 2011 | 23:44 BST
Sony to implement PSN Pass on all first-party releases
Sony Computer Entertainment America has confirmed it intends to use an online pass system for all multiplayer games out of Sony Worldwide Studios
“Online Pass will be incorporated into Uncharted 3 and future Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios games with online functionality. We will provide further information in the future,” a SCEA representative told Destructoid.
The comment came in response to a query over the system’s use in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, due for release next month.
Interestingly, the representative didn’t mention the term PSN Pass, which Sony used when it confirmed the “game specific” system’s introduction in July.
Online passes allow the player full access to a game’s multiplayer, and are usually bundled free with new purchases but must be paid for separately by those who pick up a second hand copy. Sony has used an online pass system in the past, on ModNation Racers, SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 and most recently, Resistance 3.
EA, which uses the system on most of its games, has described the results as “found revenue”, bringing small profits from sales otherwise lost to the publisher.
13 comments
#1
KAP
03/10/11, 11:56 pm
This is Sony in a nutshell, when things are bad, just make them worse.
There exclusives defo won’t sell now.
#2
neon6
03/10/11, 11:58 pm
OOOOHHH YEAH
#3
xxJPRACERxx
04/10/11, 12:13 am
I have no problem with this. Always get my games new.
#4
Christopher Jack
04/10/11, 3:17 am
@1, I don’t see how, the only way their sales could drop is if people actually boycott games that require online passes, it won’t make a damn difference to those who buy it new any way & no company would actually care about those who buy it preowned.
#5
Clupula
04/10/11, 5:00 am
I buy all my games new, anyway, so I don’t have any problem with this, whatsoever.
#6
dravenkaze
04/10/11, 7:55 am
@1 there is no problem here
#7
Blerk
04/10/11, 8:55 am
I get the idea that pretty soon ALL games are going to have one of these. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if next-gen we end up with license keys for all games full-stop, single-player and all.
#8
OlderGamer
04/10/11, 4:04 pm
What about renters?
#9
Phoenixblight
04/10/11, 4:04 pm
@9
SOL’d
#10
Christopher Jack
04/10/11, 4:30 pm
@9, I think it has a trial period, not certain though, seems like something to research if you do plan on renting a Sony published game.
#11
Blerk
04/10/11, 4:35 pm
Publishers hate renters almost as much as they hate second-handers, don’t they?
#12
Christopher Jack
04/10/11, 4:37 pm
@12, No because they still make money from it, I reckon they should focus on online renatls next gen, something similar to OnLive, whether it be cloud or download I don’t really care..
#13
Blerk
04/10/11, 4:39 pm
That’s why I said ‘almost’.