Capps: "We really need to make strides against the secondhand market"

Epic boss Mike Capps has told GI that secondhand game sales are a "huge" issue in the US, and he believes the American development industry will start making moves to combat it.

"I think DLC will be increasing in scope just because in the US we really need to make strides against the second-hand market," he said.

Capps said that models involving restricting content to those who bought the retail product new are being mooted.

"The secondary market is a huge issue in the United States. Our primary retailer makes the majority of its money off of secondary sales, and so you're starting to see games taking proactive steps toward that by... if you buy the retail version you get the unlock code," he said.

"I've talked to some developers who are saying 'If you want to fight the final boss you go online and pay USD 20, but if you bought the retail version you got it for free'. We don't make any money when someone rents it, and we don't make any money when someone buys it used - way more than twice as many people played Gears than bought it."

More through there.