If Microsoft are to lock games down to a single user and require an always-on internet connection, then Sony have everything to gain from what has to be a considerable misstep from Redmond that’s likely to cost them a good share of the next-gen pie. It sounds almost ridiculous – copy protection gone too far – but that’s what rumours are suggesting today.
But first, some balance. Whilst the sources are apparently solid (“we’re confident they are,” Edge tell us) I’m still struggling to consider that the two main factors – tying a game to one individual and needed a constant green light from your router – aren’t just options available to the publisher or developer. Like region locking, for example.
Surely Microsoft isn’t crazy enough to enforce such systematic restrictions on every Xbox 720 game they rubber stamp. I can’t see that happening.
Yes, the mechanics are simplistic enough – the game box will come with a redemption code that’ll be typed into Xbox LIVE and then the game will be locked to that user – and I can see how this is a natural (unnatural?) extension of the Online Pass system that permeated this current gen, but surely they’re not expecting consumers to just roll over and accept this?
And whilst I appreciate that publishers and developers may well have been requesting such a feature since games were first sold, these aren’t 69p iPhone games (which at least fulfill one of the two protection measures, although apps can be shared between five devices) and they’re not Steam games, titles that are regularly subjected to almost laughably irresistible sale discounts. We’re talking £50 full-priced games, games that you won’t be able to trade in once you’re done.
Microsoft’s last E3 press conference lacked a little of the wow factor. Hopes are high that this year both Sony and Microsoft will step it up a notch.
Think of the recently recovering GAME (and its US counterpart, GameStop, which sees pre-owned games making up nearly 28% of all sales and 48% of profit) – pre-owned sales are vital to the infrastructure of the high street chain and this won’t be good news for them. Indeed, GameStop saw its shares drop dramatically today following the news – if this is true this’ll hit hard, and not just with the retailer, the end user will simply not be able to buy games if they’re not brand new.
At least, not Xbox 720 games.
Of course, we don’t know the technicalities of a system that is still yet to be proven to be true, or at least as comprehensively widespread as Edge seem to think. There’s enough conjecture to warrant caution, but there’s also unanswered questions: could another user simply ‘buy’ another license (like you can with an Online Pass) from Live for a reduced fee, for example. Even with that in mind, though, the second hand market will suffer greatly.
And that’s without mentioning game rental companies, who’ll be hit harder than anyone else if this comes to fruition. Nobody is going to splash out on a user account license for a game they’ll only have for three days.
Then there’s the other angle – the requirement of an internet connection at all times. That’s fine for the majority of Xbox 360 users – figures point to approximately 80% of console users having an internet connection – but what happens when that connection goes down, either by the end user or the service itself? Look at Ubisoft’s similar attempts: they scrapped their always on DRM last September. Presumably this DRM is to ensure that the game isn’t being used by a third party, but it does seem like it’s not going to be met with much enthusiasm.
Sony is expected to reveal its next gen console on the 20th of this month, just two weeks away.
And Sony? For all Sony’s faltering over the years with the PS3, the company has stayed true to providing free online play for the system (and, of course, for the PSP and PS Vita) and their recent push towards PlayStation Plus indicates that they’re really trying to ensure their customers have plenty to play. Doing everything right? Perhaps not. But in the face of these rumours, Sony – unless they follow the same path – will look nothing less than saintly.
And let’s be honest – if Microsoft’s hand has been forced by publishers, surely those same publishers will want the PS4 to do the same job.
Sony aren’t alien to the idea of locking out second hand games, too. Their system doesn’t require an internet connection, but they do have something – even if it’s just in patent form at the moment. And without being flippant, I’d place doubts over the PlayStation Network being consistent enough just now to have to rely on it being available 24/7/365 to ensure that my game licenses are validated.
There will, naturally, be many other factors that will ultimately all tally up. The relative power of the two systems; the exclusive games available; the price; the controller. But being able to sell on your games is surely right up there.
In some ways, Sony now have this to lose. If they launch the PS4 around about the same time as the Xbox 720, the latter surrounded by what appears to be highly anti-consumer measures, they have to be onto a winner. This single news story will contribute to who comes out on top next gen. That might sound like hyperbole but – if Edge’s sources check out – Microsoft might have played a card they probably wanted to keep up their sleeves a little longer, but it’s still a rotten card.
xdarkmagician
Its either going to happen for both MS and Sony or it won’t happen for either. Its no big secret Sony is considering locking game disc too, they’re just hoping to make money from their patent. Personally, I think that because console makers cant create and sell the hardware for a profit, at least not any time soon from launch, they feel they’re losing too much money from rentals and used games licensing fees that DRM is happening on both systems.
They could just add 3G to the consoles to dial up a verify code, or something. Sony has proven that manufacturers are trying to bypass the internet requirements for DRM.
I’m sure they’ll sell new codes for used games, but those fees will be on top of the online passes, together they’ll make it worthless to trade in a game.
Out of all the uncertainty one thing is clear, console manufacturers will blame the publishers and publishers will blame the used game market (which they consider piracy) for DRM. The future of gaming is in-game microtransactions and DRM along with after purchase updates to fix everything else that launches broken, because after they milk us of our money shipping a product that works on day 1 is too much of an inconvenience.
TSBonyman
They got away with Kinect didn’t they :/
CR8ZYH0RSE
Yeah Gamestop are closing down 500 locations according to the examiner.Sad times when crap like this interferes with something you enjoy/love.Sony and Microsoft either has a go between or these rumours are bollox,how does the same rumour come out from both camps at about the same time?Probably me just being paranoid and cynical.
ron_mcphatty
Great article, the more I read about it the more I wonder whether Microsoft or indeed Sony would be daft enough to do it. One thing that bothers me about it is the consoles legacy, once the DRM servers are inevitably turned off for cost reasons, in say ten years time, then the machines become worthless bricks. The company loses face and the player has nothing left to show for years of pleasure, that can’t be good. God bless DRM-free retro!
DirtyHabit
An odd article. you seem to spend the whole time disproving your own headline.
I personally don’t think ‘always on’ Is feasable yet, the internet in the UK can be bad enough, I’m sure its similar in other countries. Also as you say only an 80% connection rate. I seriously don’t think they are going to alienate 15-20% of their market before they’ve even started. Plus the PSN and XBL drop outs are still too frequent. Imagine XBL going down for a week or even an hour or two with the sueing culture in America.
If there is to be such DRM then surely this would be publisher driven, they are not going to allow one rule for one sytem and one for the other.
Bilbo_bobbins
Its very simple in my eyes. If Microsoft do this, I want even think about buying it. I will look at Steam and the PS4. If the PS4 has it, I wont buy that either, even after buying all the others and loving the Sony console/games through the years.
The companies will be shooting themselves in the foot if this happens.
the_furious_man
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but wasn’t there a European law passed recently that said there has to be a provision for games to be sold second hand?
The Von Braun
@Lewis-You did indeed read that PS2/Missile story.
Trade ministry of Japan imposed ban on countries like North Korea importing PS2’s as few months earlier to PS2’s launch, South Korea had sunk a North Korean sub and when they shifted through the wreck, found consumer electronics, similar to the technology used in PS2, had been moddified to handle the telemetry calculations (the missile’s on board camera sending back positioning data which operators then adjusted to alter it’s course etc).
By time press got hold of story:OMG they will use PS2’s power to process Nuclear material to make it weapons grade and build a bomb! We’re doomed! PS2 has 10X the power of Skynet etc etc.
But your spot on with your look at each generation until recent, i was exactly the same.Bought my ST after seeing Dungeon Master and Star Glider 2, my Mega Drive after seeing Revenge Of Shinobi and Strider, my Jaguar after seeing AVP, Playstation after seeing Toh Shin Den and Dreamcast after seeing HOTD2.
The leap in terms of delivering better looking games was enough each time to get instant purchase.
Now, i’m at the point of zero interest, wonder just how little improvement i’m going to see from both PS4 and new Xbox., think if anything they’ll deliver games of a visual standard that this generation claimed, ie 1080P at 60 FPS with decent amount of A.A.
hol
I still don’t really see the issue, pc games have been using the very same drm for years now, sure piracy is a major issue but Steam & Origin still exist.
The Lone Steven
Sony will have to take a major risk with not implenting DRM as certain publishers may drop all support, but at the same time, they would dominate the console market due to MS putting gamers off their machine and the Wii U seems to be struggling to get people to buy it. Chances are they will do what MS will do and implent that shite DRM to please the publishers. :( The publishers will then wonder why sales of their games are down after a year or two due to people being unable to trade in last year’s game or games that they no longer wish to keep in order to get the funds, thus the entire industry suffers. Or EA bumps up the price and starts selling it’s games in small parts at full price.