So, the PS4 is out of the bag then. Don’t worry, there’s still months of speculation and rumours ahead of us. It’ll probably be shortly after the console’s release that we know absolutely everything about it. But Sony’s Worldwide Studios boss, Shuhei Yoshida, has told Eurogamer that the new machine won’t be blocking used games.
In an interview with Tom Bramwell, he initially stumbled over the question, trying to remember the company’s official stance and taking advice from his PR man in the room. But Yoshida swept that aside to say “so, used games can play on PS4. How is that?”
Sounds good to us, Shuhei.
So, after plenty of rumours to the contrary – and a mental patent application that talked about chips in discs that would bind the content to the first console it plays on – Yoshida killed it all with a single, gentle sentence that stood atop all the PR rubbish and spoke directly to gamers. Quite aside from the good news about pre-owned, that’s a hugely encouraging sign for how Sony might lead the run in to their new console with a lot more openness than they’ve shown previously. We’d all like that.
Source: Eurogamer
anthro
Blimey. If MS stick to their plans to block used games, they’re in the shit now.
cc_star
Rumours, rather than plans.
Personally I think it will be an anti-piracy measure given how blown open the Xbox 360 is.
Although, we don’t know yet. Will be a huge mistake imo… The trading of games allows many people to buy new ones.
anthro
Sorry, you have a point – just rumours for now.
I would tend to agree with your comment about encouraging people to buy new titles, but there are a lot of people out there who survive exclusively on pre-owned. It’s a bit of a shame for the devs, but I’d tend more towards restricting content on pre-owned titles which can be unlocked, as we’ve seen already.
SH Number 7/Mini-Lipscombe
I am one person who trades in most they’re used games to be able to afford a new title, a lot of people do this and it would cause a massive blow against new titles if they were to. I think the biggest hit would be against new IPs though as people won’t want to take the risk on a new game if they can’t return or trade it in.
anthro
I’m not so sure that people would be put off – the online-only indy titles that have been released in recent months have sold like hot cakes. Admittedly they are cheaper, but it indicates that people are willing to buy new when the product is good.
cc_star
Devs problem isn’t really that people are reselling something they’ve purchased, it’s more the overly aggressive method of promoting preowned by retailers.
As an example, I could be trading a game I no longer play & using the money to subsidise a brand new game, but when I get to the till, the retailer offers me a preowned copy despite me already making my mind up to buy new.
But being clear, I’d hardly buy new games at all if I couldn’t trade my used ones, but then again I don’t trade to buy preowned though, whereas some people obviously do, assisted by aggressive retailing..
anthro
Not to mention that pre-owned titles will invariably be available very early after launch, and will be priced by the game shops at about £2 below the full-price game. Poor show.
Jumping Monks
Sweet. Sony would do well to be more open with gamers, following Nintendo’s Direct type presentations is surely a good way to go, as we saw with the Vita the other day. More of those please. (I get that they are a bit different to the content here, but y’know…)
cc_star
Yeah, talking to people not just presenting them with stuff a couple of times a year is incredibly important.
BrendanCalls
Very good news, but I still suspect there’s more to come on this subject. Maybe I’m just a cynical bugger though
DJ Judas
Awesome news. Highly unlikely, but I wonder if this is why EA didn’t show anything?
cc_star
It would have taken a lot of doing to get something ready to be shown off & not look disappointing, especially as all the lighting, particles, effects and other bells & whistles that make something look next-gen would be very far from ready.
Whereas it was in Sony’s interests to get KZ4, Knack & Drive Club shown off, there isn’t the same incentive for a 3rd party to crunch for someone else’s deadline.
They also wouldn’t have wanted Bf4 being a footnote at someone else’s press event – and who knows maybe they could show something at Microsoft’s event rumoured to be in 6-8 weeks?
LTG Davey
So far so good. Thats “will it play pre owned games?” scratched off my list, just need confirmation on DRM and pricing now.
LTG Davey
And Eurogamer appear to have confirmed there will be no DRM. Happy days :)
ron_mcphatty
Yay! This is good news and its obviously not as big a deal as some of those analysts seem to imply. Great news.
LTG Davey
It wouldn’t surprise me if you have to “activate” your games by taking the console online but, providing I don’t need a constant internet connection to play my offline games, I’ll be happy.
The Lone Steven
If MS block preowned games, they will have a very hard time trying to sell the Xbox 3 as people will just get a PS4. I am glad that Sony decided not to give the middle finger to those who buy preowned by blocking them and hopefully, not making us jump through loops.
Takyu
You would have thought that this would have been a big thing to announce at the conference last night?
hazelam
well good, that was the big question over the PS4 in my mind.
i guess i’ll definitely be getting one, just a case of when i can afford it.
Porcupine_I
*cough* for a fee *cough* he added..
Awayze
Nobody’s going to block preowned games!
cc_star
I can’t see it either.
If Xbox does something it will be anti-piracy not anti-preowned.