Sony has confirmed what we were all assuming – they’re bringing out a network pass program called PSN Pass. You’ll remember we brought you news about this brand new service yesterday evening – although at that stage it was mostly guess work on our half.
We were half right.
[drop2]It looks like PSN Pass is per game, and thus works like similar services from EA and other publishers – games will come with a code you enter to unlock multiplayer modes, meaning second hand copies will require a seperate purchase to activate such features.“We are always evaluating new programs for our online offering, and starting with Resistance 3 this September, we will be instituting a network pass program for PS3 games with online capabilities,” say Sony.
“This program will be game-specific. Games that are a part of this program will include a single-use registration code that grants the account holder redeeming the code full online access for that title. This is an important initiative as it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio.”
Resistance 3 is the first game to official go under the PSN Pass moniker, although obviously it’s hardly the first game from the publisher that needs a code to use certain features of a game – some PSP games like ModNation Racers had this last year.
So, go on – what do you think? Is this a serious knock to the second hand market?
Crocadillian
I think that developers need to look into other ways to support online costs, because this may put people off buing the game at all, reducing the market they have for future sequels or DLC, which is also important. I think PSN Pass should have been like Playstation Plus, or Call of Duty Elite, because at least with these services there is added value.
Bilbo_bobbins
Its never bothered the games market before, so what is the difference now?
scavenga
I see your point – but any which way, I won’t play online, and rather save the code as I currently benefit from doing so.
scavenga
Sorry, this was meant as a reply on page one… :P
R4U Eldave0
Given I buy most games new these days this doesn’t bother me really. Too many decent developers have had to shut up shop recently and its safe to say the pre-owned market (and rentals for that matter) are certainly contributing factors.
esir
Name a few please.
VBRAIN
I’m not so bothered about the impact on buying used games as I always prefer to get my games new… something about taking the shrink wrap off myself that I just enjoy.
What I DO dislike about this is that this effectively makes the PS3 no longer region free for games with online components. I discovered this the hard way last year when I bought a couple of games new in the US (Madden and MLB The Show) which had online codes to activate content (online play and other features in the case of Madden and a pre-order bonus in the case of MLB). Unfortunately these codes only work in the country where the games were purchased.
I have a US account too, but I game on my Spanish account and although I’m not a trophy whore I find it annoying to split my trophies between the two accounts. For those who do not have US accounts this would be even more of a problem.
Lewis Murray
I’m guessing the only people that dislike this are:
1) idiots that can’t see that by starving developers of money, we will end up with crappy (or no) games.
2) Game/Gamesstation/CEX employees.
VBRAIN
Read my above reply. I fit in neither category.
Kev
To me this seems a fair way of addressing the inherent probolems with the second hand market for developers and publishers, especially for online titles like COD where they have to provide the investment in servers etc for people who haven’t contributed toward the costs.
Will this also extend to DLC? If not, it needs to.
Darknezz7
“Games that are a part of this program will include a single-use registration code that grants the account holder redeeming the code full online access for that title.”
Does this mean you can only play the game on one account and not on all accounts on your ps3?
Dazbobaby
There is a simple solution to all this…
Offer PS3 owners the option to rent ranked dedicated game servers.
The PC has is, why not consoles?
I know I’d rent Bad Company 1+2 and BF 3 for the PS3 if I had the option, and there’s quite a few other people I know that would do the same.
That way devs/publishers wont have to worry about server costs and their precious “premium” content, which is exactly what they’re bothered about. All they’d need is a centralised stat server.
Sweetums
Say a pass costs £10 to allow me to use the online service if I purchase the game second hand, sounds fair enough as I would be using a service/resource that I haven’t paid the developers for! BUT here’s my issue with this: I don’t have broadband at home, so can I buy a new copy of the game for £10 less than the standard price as I will not be using the online service that the developers are providing? I doubt it very much!!