In the past, most PSN purchases have been accessible to all users on the console, and in some cases even being able to be shared (regardless of the legal ramifications, it’s technically possible) – but this latest trick goes one step further.
Basically, if you buy the DLC (which features a new track, amongst other items) it’s tied down to the account used to make the purchase.
No sub account will be able to use it, so that locks out your kids, housemates etc. not to mention some people, including myself, make all purchases with a different account than they use to play online, for a number of reasons.
This isn’t a mistake – it’s mentioned right here on the Gran Turismo site. “The DLC released on October 18th is tied to the Account ID used to purchase the DLC. It is not possible to use the DLC with accounts other than the one that was used to make the actual purchase.”
“Therefore,” it continues, “please make sure to purchase the DLC with the account that is used to play Gran Turismo 5.”
Understandably, this hasn’t gone down very well with consumers caught out by the strange limitations, with GTPlanet.net setting up a petition and gaming forum NeoGAF users are also up in arms.
It doesn’t seem necessary and it certainly doesn’t seem fair. Polyphony, Sony, we urge you to rethink this rather draconian decision.
Via GamingBolt.
Tuffcub
Well if people did not game share we wouldnt need this. They do, so blame them, not Sony.
AG2297
Almost makes you wonder why Sony thought it was a good idea to encourage people to game share in the first place. To clrify what I mean, I’m referring to the way in which they advertised it as one of their plus points in the early days (see the quotes from Jack Tretton here) and then changed their minds and denied they ever said it was allowed.
I can understand them changing the T&C’s about it, but I don’t like being punished now for sharing my account with Warhawk with my mates when I first bought the console when at the time they were fine about it. Id love it if they could give me an activation or two back.
jikomanzoku
Wow, how times have change eh? that Tretton article was an interesting read – Cheers AG :)
With the benefit of hindsight it now reads as – “we wanna get our hooks in to as many fish as possible” to me.
jikomanzoku
Surely it’s easy enough to track unusual account activity (ie: content being downloaded to 3 or 4 different locations – just as a rough debate point) and take direct action against those individuals, via ban hammering on the other accounts present at those locations?
I could be missing something as I’m the first to admit I am not really technically minded. But if I’m not that would seem a far more evenhanded approach than punishing the vast majority. The real reason (should my assumption about the technical feasibility by right) is that it would require more effort, so they can’t be bothered.
jikomanzoku
I apologise in advance if that’s really dumb, like I say – not technically minded, though I am eternally grateful to elves for making the engine of my car work.
Kaminari
Another pathetic attempt by Sony to lock out Europe out of the UK PSN.
Except this one is illegal and will not last long.
colmshan1990
Um…
What do you mean?
I think this applies worldwide, not just in the UK, at least until the next big patch when they get rid of the lockdown anyway.
jikomanzoku
Strikes me as somewhat akin to my buying “My neighbour Totoro” on DVD, a film I love – and then having to buy a 2nd copy for my son to watch.