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.
LTG Davey
With all these rumours flying around I’m tempted to get myself a decent gaming PC and just stick with that. Well, that and my Wii-U of course, which can be used for multiplayer and exclusives :-)
The Von Braun
It’s going to happen, in some form, sooner or later.PC had it via DRM etc, this gen.we’ve seen online passes and as soon as 1 does it as far as consoles go? everyone else will follow suit.
Exploits will be found, just as they have been on PS3 this generation and cycle continues.
A few weeks back, media made Sony out as the creeping evil over a Patent the Japanese arm put in for and forum users screamed screw you Sony, i’m buying the new Xbox.Now Edge comes up with this claim, it’s screw you MS i’m buying a PS4 (not on here but seen it online and hear these comments from friends).
People seem to be basing next purchases based on mere rumours and speculation.We have NO idea when consoles will launch, for how much, what games they’ll launch with and again for how much etc.
All these ‘won’t play used games’ rumours started before PS3 launched and look where we are years later, lot of panic and anger yet again.
blast71
Never been happier about my backlog of games, means i’ll be sticking to my ps3 for the long-run if this comes to fruition. Fuck the next-gen. (of course, all these rumours might be bollox. in that case “YAY Next-gen”;p)
VINDICARE UK
Pre Owned games are bad for the industry, the developers deserve to get paid and receive the rewards for their hardwork.
It would be like TSA losing members and page views to an existing member just passing the information he or she has read on to another potential member. I’m sure TSA would rather have all potential members / readers view the site directly and enjoy / comment on the staffs hardwork and reporting. If another website took the exact same content and passed it on to other readers i’m sure you would kick up a fuss (as has been done in the past) too. It is all about the money and recognition going to those who deserve it – the people who created the product!
Loads of people moaing about how they have the right to get their games cheaper and pre-owned if they wish. Well the developers have the right to moan about loses and to protect their products and profits so they can go on to make great games. Would be interesting to see if THQ would still be afloat if all copies of their games were bought new. We enjoy the hobby and if we all bought new then we can support those that provide the hobby to us. If the pre-owned market wasn’t there then there’s a good chance new games would be cheaper anyway.
DRM the shiz out of both consoles next gen! Make sure those who put in the hard work get the rewards they deserve. If some consumers cannot afford it then they should pick a new hobby they can afford. All I read and hear about are selfish gits thinking about playing a game as cheaply as possible and moaning when its creators lose money (that could be invested in future content). Have some pride in supporting your hobby – not trying to milk it thinking you have the right to deny developers profits so you can save a few quid.
Kaminari
That has to be the dumbest argument I’ve ever read here.
Second hand market (the resale of used products) is a fundamental right of commercial law in most capitalist countries, and it works perfectly fine for all business activities, from books to cars. The only ones complaining and thinking they can get away with the law are always the same assholes: game publishers and entertainment majors.
I’ll quote the European judgement here:
“Where the copyright holder makes available to his customer a copy — intangible or tangible — and at the same time concludes, in return form payment of a fee, a license agreement granting the customer the right to use that copy for an unlimited period, that rightholder sells the copy to the customer and thus exhausts his exclusive distribution right. Such a transaction involves a transfer of the right of ownership of the copy. Therefore, even if the license agreement prohibits a further transfer, the rightholder can no longer oppose the resale of that copy.”
A used item doesn’t pop out of nowhere: it was a new item before, that was legitimately sold at retail price. Developers are *already* paid when they sell a new product. They’re not a charitable operation which should deserve getting more money every time one of their products gets resold.
VINDICARE UK
I said nothing about it being made illegal. My desire to see a products creator / inventor reap the rewards and benefits for their work far outweighs my own gain.
As much as people complain they would soon change their mind if they were in the same boat having to protect their weekly bread money.
Still – when no developer has the guts to make another AAA title through fear of not hitting sales targets or piracy we can at least rest assured our “rights” were never taken hey.
Bring on the DRM (in my dumb opinion).
Kaminari
At the end of the day, all of this is moot. Microsoft (or Sony for that matter) would put themselves in an illegal situation by enforcing a restriction on second hand games, either physical or digital. Remember that European judgement a few months ago?
http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-07/cp120094en.pdf
Fruitbat1919
Second-hand games do not bother me personally, due to buying retail games when they are cheap. I do however wonder if the abolition of the second-hand market may have impact on retail. I class retail as all disc based outlets. I buy mainly from Amazon and supermarkets, as they seem to reduce the prices quicker. I hope whatever happens, I am able to still buy games at around £20 for titles around six months old.
I have a PS Vita and it is the first device, that I have bought downloadable content on. Games are available under my magic £20 mark, but AAA titles take an age to be reduced on appear on sales. I used PS+ for a while, but now have no more room to store downloadable games, so back to retail buys.
I rarely sell games anymore, but I can see why many enjoy trading in played games. I believe they are then able to fund more immediate full priced purchases. How many of us take a risk on a game at £50 or so? How many would risk it if they could never sell it on later? This may not affect the large market sellers such as COD, but the smaller many smaller games that are still lovingly crafted, may struggle to sell unless their are other ways created for people to acquire them at a more reasonable price.
I can see that development costs for AAA games has risen. The need for top voice actors, high end equipment for motion capture, lots of graphic artists etc, but many parts of the world are in recession and gamers budgets are shrinking. Hence the rise in popularity of cheap ios ‘instant fix’ gaming, or the rate of cheap Wii’s sold (with the granny buyer only getting 3-4 games).
The above I believe indicates that what people desire today above all else, is value for money. So to the point…..which one of the above suggestions will help the buyer feel they have ‘value for money’? Hmmm