The war against pre-owned sales continues with news that upcoming shooter ‘Homefront’ will be bundled with a single use THQ Online Pass. Anyone who purchases the game second hand can pick up an additional Online Pass for $10.
However, if you do buy a pre-owned copy of the game you will be able to play online but you will not be able to progress past a level cap of 5. Those with a pass will be able to level up to a maximum of 75, so will have a great advantage over capped players.
This is the second time we have seen level capping as an incentive. Recently Zipper’s M.A.G. was given away free to U.S. PS+ subscribers but was capped in a similar manner – if you wanted to level up you had to pay for the full product.
Source: ShackNews
Jim H [Teabags]
This is pretty clever IMO. Homefront is one of those games which looks interesting, though it will probably be a rental for me. If I start to love the online mode, then I would happily go out and buy the full game. However, with games like Medal of Honor, you have to pay the toll without knowing what your buying into.
mrfodder
Don’t EA games have a 7 day trial?
cc_star
No, EA’s pass is a 48 hour trial… think everyone except Activision does an online pass, who have said they’re not interested in doing it.
Rocket_345
Some passes are 7 days. Just redeemed my FIFA pass only an hour ago and you could take a 7 day free trial.
a inferior race
I don’t think MS are doing it, but then again they can’t really as that coupled with XBL Gold could be a tough sell.
hazelam
can’t say i was interested before, but if i was this would have killed any interest stone dead right there.
maybe i’ll pick it up preowned one day when it’s a fraction of the new price, and probably never even play it, of course that will still support the developers a little by supporting the stores that sell their games for below rrp, of course the publisher is too stupid or greedy to realise that, no wait, not stupid, shortsighted, that would be more accurate.
iAvernus
It looks a good game tbh. I don’t buy used games all that much, so this doesn’t really affect me.
icuyesido
I’ve never wanted/needed to buy a game with an online pass yet, I’ll be getting this new so it still doesn’t effect me. I still don’t like the idea of an online pass, if it’s a game I want to play but I’m not that bothered about it I wont get it.
lukieboy1981
I have said it before and will say it again; I hate the use of these things!!