Why the PlayStation 4 Won't Block Used Games

Push Square: "Sony likes to patent a lot of things. The manufacturer is so trigger-happy with its technology registrations that we could probably dedicate the entirety of our editorial output to the innumerable crazy ideas that the company has. The reason that we don’t is because ideas aren’t nearly as interesting as final products, and a lot of time patents amount to little more than wasted paper and bad diagrams. It’s for that reason that you probably shouldn’t worry too much about today’s anti-used games filing."

[PopRocks359]

Not to be a stooge, but why make the patent in the first place?

[smashcrashbash]

The same reason why they patent anything.If it comes down to this they have first dibs. That doesn't necessarily mean it will be implemented any time soon. It's just an idea and not necessarily set in stone

[PopRocks359]

I see what you mean, but I'm confused as to why Sony would want to have "first dibs" on something of this nature. Unless it's their way of protecting the used game market from anyone ever trying to do this? I don't know, it doesn't make much sense to me.

[Zuperman]

Why can't they just make it simple........

LET US PLAY GAMES.

[sikbeta]

@PopRocks359

They patent loads of stuff for no real use, at some point it'll reach patent-trolling status, they have a tablet controller, kind of like the Wii-U XP and the other crazy s#*t was in-game-advertising "*best brand soda*" lol

O-T

They'll not do it simply because it'll be Suicide, no one would buy a console that doesn't let you buy/sell used games when there are other alternatives...

[SilentNegotiator]

1) Patent trolling/licensing
2) In case everyone else starts doing it
3) More patent trolling

[get2sammyb]

It's to protect the idea. Just because they've registered it, doesn't mean it has to be implemented. A similar patent was actually registered for the PS3, too.

[sikbeta]

In theory, you patent an idea to implement it or with the purpose of doing it, IF not, what you're doing is called patent-trolling, like some companies do to take advantage of others that can create a product/service based on that idea, just to get cash from them without doing much

[boybato]

yeah.. hopefully no one adopts this silly idea...

[BitbyDeath]

Some say if you don't make a patent at least once every 3 months then Apple will come out and sue you.

[prototypeknuckles]

so true, correct me if im wrong but, didnt they patent a controller that looks like the playstation controller not to long ago?

[Thatguy-310]

It's either this Gen or never. Little by little everything will be digital or saved to a cloud service. So I think it will be this Gen. However, they could use it to block certain features from the game period. Or it could be just to block exclusive titles that it publishes.

[jon1234]

you shouldnt be confused, its all very simple, and it should make perfect sense as to why sony or any company does anything, and that is for MONEY!!

[rainslacker]

There could be any number of reasons.

1. They see that some hardware manufacturer may wish to implement this. May not be for consoles, but any number of consumer devices with related media, so now they have a money making patent.

2. To block the idea from ever being used in another device.

3. To not have to print up those online pass cards for inclusion into retail products, which can be lost or stolen, thus causing customer service issues or returned merchandise which they now have to credit the distributor for. They've already removed instruction manuals in PSV games, so those extra cents for those cards can add up. This is a very feasible use of the system, and doesn't necessarily lock out the game for resale. Cross-buy is already using something like this.

4. They patent stuff which may have some use just because. Sony owns thousands of patents, and a lot of them go unused.

5. They actually do want to lock out the used game market on their next system, or any number of other devices they intend to make through Sony itself, or any number of it's subsidiary companies.

So far people are jumping the gun on this patent, and making assumptions that are based on nothing but speculation. As of yet, Sony has done nothing to warrant the hate it's getting over this.

[jujubee88]

Sony has hired all these engineers over at SCEJ, it kinda has become like that saying "An Infinite number of monkeys can type Shakespeare."

'Cept SCEJ have come up with crappy stuff as well. Like this blocking used games thingy.

[Anon1974]

They've had patents for this type of tech since 2000. I pointed this out before, the exact same conversation was had in 2006 when Sony patented a similar system that would allow games to be signed on one console and one console only. People were losing their minds because they assumed the tech would wind up inside the PS3. It didn't, and it won't this time.

http://articles.latimes.com...

Looking back I see Kotaku was all over this, claiming you're not actually going to own PS3 games you buy.

http://kotaku.com/176131/no...

[MultiConsoleGamer]

It wont block old content, it will just sell it back to you for a monthly fee.

[Brian1rr]

Maybe they'll just do what they did with the vita and only block trophies

[maniacmayhem]

This was a heated topic a while back when rumors of the Next Xbox and PS4 where said to have either digital only or some kind of tech that didn't allow 2 hand games played.

Funny that this has come up again.

2nd hand games have done nothing to the industry in any way to suggest that it hurt devs or publishers. All it comes down to is these big companies wanting to squeeze every bit they can out of the consumer.

If gamestop and other places are such a threat as some of these big wigs claim then go all digital.

[vega275]

actually this was a heated conversation back when it was leaked that sony was thinking of doing it in 2006. i think the only reason they never went forward with the idea was because it generated such backlash and the idea was just shelved until a later date. which maybe now with these new systems from MS and sony.

As you said these corporations are just looking at the bottom line and seeing just how much money they can keep squeezing out of gamers by claiming how much it's hurting the industry so they can gain enough support to push this idea and gamers would understand and support it. but really the publisher are the real cause of the problem.

i see this ending 2 ways which isn't good. 1)sony looking to be patient trolls. hoping to get paid if another company tries to use it much like what apple does, or 2)sony actually does follow through on this later on down the road and many other companies take note and start following suit because sony was sucessful at doing it.

either way it won't be good for us gamers and the only reason it's not happening now is because gamestop and many other retail outlets still hold some power over selling these items if they feel they will be cut out and may choose not to sell these products. which would hurt these companies since both depend on one another to make money.

[EddieNX]

This would be suicide for Sony. Surely they won't do it.

The second hand game industry is worth billions. And it's those billions which keep the roundabout swinging for Sony. I know tons of people who ONLY buy pre owned games , obviously because they're cheaper.

It seems like a horrible Selfish and quite frankly disasterous thing to do.

[TronEOL]

The used game industry being a billion dollar industry is exactly why Sony and others want a piece. It's money being made off their games. And all those potential buyers are buying used when they COULD be buying new and making publishers some money, who can then go on to fund more risky ventures.

People need to take their heads out of their asses. Games are expensive to make. That's an absolute fact. And just because they make their money back doesn't mean it was worth it. They need to make their money back and then some.

I'm betting if developers/publishers made a piece of used game sales, we wouldn't be having this problem and we would have seen far less studios close down this generation.

Because most games that sell "badly" probably have sold quite well used.

[Trago1337]

We need used copies of games, because blocking them will prevent them from lasting at all.
think about it.

I have an old copy of Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions. I bought the game at a trade store a while ago, and play it on my ps3 often. Now being as i literally have no other way of legally obtaining the game,because it's not available digitally, and new copies aren't being printed anymore, i had no other choice but to get it used.

Now, Let's fast forward about 5-7 years when this next generation ends and the ps5 comes out. Let's say there's a ps4 game that isn't available digitally that i've always wanted to play, but never got around to playing, if i get it used, How the hell am i gonna play it if used games are blocked? we'll end up having a TON of games ending up being LOST, because the used copies of the disks are utterly useless.

i truly hope that Sony doesn't go down this road, because this will Cripple the longevity of these games as we know it.

[Conzul]

I highly doubt Sony will use this tech in the PS4.

....but if they do, I'll just go to PC. After much crying and swearing and hissy-fits.

[Zhipp]

I decided to go PC when I discovered that indie games, most of which are available on PC, kick the shit out of anything these AAA studios come up with.

OT: Sony would have to be pretty desperate to actually implement something so self-destructive. I'm just going to assume that this is just a knee-jerk reaction to slowing videogame sales.

[Thatguy-310]

Go for it

[TronEOL]

So you'd go from Sony/Microsoft not allowing you to resell/buy used games to Steam/Origin not allowing you to resell/buy used games? Did everyone forget PC has been doing this for ages now?

Oh, not to mention to buy a game used (PC) and trying to buy a CD-Key usually has you spending FULL PRICE on the game. So you'd be paying whatever they sell it for used, then whatever the price is to buy a CD-Key.

[Conzul]

I wouldn't use steam or origin, I'd shop off the shelf like I always do.

It's more about the principle of the thing that would drive me off.

[Griffin4871]

You guys have nothing to worry about. Sony won't implement this patent because they absolutely positively do NOT make terrible decisions....

[FarCryLover182]

I don't see how this can happen, because then it would mean that everyone who buys games and consoles MUST have internet. There are some people who do buy games and are not connected online. I just don't see them doing this.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

While I too doubt this will come to be I do find it funny that this site just dismisses the idea based on "their" perceived difficulty implementing such a process. The process described could certainly be put in place if you look beyond the obvious blocks they described.

Broken consoles are hardly a hurdle. Games registered to the broken console could easily be transfered to the new system and locked out from the old broken system. Retail stores selling used games are less of an issue given Sony already is pushing harder and harder for digital releases day and date now. .. and with the purchase of Gaikai its clear Sony wants to embrace an all digital future or did they already forgetful about the pspgo?

[blackblades]

I kinda want them to go through with it.

[GamerzElite]

They are not blocking used game. Idea is once a game is registered on 1 console or account and if you want to use that copy in another console then they will ask you some money to reactivate your game for your new account or console.

[taijutsu363]

Because then half the people who have PS3s would not buy the PS4s and those consumers would then turn to the Xboxs 720? Maybe thats why?!

[BioDead]

The real problem is game shops!!! They should pay some fee/license to game developers for selling their art!
If I would be game shop I would cladly pay for developers something since without them I wouldnt be able to even sell anything. (Like some solid fee for each sold used game).
So the problem shouldnt be targeting to consumers - it should be targeting to sellers!!!

Everyone should have right to resell they unwanted items in a way that they are useable to second user. Why in the hell they want to milk all the money out of everyone? Isnt it enough when original buyer pays like 60-70 €/$/£ for a video game?!?!

I would TOTALLY understand this if they want to make SOME SORT OF little payment like a activation code/license which would be like 1-3 €/$/£. That wouldnt be bad, but making second user to pay full game price or even close to that is out of the question.

So long story short: They have two options.

1. Make little activation fee for used games (a really small fee!!)
2. Attack to game shops to make them pay for selling their piece of work. (That would be much better if you think the how unfair this situatin actually is.)

[Canary]

The only real argument against it is, "Surely, Sony can't be -that- stupid?"

...A question that has been asked countless times in the past 6 years or so, despite the fact that the answer is almost always "yes, they can."

[lfclee]

No they won't ! If they do there greedy!

[UnholyLight]

Id say for once Pachter seems to be dead on most likely with his statement.