How Microsoft’s “No Second-Hand Games” System Gives Sony The Upper Hand

Alex C.: ''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.''

[Erimgard]

Sony filed a patent for the exact same thing though...

[GalacticEmpire]

The question you need to ask is, which company is more likely to actually follow through with it?

[Erimgard]

If they have any sense, neither will.

[Shadow Flare]

Jack Tretton has already said "I'm totally opposed to blocking used games"

http://n4g.com/news/1168888...

So if Microsoft go through with this......things could get interesting

You know, lest we forget, we're talking about 2 completely different companies here.

One company offers online gaming for free, and their subscription model gives you free games. And the other company makes you pay to play online content which you've already paid for with the game purchase.

[Erimgard]

True, but Jack Tretton is just the head of Sony's America division. He doesn't get to make the calls. That falls on the shoulders of Kaz Harai.

[aquamala]

Only makes sense if they both do it

[Shadow Flare]

True but I think Sony has shown with the online pass scheme that they're happy for used games to exist

The point of the online pass was so that Sony actually made some money from used games. Because that was their big issue with used games. They make no money from them whatsoever. It's purely profit for retailers. But the online pass scheme helps amend that and it actually supports the existence of used games in the future.

Online passes will likely carry on into the ps4 life cycle, Sony make some money from used games, Sony keeps its good relationship with retailers, and the customers can keep their used games. It's win win. Because of the existence of online passes now, there's really little reason to block used game sales

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

And one puts online passes on its exclusives and the other doesn't. What's your point Shadow Flare? SONY took out a patent for it.

[Temporary]

I hope microsoft go through with this. So gamers can finally see them for the plague they are on the gaming community. First with their LIVE Scam, now with this.

[ThanatosDMC]

Well, Sony's also the company that's not charging gamers to play online.

[XB1_PS4]

@ThanatosDMC Tell that to my used games.

[omi25p]

Shadow flare

Yeah and the other company closes a studio after one failed game that the publisher failed to advertise.

[ArmrdChaos]

Funny...last time checked the stock market BOTH were publicly held corporations. Unless Jack Trenton personally took on Sony's debt then It would be safe to say the board still has control as to what company ultimately does and doesn't do. Bottom line is that as usual corporate cheerleaders are jumping on rumors and speculation. It's a waste of time and thread space until the facts have been announced. I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from another opinion article.

[badz149]

the thing that the 720 will completely block used games is still just a rumor, right?

so, what's the point of jumping our guns over this when things haven't even materialized yet?

[TheGamerDood]

A preview of what will go down on the 20th and throughout this gen.

http://i.imgur.com/XGRrpqQ....

[DeadlyFire]

When I buy a game its for all users in my house. This digital lock to certain accounts I believe to just be PSN/XBL purchases of digital content.

[MostJadedGamer]

Here's whats going to happen. Either both will do it or neither will do it. So if Sony decides not to do it then MS will also back off, and not do it.

Neither one is going to give the other such a massive advantage. Either both will do it or neither will do it.

[I_am_Batman]

I disagree. You could've said the same thing about free online play vs. pay for online play model. Microsoft takes money for online play and gets away with it. Maybe they can get away with blocking used games too.

[Thatguy-310]

If one is going into it I'm pretty sure the other will too. Let's not forget Microsoft will be using blue ray too.

[fr0sty]

Did we really need an article to explain how such a thing would be an advantage for Sony? Kinda stating the obvious.

As for the Sony patent, they also had a similar patent when PS3 launched that never saw the light of day. Patents mean nothing.

[LackTrue4K]

that patent, will probably only be forced on stores "cough cough Gamestop cough"
not on an individuals, so we are still free to share are games.

[greenpowerz]

Loving the logical and honest comments. The only way consumers would ever support not being able to buy used games is if the industry dropped the price of games by a great deal. Even then it would destroy a company's rep and hurt the industry long before consumers would adopt cheaper games but no used games model.

You can buy a used old games for $20. No one is going to buy old games for $60 to $70(next gen?). Only a wishful fanboy would run around screaming doom to one console or the other believing a company would do this.

The only way a company could block used games is if they lowered the price of games and or games prices were set by the industry lowing at a set pace with time.

EDIT

LOL a disagree

No one would be interested in a Launch title after owning a console for 6 years and pay full price for it LOL

No one finds it odd an explosion of pro Sony propaganda is coming out and false anti MSFT news in response to exciting MSFT news originally?(leaked 720 docs/specs etc)

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Erimggard Exactly, The writers eerie speculation suggest MS would be in serious trouble over this inevitable rumor, The other company would be just as screwed also. We all new this rumor would hit MS sooner or later. The whole point of this guys argument is a double edge sword.

How Sony's “No Second-Hand Games” System Gives Microsoft The Upper Hand.

You see, it go either way, and wouldn't do any console gamer any good. Blocking used games is extremely ridiculous for both Sony and MS. so whats the point of this article again? Seeing how this a interchangeable Opinion Piece?

[ziggurcat]

"Sony filed a patent for the exact same thing though..."

sony also filed a patent for the exact same thing before the PS3 launched, and last i checked we can still play second-hand/rented games on our PS3s.

the reality about patents is that most of them don't even see the light of day.

i doubt that MS or sony would implement anything to block second-hand games, and until we get confirmation from the actual source (and not some hack of a gaming "journalist"), everyone's panties should stay un-bunched.

[NYC_Gamer]

It's rumored that both PS4&720 will block used games

[Knight_Crawler]

If true then Nintendo here I come.

But in all honesty you will still have people that will gobble this up and buy a PS4 or 720 regardless...people are starved out for the Halo 5 and Uncharted 4.

People said the same thing about DLC that if it ever became the norm they will stop buying consoles and they said the same thing about online passes...people talk smack now but if MS and SONY both announce that they will be blocking used games the sheep will still buy come launch.

[tachy0n]

nintendo would probably do the same since probably developers are asking for this anti-used games system.

PC gaming will raise even more since nothing can stop us, DRM tries to mess with us frequently and they always fail !!!!

[MultiConsoleGamer]

If MS does it, so will Sony.

[Blaze929]

like this online pass trend, what's stopping a few giants to lead this and everyone being okay with it? Obviously everyone in the gaming industry would benefit financially from blocking second-hand gaming.

If MS and Sony just were like, let's both do that, and do it...well, it's done.

unless one backs out last minute and be like, OMG THEY BLOCKED USED GAMES, WE DIDNT!

[yewles1]

Sony filed the patent multiple times, but never went forward with it, just like the patents for game-interrupting ads since the PS1 days...

http://www.edge-online.com/...

[BitbyDeath]

Maybe Sony filed it to trick MS into implementing it into their own system?
That'd be a laugh.

[Belking]

That's ridiculous.

[BitbyDeath]

I know, i don't believe this rumour to be true.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

That would be awsome and funny!!

[NastyLeftHook0]

because everyone will go out and buy the ps4 instead when you can buy used.

[GribbleGrunger]

Unless Microsoft wants a very short lifecycle for their next console, they won't do this. It doesn't make sense to stop the only market that makes your older console worth buying. Once support stops, the only reason to buy the older console IS the second hand market.

[Bathyj]

MS arent likely to support the 360 once XB3 arrives anyway. We know what happened last time and theyre barely supporting it now.

[M2-]

Except the 360 is far more successful than the original Xbox was. MS have also stated that they will support the 360 "a day longer than the PS3" [1].

1. http://www.videogamer.com/n...

[Bathyj]

No argument about it being more successful, but still theyre still really just treading water at the moment.

And that one day extra comment is pathetic, why should Sonys schedule dictates MS's? Plus it was said 4 years ago.

[FarCryLover182]

I don't think either of them will implement this. Sure it *COULD* happen, but chances are slim.

[JohnyBlam]

If Microsoft keeps XBL subscriptions Sony won't have to try too hard at all.

Also seeing as everyone is hurting in terms of how much they should be selling recently it is always possible in the future everyone one including Nintendo could pick up on this blocking second hand games thing.

Sales are just in the crapper and people are going to have to keep their money tight somehow.

[Kevlar009]

If publishers want to enforce a $2-$5 "used" fee then more power to them. Downright restricting used games on consoles is a bit overkill in the current age. Instead of banning these games they should be more proactive and begin to leech off used sales. If they are already saving $5-$10, how much pain would a few more added on be?

In short I'm much more favorable of small than drastic steps. It's the developers/publishers losing money on used sales, not the console makers

[DivineAssault]

nx gen war is over

[smashcrashbash]

The point is that there is no way either Sony or Microsoft will do this if no one else is. There is no way they could be stupid enough to do this on their own. They know gamers have so much rage they would never take this in any calm or reasonable way. So if Microsoft is doing it it is likely someone else is. If not Microsoft just shot themselves in the foot. And to make it worse Sony already said they are against blocking used games.If they make a U-turn on that it will be a huge backlash on them

[kinetic100]

although i cannot see either company banning used games they could time restrict them. Sonys Patient is a read/write chip meaning they could have used sales banned for a period of time them turn it off to fit there own sales reductions. As MS have not got the same tech, they would use online and codes, the code requirement being removed later down the line. Then the DLC would start kicking in and hopefully make you want to keep the game longer.

[Shadow Man]

i double dare you Microsoft, seal your fate

[thebudgetgamer]

I'll believe it when Microsoft says it. Until then it's just speculation.

[RuleofOne343]

The only way I see both doing it , is when the industry as a whole wants it to happen. but ultimately used game market will cease to exist just a matter of when .

[aviator189]

Just
A
Rumor..

Like any rumor, I'd disregard it until an official statement. Most likely, websites come up with this stuff for hits on their websites..

[Trekster_Gamer]

If they do either of these things then I will definitely be getting a PS4.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Does it give Sony the upper hand? Or does every major 3rd party developer put pressure on Sony to do the same by giving exclusivity to MS games first? Remember, 3rd party devs and publishers are some of the most vocal "PRO" anti used games voices out there.

[Aerialbots]

i was just thinking of that

[greenpowerz]

That's a good point assuming MSFT could overcome the damage done by angry gamers and hateful fanboys nullifying the desired effect/result. Depends on the devs as well. Some devs may have started depending on DLC for poor selling franchises/games knowing most gamers won't buy certain games full price(niche games etc)

What's funny is when the rumors were about PS4 Sony guys defended Sony. Since then Sony guys have been attacking MSFT for it after certain media has turned the rumor on MSFT again. Now Sony guys seemed to realize what you said and suddenly remember Sony has always be interested in this in the past and as of late. LOL

I can't belive the difference between this article and the hottest story on the front page(despite some of the same posters in here being the same in here or agree-ers of anti MSFT comments in the other article)

[dlpg585]

that would be hilarious to me as neither of them would get my purchase. a choice between a console that makes my physical purchase useless (pc exists, i don't want another) or simply doesn't have good games would mean i get a wii u, which will always have good games as long as nintendo owns it.

[007Bond]

If it does happen they're BOTH doing it.

[SDF Repellent]

Well, Gamestops are closing about 500 stores nationwide so maybe they already know about this restriction to used games from the next 720 and/or PS4.

I hope it is not true and both consoles will allow second hand used games. If Microsoft decides to do it and not Sony, I will change my user name to XDF (Xbox Defense Force) Repellent and support Sony full time and dump Microsoft in a heart beat.

[hazelamy]

of all the things you could accuse ms of being, total bloody idiots is not one of them.
and that's exactly what they'd have to be to actually do this.

not because i think they care about their customers or anything, because as far as i can see we're just an exploitable resource to them, that applies to sony too, and probably nintendo.
but to do this would piss off too large a percentage of the gamer population.

they weathered the rrod, mostly because people had already become invested in the machine by the time it really hit.
they wouldn't weather this though, because people would know from day one.

as for me, i will not buy any console that has always on drm or restricts preowned sales.

if these rumours, and the sony one, are true, the vita or wii u could be the last console i ever buy, i've already got a wii, ps3 and 360, and i want to get both vita and wii u at some point.

[EffectO]

If this is true and Sony is not doing it,

The problem is that MS is then not doing this alone,they must have huge third party support--tons of exclusives,features,etc
Publishers totally hate used sales,totally.They could easily just say,
"Sony,you want used sales?"
OK.Our games cost $20-$30 more on your platform...bye

[josephayal]

Microsoft will do everything they can to prevent piracy/hacking on Xbox720, I honestly can't wait for the next generation of consoles to arrive no matter what

[matrixman92]

I love how people are already taking this as a fact...when sony had the same ridiculous rumors come out against them a cuple months ago