550°

Sony: Third-Party DRM Refers to Playing Used Games Online Only

"During an interview with GameTrailers, Jack Tretton said that, “The DRM decision is going to have to be answered by the third parties, it’s not something we’re going to control, or dictate, or mandate, or implement.” The internet immediately exploded, with many on Twitter accusing Sony of walking back their statements from the presser last night.

Rather than speculate, we went directly to Sony to find out what’s going on. Turns out, it’s a very similar system to what’s in place on the PS3 now."

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gamefront.com
Philoctetes3971d ago

Figured that was the case, but glad to see clarification.

Gandalf3971d ago

"Turns out, it’s a very similar system to what’s in place on the PS3 now."

"Journalists" always be trying to twist the truth. >_>

theBAWSE3971d ago (Edited 3971d ago )

Was some sites trying to get hits and give the Xbox fanboys some hope lol

Everyone else knew it was same as ps3

blitz06233971d ago

It's pretty pathetic not even journalists know what exactly DRM is. Sony just pointed out 3rd party publishers can still implement their own DRM just so they don't get accused of lying or whatever but in truth, it's the same as the PS3.

darthv723971d ago

sony wins out either way. you have to be PS+ member to play online.

Sony profits from the sale of 3rd party titles both directly and indirectly. Sneaky, but very smart.

JokesOnYou3971d ago (Edited 3971d ago )

"The DRM decision is going to have to be answered by the third parties, it’s not something we’re going to control, or dictate, or mandate, or implement.”

Hold on what?...so ps4 will have used game drm, if publishers decide, wow if true thats dirty cause sony said outright there were no used game restrictions(fees) for ps4.

Ok so will they or wont they just want to know what their talking about in plain English.

gaffyh3971d ago

@JOY -Did you actually read the story? It means they won't have online passes for their own games but third party can do whatever they want. EXACTLY the ame as this gen.

JokesOnYou3970d ago (Edited 3970d ago )

Well gaffyh sony said very specifically the ps4 wouldn't have any used game restrictions, yeah this is the same as ps3 and better than X1 but he didnt say that last night on stage, this means publisher's can charge a fee for a used game multiplayer which IS a restriction, even last night most comments/media thought this wasnt the case based on what sony said on stage.

I mean no publisher has announced a drm fee for X1 yet its terrible but it could easily turn out that gery few use it due to backlash but you guys aren't concerned at all about being locked out of multiplayer for a used game? Come on, really?

xxBiG_BoSSxx3970d ago

@joy

Actually, Sony very specifically said "no new restrictions." Jack was very specific. Sony has been very specific on this matter. For some reason people refuse accept that their policy is different.

Not sure why you would care anyway. You say you're interested in the One, you should have no qualms if the ps4 were have similar restrictions.

Which they don't.

Awesome_Gamer3970d ago

Yep, I knew it. ''Gaming journalists'' lately have showed they're truly pathetic.

BISHOP-BRASIL3969d ago

@JOY

Now you are just being silly playing the fool... De-bubbled.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3969d ago
SilentNegotiator3971d ago

So much for all of the baseless crowing about Ps4 using the same system as Xbone.

I'm still not happy that online play is no longer free, but they've proven to be the lesser of two evils by a mile.

MariaHelFutura3971d ago

Honestly, making it part of PS+ is the smartest thing they could have done.

mushroomwig3971d ago

I can't believe they even had to clarify that, thanks to amateur internet journalists for making it something it wasn't.

ThatCanadianGuy5143971d ago

Thank PSLS.They love to twist things out of context.

wenaldy3971d ago

OT PSLS is banned in Neogaf btw.

ThatCanadianGuy5143971d ago

Good.Never liked that site and never will.
Always with site members approving their own submissions or spamming their own submission with comments to heat it up and get it to the front page, etc.

Just so scummy.

bicfitness3971d ago

Xbox fanatics need something to cling to. Let them have their delusions.

longcat3971d ago

yeah, lets think this through....do we really want them on our psn?

xbone is the best!!

gamertk4213970d ago

@pedro. That's the beauty of crossgame and party chat. I haven't had to listen to idiots online in years! Loved it on 360, and I'll love it on XB1 and PS4.

bicfitness3971d ago

All this means is certain greedy publishers (EA) might try some online pass bullshit again. Nothing changes between the PS3 and PS4 ecosystem for used games. We will see a lot more "online" style games - every publisher had one or two as at E3 - which is a sligtly less annoying way to claw at the same issue. At least people who play MMORPGs are used to the concept of buy once, buy forever.

Nice to hear that SP games remain the same (on PS4).

T23971d ago

no way I ever pay 10 bucks a month to play a game in perpetuity..

Majin-vegeta3971d ago

So basically online pass??

Off topic:Can any of you jorunalists ask Sony about the friend list on PS4??

alan0013971d ago (Edited 3971d ago )

what about it dude?
if youre wondering if theyll be increasing the friends limit then yes they are, but to what... no idea yet

http://www.computerandvideo...

EffectO3971d ago

Third party can easily demand some online functionality.

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70°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers4h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

z2g12m ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

H94m ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg16h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos15h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion14h ago(Edited 14h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola10h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (8)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies20d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken20d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga20d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken20d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6420d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long20d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197220d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 20d ago
DivineHand12520d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91320d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer20d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91320d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit19d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 19d ago
Christopher20d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6920d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit19d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher20d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken20d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197220d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic20d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2320d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218320d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder20d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts20d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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