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."

[Philoctetes]

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

[Gandalf]

"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. >_>

[theBAWSE]

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

Everyone else knew it was same as ps3

[blitz0623]

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.

[darthv72]

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.

[JokesOnYou]

"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.

[gaffyh]

@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.

[JokesOnYou]

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_BoSSxx]

@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_Gamer]

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

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

@JOY

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

[SilentNegotiator]

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.

[MariaHelFutura]

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

[MastaMold]

Here's more clarification from Sony

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[mushroomwig]

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

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

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

[wenaldy]

OT PSLS is banned in Neogaf btw.

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

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.

[bicfitness]

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

[longcat]

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

xbone is the best!!

[gamertk421]

@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.

[bicfitness]

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).

[T2]

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

[Majin-vegeta]

So basically online pass??

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

[alan001]

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...

[EffectO]

Third party can easily demand some online functionality.

[maniacmayhem]

"If you want to go online with it, you may have to deal with some sort of publisher-determined DRM, be it an Online Pass or whatever."

It's the "whatever" that concerns me.

Lets hope that 3rd parties leave this alone.

[SexyGamerDude]

It will be the same as this gen. Only a select few will actually require an always connected console. Others will probably go with online passes.

[maniacmayhem]

You don't know this for certain. And it's NOT already like this for the PS3 and the very few games you mentioned doesn't compare to what might be standard going into this new age.

This gen developers and publishers have done nothing but complain about used games.

I really hope not, but there are no insurances that it will all be the same as the PS3. Hell, we already know PS4 will have a PS+ mandatory for multiplayer games. This is NOT like the pS3.

[SexyGamerDude]

Stop being Paranoid. The PS4's DRM is just like the PS3's.

Also, the "whatever" didn't come out of Sony's mouth. It came from the person who wrote the article.

Sony charges for plus so they can get rid of the online passes they had on first party games this gen.

[maniacmayhem]

Stop being so complacent and accepting of everything spoon fed to you.

the whatever means that Online passes isn't the only form of DRM as I have told you in the past.

As I have said before I hope you are right. But you can't sit there and say it'll be the same as the PS3 as changes from the PS3 are already being announced and shown.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***And it's NOT already like this for the PS3"***

YES IT IS. Publishers CAN impose other sorts of DRM on games for PS3, 360, Wii U, etc. besides online passes. They just haven't done it. Just because they haven't done it doesn't mean they can't do it. The PS4 is NO more restrictive than the PS3.

For example, there is NOTHING stopping a publisher from locking the ENTIRE disc for a game and then requiring you to register the game online to enable play for the entire game. Obviously this hasn't been done for the PS3 or 360 as you would be setting up your game for failure as nobody would buy or support such game. Passing on a game is a lot easier than passing on a console.

The likely hood of a publisher trying this out next gen is higher since the XB1 is restrictive to begin with so the risk for them is a bit less than it is this gen.

[maniacmayhem]

NO it is NOT like this as YOU have already stated in your own comment:
"They just haven't done it."

How can it be done when NO ONE HAS DONE IT as you have said?

The PS4 may not be more restrictive itself but there are definite measures in place for devs and publishers to take full advantage of being as restrictive as possible going into this next era.

And as you have already stated going into next gen it IS higher since the issue this whole last gaming gen was used games and how to block it.

[rainslacker]

I'm not sure if you're trying to spin this into a fault of Sony's, or if you're actually concerned about it.

Right now there is nothing stopping a dev from locking out a game on the PS3. Take EA for instance. They could easily attach a game to Origin with a simple serial code in the box, similar to an online pass.

So, it's OK to be concerned about it, but until it happens calm down a bit. When/if it happens, put the pressure you're exerting now onto the publisher who implements such a scheme.

Sony themselves have said they will not implement this stuff in their 1st party games, and now they are stating for 3rd party it is entirely up to them if they want to implement online restrictions, which as everyone else has pointed out to you, is exactly what they can do now. The PS will not facilitate those schemes, except maybe in the form of an online pass key certificate like they do now through their store...which is still provided by the publisher.

As far as SP goes, the fact you don't have to connect to the internet at all on the PS means that DRM restrictions on a games use won't be allowed. Expect games to become much more connected in the future in order to make people want to go online more to get that kind of money. No different than the way it is now.

[maniacmayhem]

There's no spin, and the fact that a lot of you are passing this off as it won't happen just because it wasn't seen on the original PS3 is just as alarming and seriously mind baffling.

And as I have said many, many, MANY times before, Sony has left it up to the developer going into this new gen. Who is to say they won't start to have this practice as mandatory. We already saw them experiment with Online Passes, we know how big of an issue used games became for this gen only. We already know Destiny and Watch Dogs(I think) will be online constantly. Who knows what more could be introduced.

And as I have said AGAIN, and repeatedly, I hope this is not the case and I do hope 3rd parties won't put more restrictions on future games. But I won't sit there with a sigh of relief and pass it off just because this practice wasn't seen this gen on the Ps3.

To sit there and say it won't happen only because it didn't happen on the PS3 is absolutely foolish. There was also free multiplayer on PS3 and now POOF gone. So just because something was there and wasn't enforced doesn't mean it won't be going into effect this next gen.

All I'm saying.

[i3eyond the Circle]

He really clarified nothing.

Read again.

This makes no mention of 3rd party developers and what their DRM actually means.

This just says what they've already told us....unless this means that Ps4 won't even have online passes?? if we should be so literal...No

[SexyGamerDude]

I'm tired of this subject so I'll just copy and paste what I told the last person in another article.

"It's no different from the PS3. There are already games on PS3 that require a constant connection and force DRM on players.

FF 14
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
DC Universe
Final Fight: DI
SingStar

PS gamers, no need to worry. It's the same as before. Nothing changed."

"

[P_Bomb]

@BeyondTheCircle
@ManiacMayhem

They asked him a question, he answered. Dan Race said Jack Tretton's "DRM" remark was referring to the 3rd party online pass. Read the article, not just the quote. Here's a snippet:

[QUOTE ]
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. According to Dan Race, Senior Director, Corporate Communications for Sony, Tretton’s statements were referring specifically to playing used games online. He told me,

The Online Pass program for PlayStation first-party games will not continue on PlayStation 4. Similar to PS3, we will not dictate the online used game strategy (the ability to play used games online) of its publishing partners. As announced last night, PS4 will not have any gating restrictions for used disc-based games. When a gamer buys a PS4 disc they have right to use that copy of the game, so they can trade-in the game at retail, sell it to another person, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever.
[/QUOTE]

They asked Dan to clarify what Jack meant. He did. Now *I'm* repeating myself.

[SexyGamerDude]

Glad to see an article finally popped up about it. I was getting tired of telling people it's already like this on the PS3.

[WalterWJR]

BILL GATES knows when he is beaten.

http://i.imgur.com/I9K3c4B....

[Mr-Dude]

You have to wonder... How many times does Sony have to repeat itself? They told this like months ago, last night they told it and now sites and "journalists" are again bringing it up! Are people just that lame or just seeking for dirt?

[sashimi]

Sony repeating themselves doesn't matter, people will still spread fud. Unless ofcourse the gaming media is really that dumb..which i cannot rule out.

[rainslacker]

I believe the answer is 6. After 6 times they stop answering the question, because people who will still make a big deal about it, don't listen to, or care about, the answer anyways.

It's worth noting, the last 5 times they answer these questions are just to be polite.

[Astargatis]

Everything is at it was announced last night..

[P_Bomb]

Except I doubt we'll see any retractions from all the ambulance chasers who threw Sony under the fud-bus today. There's a lot of "told ya so's" about to get told ya so's. Glad this was re-clarified, even if it was redundant.

[ZBlacktt]

Sony does not own 3rd party companies. That is a no brainier. So those companies can mess around with that $10 online pass. But it might bite them more then profit.

You can still sell trade give away do whatever with the games on the system. Where MS is mating the game with your console. So here's where that friends list comes in. So it's all controlled. Then that 24 hour online check in crap. Again, Sony is win win and MS is done done and the DMR is not going to effect Sony much at all if any.

[Grimhammer00]

Well EA said their done using online passes.
And Sony 1st party won't have online passes. (PsPlus handles that)

What I see happening is Sony 1st party sales will be even stronger. So third party will not want to be too harsh with their DRM. Single player games will not be an issue for this reason especially.

Residual effect that was happening all this gen - everygame will have mp and that in itself is effective DRM. Proper DRM if you will. If the mp is not good....game flops anyways per the usual state of affairs.

[Mikelarry]

lol future xbox 1 owners were quick to jump on these. poor deluded fanboys just give it up

[KillrateOmega]

So pretty much exactly how things are right now. Sweet :)

[DxTrixterz]

But wait a sec. If publishers can block online content then they can easily block single player content as well right?

[meplaygames]

Bingo!! I love how these Sony fanboys are being short sited. Game developers wants to control used games sales and try and stop piracy all together. When all the major publishers start making this the norm then Sony will jump on board and of course the fanboys will spin it into being a good thing just like there doing for psn+ being mandatory for online play.

[kenshiro100]

Read the article please. Stop spreading lies and misinformation.

[Bobets]

Bingo??

The only way publisher will be able to block offline games is if PS4 will have your games locked to your account and require you to athenticate your account online as a mandatory process. because then they will know that the game you bought is either new or previously owned by sum1 else(used).

does ps4 require you to do that??? no so yeh bingo my ass and stop posting crap.

[NeoTribe]

Lol you try so hard to bash ps. Give it up, you lost this gen.

[ALLWRONG]

I hope there will be enough PS4's for all the converts. Sony is going to have a hell of a time keeping up with Microsoft's customers. You can only push gamers so far before you get the finger, push more and you'll get both.

Sony noticed the gamers reaction and chose not to push more DRM. Bravo Sony.

[kasser]

Some commenters here does not acknowledge common sense. Sony said they do not have any DRM model implemented in the system.

However, companies like Ubisoft have actually an online DRM system where you usually create a ubisoft login and register your game to unlock some part of the game or the multiplayer. Sony cannot dictate a policy against their partners obviously to prevent them from implementing their own business model. They just said "Hey you want DRM? implement it yourself, we are not helping you!"

We know that EA won't implement this. Big publisher most probably will not follow suit because of the controversy of this topic and it is very obvious consumers do not favour online pass.

[gino9]

This is a clear case of jornalist spin. I call bs when i see it. He no doubt said it was flat out up to third parties. There was no confusion microsoft says the same with their policy on used game fees. I saw this interview the DRM thing is between the publisher and the third party. Niether sony or microsoft charges any fee.