nrvalleytime4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

If this actually works, it would be incredible for Sony. I would hate the idea of my game unintentionally being read as illegal, but since I don't download illegally, as long as it doesn't affect me, more power to them.

Smurf14510d ago

This is a bad idea because of hardware wear and tear.

nrvalleytime4510d ago

There are a number of ways it could go wrong, but hardware slowdown is one I'm sure they'll be able to address. Like I mentioned, if it works well, okay then. However, if they can't successfully implement it on the PS4, then it's a problem.

B1663r4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

Moving parts wear out in very predictable ways. All they have to do is track for the age of the blu-ray drive, and they can probably develop some function of legitimate slowdown, vs the slowdown caused by pirated disks.

@r21 below...

Welcome to the x86 world, where every caveat and detail about the cpu is known by hackers around the world. Now that the PS4 is based on that, I expect it to have a piracy problem comparable to what the xbox 360 has...

Ashlen4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

No, guys, I want to explain what the article creator didn't understand. It's looking for load times faster than they should be. For example Ni No Kuni had a bunch of people complain it crashed. But it was revealed that only downloaded copies of the disk version loaded a certain element too fast causing a memory conflict and crash. The Digital Download version was altered to not do this. So again there not looking for files that load too slow, there looking for files that load too fast.

MikeMyers4510d ago

It's sad that so much time and resources are needed to try and combat piracy. Not sad that they are doing it but sad that they pretty much have to.

With the internet being such a public place and a wealth of information it's easy to see why they have to try and take drastic measures to stop piracy. Once the key is out there it becomes very hard to lock the door again.

TheGamerDood4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

Just imagine it's your game, that you've spent 2-3 years of your life working on and some snot nosed little punk is enjoying the f-out-of-it and you get nothing for it. Used games is one thing but on this issue Sony should do everything in their power to prevent.

brich2334510d ago

31 people + dont know what wear and tear would do.

bangshi4510d ago

Except the 360 already does it and it doesn't work because they (c4eva) found ways to combat it.

ZombieNinjaPanda4510d ago

Instead of searching for ways to stop piracy, they should be giving people incentives to not pirate. As Gabe Newell said, you need to offer people something that is better than free. That's how you stop piracy.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4510d ago
r214510d ago

It does sound like a good attempt at fighting back piracy but I dont think piracy is that rampant on blu ray games.

deep_fried_bum_cake4510d ago

Yeah, I can't imagine it would be. It's always good to have a safeguard though.

I'm not entirely sure this will be implemented though. Unless of course they're able to sort out any issue it may have in wrongly identifying games as pirated.

Kratoscar20084510d ago

You dont need a BluRay copy to pirate PS3 games, there are other methods resorting to the console HDDs.

I dont think this will work out, Pirates always find ways to conutermeasure these anti-piracy things.

violents4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

I think the point is that with BD games when people would pirate them, at least with ps3, most people would run custom firmware that would allow them to store the entire game on the HD, which case in point allows for faster loading times. this new software would allow the hardware to detect a program loading too fast thereby distigiushing it as a pirated program.

The only problem I have with fighting piracy is that the ones that are actually paying for everything are the ones that really pay the price for a few douchebags that want to play for free.

And don't forget that just because a company patents something doesnt mean it will ever see the light of day.

Dark_Overlord4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

It won't work, this has been utilised (in some form) before on PC games, didn't stop them games being pirated.

princejb1344510d ago

Cool tech but Sony hasn't needed it this gen on ps3
I still haven't heard of anyone pirating games on the ps3 even though it has been cracked
Let alone not many people going to go out of their way to download 25+ of gigs to play a game

Rainstorm814510d ago

On top of that you need ancient PS3 firmware that does not go online....too much hassle...iMO

EbeneezerGoode4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

Oh you haven't heard of it so it can't be true then?

PS3 is cracked wide open now. Any game is playable and while it's not as rampant as 360 piracy that's only because it took longer to do it properly.

And no you don't need an ancient FW at all, not anymore! And as for online, that is obviously a choice pirates don't mind making (same as multiplayer PC games).

As someone said above, with the new architecture, hacking should be technically simpler but Sony may have some "imaginative" safeguards in place that could be tricky to bypass.

So long as they allow used games/sale of used games they shouldn't suffer from piracy in any meaningful financial way (none of the consoles do, even with Piracy the games industry makes a massive amount of cash thanks to high prices - but sales are high partly because people feel they are buying a game that they own, they can sell on half price, or more, towards their next game, I have always done this as it funds my 'habit' but if they stamp out used games, then I can't justify the high prices of games anymore and nor can they.

If there is no piracy and no used games then game prices MUST be halved, as those things were always used as 'excuses' for the ridiculously high prices of videogames.

Like the music industry, their greed will bite them in the ass if they push their luck next gen.

-Superman-4510d ago

Buy, sell and trade with friends - allowed.
Pirate game without paying anything - BAN(and should be).

Gamias5804510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

I think the best solution for them is to reduce the price of video games especially the ones downloaded digitally. I don't understand why a lot of games are marked at 60$ to 65$ with tax. I dont see anyone trying to pirate angry birds! Yea sure they work 2 to 3 years to make a video game but what about movies that come out they take about the same amount of time to make too and they go for about 20 to 30 dollars. I could name loads of video games this past generation that were not worth 60 dollars

humbleopinion4509d ago

The chances of this thing working as expected (ie: not blocking legitimate users) are about the same as the infamous Sony BMG Rootkit malware working without locking up users drives:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

I really hoped they learn from past lessons.

ritsuka6664509d ago (Edited 4509d ago )

Sony Patents tech that Tracks Load Times to detect Pirated Software''''

Stop this BS, Sony..

No matter what company or how big that company is, there is always someone out there smarter than them who will come up with a hack. Just saying..

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4509d ago
IcicleTrepan4510d ago

it is an interesting idea, but I think there are too many factors at play to be able to do this reliably. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

TemplarDante4510d ago

*reads title*
suck on that, pirate scum :)

delboy4510d ago

The best thing about ps4 is x86 architecture.
This thing will be cracked soon enough, and all the great emulators from pc will be ported.

Qrphe4510d ago (Edited 4510d ago )

Idk man, the Xbox was also x86 architecture and it hasn't even been emulated yet after almost a decade.

delboy4510d ago

I was thinking about ps4 running emulators that already exists on x86/pc, like Dolphin,Mame,PS1,PS2...
That would be a true PlayStation.
Only hope for Sony boys to play a N game on Sony hardware ;-)

elmaton984510d ago

Oh man that would be great since i enjoy playing snes and n64 games a lot on my pc and then i could on my ps4 but then again i would be happier if the thing isnt hack at all just like how my ps3 is and im sure sony has something up their sleeve to prevent this from happening

tachy0n4510d ago

lol like if this is enough to stop them....

you can always fool a system, no matter what.

what sony is doing is asking hackers to actually hack the PS4 since most of hackers always seek a challenge to build up their name, like YinFanLu did with the PSVita.

and now with the PS4 having a PC-like structure it will be even easier, have you noticed how many times DRM has failed on the PC? it always does.

@Qrphe

emulation is not easy at all, and demands lots of coding and power, example of this is PCSX2, you need a pretty decent computer to be able to play some games from the PS2 at full speed. another example would be the N64 emulator on the PSP after for like 5 years it is still in development!!!

what sony should had done if they really wanted to stop piracy a bit, would be for them to make a completely proprietary struture.....

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4510d ago
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140°

Sony Faces Class Action in the Netherlands Over Allegedly Inflated PlayStation Store Prices

Mass Damage & Consumer Foundation in the Netherlands has filed a class action against Sony for inflating PlayStation Store prices.

dveio6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

My personal opinion:

Manufacturers and publishers have indeed inflated the industry.

From $700 million development costs for games like Call of Duty, to digital (store) prices for games and DLCs, online multiplayer fees on consoles (why can you play Helldivers 2 online for free on PC but not consoles?) or still preventing sell/lend digitally purchased games.

Sometime in the future, this bubble will collapse.

They should know better, but they just can't help themselves and suck even the last penny out of our wallets.

BeHunted6d ago

Because Sony knows people will be forced to pay those prices for single player and multiplayer games, not everyone prefers PC gaming. Sony also has a monopoly on PlayStation digital games. In 2019, they stopped allowing retailers and game key sellers to sell PlayStation digital games, making them available only through the official PlayStation Store

anast6d ago

The Dutch gov. wants a piece of the pie.

Eonjay6d ago

They should be suing the individual publishers increasing the prices to $80 instead of suing the store. There are plenty of publishers still selling game for like $50 with much success (like E33). But this proves that the publishers are the ones setting the prices.... so again nothing changes because they aren't even going after the main offender. How is suing Sony going to make Microsoft not charge $80 for the next COD? Sony being the number one store in the market doesn't mean that publisher have to charge us an arm and a leg. Again the industry is laughing at us because consumers never get real representation. Just these fake platitudes that are meaningless.

BeHunted6d ago

"How is suing Sony going to make Microsoft not charge $80 for the next COD"

Because Microsoft doesn't have a monopoly, I can purchase Call of Duty at a huge discount from CDKeys or other gaming retailers. The only way to purchase digital PlayStation games is through the PlayStation Store.

djl34856d ago

Weird, I swore GoW, Stellar Blade, Horizon Zero Dawn, TLoU, etc. were on the steam store....uh.....

BeHunted5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@djI3485

I'm talking about PlayStation games that you can only purchase on PlayStation. I can purchase Steam and Epic games from 3rd party retailers and key stores.

"Sony to stop selling full-game download codes at retailers"

https://www.videogamer.com/...

Killer2020UK6d ago

About time. There is zero fair reason why digitally distributed products that you cannot recoup any value when you want to dispose of them, should be priced higher than that of physical copies that entail all of the costs and the benefits of owning.

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170°

Sony Aims To Sell 15 Million PS5 Units This Year, but Is Shifting Focus to Monthly Active Users

Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki and CFO Lin Tao talked about the state of the PlayStation business and the strategy and targets going forward, including how they're responding to the tariffs.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
1Victor47d ago

I wonder how the USA tariffs war will affect that projection. 🤔

S2Killinit47d ago (Edited 47d ago )

I think they take that into consideration when they announce their projections. Currently, after the xbox price increase, the PRO is cheaper than the series x! That is ridiculous, and it can’t last.

darthv7247d ago

you keep saying that but the price of a PS5 Pro is S699.99 (US) and the price of a Series X is $599.99 (US)

S2Killinit47d ago (Edited 47d ago )

The series x with 2 TB storage space is more expensive than PS5 PRO which also has 2 TB storage space.

darthv7247d ago (Edited 47d ago )

Oh so you are pitting a regular Pro with a special edition X... got it. If you are going so far as trying to compare apples to apples... please add in the optical drive and stand to the Pro. Seeing as the X has both of those by default.

I will help you if you are unable to do so.
PS5 Pro 2tb: $699.99, Optical Drive: $79.99, Stand: $29.99 = $809.97
Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition 2TB: $729.99

47d ago
S2Killinit46d ago (Edited 46d ago )

The PS5 PRO has 2TB storage. The series X with 2TB storage and much weaker, is… more expensive! So yeah, Im pointing out that fact.

Also, the PRO does not require a stand.

Ps: regular series 2TB is $749 (where did u get 729?)

darthv7246d ago

Its right here on the official XB site: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

Okay, so no stand for the Pro, but you might still want the optical drive. So $779.98 vs $729.99. A properly outfitted Pro is still more $$ than a 2tb X.

S2Killinit45d ago (Edited 45d ago )

Do I need to mention that the series x is not nearly as powerful as the PS5 PRO?

And no, the PS5 PRO runs just fine without a drive, and people don’t have to buy the drive right away, assuming they want it.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 45d ago
drivxr47d ago

I wonder why they are shifting focus to MAU.

RaiderNation47d ago

Because that's where the real money is made, in microtransactions.

Profchaos47d ago (Edited 47d ago )

People are spending less time playing is a typical trigger for this.

The less time spent playing the less likely you are to spend more money on games and services including subs or even the next console.

Increased engagement equals more money.

47d ago
DarXyde46d ago

Same reason Microsoft does it: it looks better to investors and it's a solution when unit sales slow down.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this metric; and by using it, you're kind of signaling that you're moving into the "This is a PlayStation" era.

Z50146d ago

Because the PS4 also has users and not necessarily sales

Obscure_Observer44d ago

"I wonder why they are shifting focus to MAU."

Because they´d finally realized that MS wasn´t wrong after all.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 44d ago
47d ago
47d ago
310°

Sony Announces Large Profits Growth for PlayStation; Expects Further Wins in Current Fiscal Year

Sony announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2024, and things are certainly looking up, despite a decline in PS5 sales.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
CrimsonWing6947d ago

Expect sh*t to slow down if prices aren’t kept in check.

Redgrave47d ago

Who downvotes the truth?

Even PSN itself is too damn high.jpg

S2Killinit47d ago

Gamepass is already at 20$ per month if im not mistaken.

toxic-inferno47d ago

@neutralgamer1992

Not all of us. I'm a big PlayStation fan, and have been since the PSOne. But I can't begin to defend what's happening currently.

At least Nintendo release a large number of games from their major franchises. Sony is just not banking on their established franchises, and yet are raising prices. Not great.

S2Killinit47d ago

Im pretty sure we are going to see a price increase for PRO. I mean think about it, its currently cheaper than xbox series x! That cannot last.

Eonjay47d ago

I'm absolutely sure we will not see a price increase. I don't think we should 'expect' to see price increase because it just adds validity to what Nintendo and Microsoft have done.

darthv7246d ago (Edited 46d ago )

Sorry to pop that bubble but the Pro is not cheaper than a series x... generally speaking (like you are). It is cheaper than one specific version, and doing so by not including the optical drive and stand like the X has by default.

So keep on trying to convince people you are right when everyone knows it's quite the opposite. A stock Pro is $699.99 and a stock X is $599.99. A special edition galactic black 2tb X is $729.99. And if you really want to compare apples to apples... adding the aforementioned optical drive and stand brings that Pro to $809.97 and then they would be on equal footing.

Twisting truths to fit a narrative... I expect better from you S2.

S2Killinit46d ago (Edited 46d ago )

The PS5 PRO has 2TB storage. And the series X with 2TB is more expensive. Which in my opinion is insane conseidering how much more powerful the PRO is. The PS5PRO does not need a stand, it can be used without a stand.

TheKingKratos47d ago

So the Pro is not offering any push in sales at all ?

CrashMania47d ago

It's still an expensive, niche product ultimately. And they exceeded their sales projections for units sold by half a million.

lawox47d ago

"18.5 million units have been shipped during the full fiscal year. This is actually ahead of the 18 million units target set by the company."

They beat their yearly estimate. It's not broken down by device, but it's clearly performing well enough. Since it's been released it's consistently been the second best selling SKU on Amazon only after the the Slim with disc.

47d ago
Bathyj47d ago

18 million a year is in the toilet?
I remember when 10 was considered good
Hell Microsoft would take that right now.
Probably pay $100b for it.

47d ago
BeHunted47d ago

If their profits fall next quarter, we'll probably see more price hikes. I can't imagine having to pay £20 a month for PlayStation Plus.

S2Killinit47d ago

I think gamepass is already paying that much.

47d ago
drivxr47d ago (Edited 47d ago )

Decline in hardware sales.
Behind on lifetime sales and decline in first party sales.
Third party content and PSN came through to save the day.
Things will improve starting with the next Ghost game.

Hopefully a steady flow of first party content by end of '25

rlow147d ago (Edited 47d ago )

I guess you get downvoted for stating facts from Sony’s own lips. What I’m curious about is what their top games of the year were and how much Xbox games contributed to the increase?

CrashMania47d ago

Well, generally 3rd party publisher games contribute the most anyway, so no different to capcom, EA and so on contributing to this figure.

lawox47d ago

That's because the report is actually really good.

They beat the console sales estimate that they set last year March, they have increased users both due to the record numbers of PS4 users and strong PS5 sales which is leading to great profits in sales and user spend.

This report is about the financial health of the PlayStation brand and as a platform PlayStation is stronger than ever. Heck they even have Microsoft putting their biggest franchises on the platform.

47d ago
S2Killinit46d ago (Edited 46d ago )

Well, the facts in the article are positive. Nothing wrong with his comment, but in my opinion it doesn't correctly indicate all the facts and nuances that give context to the reality of things. I downvoted for that only.

Make sense?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 46d ago
Lightning7747d ago

This is exactly what happened to Xbox year's ago. They had no first party and started seeing decline in 1st party sales, which effected their third party games which eventually effected their console sales. A slow decline across the board.

Calm down PS fans I'm not saying PS is becoming like old Xbox. I'm showing examples of the importance of first party output. Look how Xbox finally has compelling first party and things are on a up swing(despite years going on a downswing). I know thanks to PS releases which helps a ton, (which is why Xbox hardware only dropped 6% instead of 30+% like it usually does) The point still stands despite what Genz Trends may go, first party and compelling games sell hardware and software still. Sony's financial quarter is an example of this, of what lower First party output looks like.

No matter they'll be right back on track in due time any time especially with DS2 (not my type of game but I know many like it) and Yotei. They're not Xbox and let things get bad for so many years on end.

crazyCoconuts47d ago

"I'm showing examples of the importance of first party output. "
First party is mostly relevant for the sole purpose of creating EXCLUSIVES that are needed to stay competitive. With Xbox consoles collapsing and no more Xbox exclusives, first party is way less important. PlayStation as a platform now has free reign to profit without the high expense of needing exclusive first party titles.

red2tango47d ago

Sony has been very lazy with 1st party games compared to the PS4 era. And even the PS4 era was nothing compared to the PS3 era in terms of games.

S2Killinit46d ago (Edited 46d ago )

We have Ghost and Intergalactic coming. And then Marathon which is not exclusive to PlayStation. I think Covid and that chip shortage put a speedbump in game development because game manufacturers dont want even more risk that their game will arrive to too little hardware, but the games are starting to show up.

Lightning7747d ago

"With Xbox consoles collapsing and no more Xbox exclusives, first party is way less important."

Absolutely not. If that was the case then Nintendo would put Mario on Sega Genesis and Sonic on Super Nintendo. I know things are way different 30+ years later but not much has really changed in terms of exclusives and their impact on hardware. Especially early in the console life cycle.

Sony made all the money this quarter handover fist. Profits isn't a issue for them right now. I was just saying lower hardware sales and lower first party sales will hurt them or any console manufacturer of they don't have the compelling games in the long run. Just like it hurt Xbox. IF Sony keeps up not having lower first part output. Which we know they're not.

crazyCoconuts47d ago

Well no big exclusives in the last two years yet PS is doing great. What are people gonna do? Buy an Xbox?

S2Killinit46d ago

I agree with you. But they have had plenty of exclusives so far. Has it been ideal? Nope. I have a feeling we are seeing a resurgence with the effects of covid and that chip shortage now behind us.

Lightning7747d ago

No it's just like 360 where they had no games yet ppl still bought it because they sold ppl on the games early on that gen the fans were locked in and invested. They were riding the good will and was dubbed the shooter, racer box. The games dried up and they never recovered from it which hurt them in the long run. Same here with PS they still make the big bucks because they had games early on and the fans locked in and will continue to lock in for a little while longer despite lacking in first party.

S2Killinit46d ago (Edited 46d ago )

I agree. But the problem with xbox was that for some crazy reason MS thought game development wasnt all that important to a platform holder. They literally did not fund games with their own studios. When they lost marketshare they couldnt justify paying for exclusives with large install bases making it too expensive. That is not the scenario with PlayStation.

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