PS4: Sony's UK Boss Speaks Next-Gen, Second-Hand Games, Exclusives

Fergal Gara, PlayStation UK MD, sits down with NowGamer to discuss PlayStation 4, second-hand games and next-gen exclusives…

[LessThan2Tflops]

See, Sony is waiting for MS to see what they are doing to the used games market

[MikeMyers]

You also have to consider the big publishers like EA and Ubisoft are also behind this.

[Soldierone]

They are the entire reason this is even brought up.

What is Sony going to lose to used games? nothing. What are ALL the retailers going to lose? nothing. What are gamers going to lose? nothing.

What are publishers going to lose? Nothing, but they think taking away used games means more money for them.

[MikeMyers]

If Sony is losing nothing to used games then why are they already supporting the online codes in their own games?

EA is a huge publisher and with them comes influence no matter how many people dislike the company. They were one of the key players that were not going to support Xbox Live unless they had control of their own ip's and could run them on their own servers. Microsoft made an exception because they knew the ramifications of not having EA fully supporting them. Look at the what happened on the Dreamcast.

So if they and other publishers have any say you can bet they are the ones who will influence these types of changes.

[WarThunder]

From article about Second-Hand Games

"Well first of all, we haven’t stated that second-hand games… we haven’t made a statement on the second-hand games question. There was a lot of reaction to a patent that was filed, which is a matter of course for a technology business like us, to file various patents at various times, many of which many never see any application but they are good to have depending on ideas that might be building.

So what we’re here to do is offer the best value and the best gaming experience for gamers. The answer to the pre-owned question isn’t clarified just yet and we’re working through that and we’ll announce our position in more detail as and when we can."

[maniacmayhem]

Hahaha what a great way to answer. Basically it sounds like the PS4 may be able to actually block games if the decide to.

This may be a response to MS if they do it as well and gain more developer support. Since devs whine and cry that the used games are killing their sales which is complete BS, trust me on that.

[cervantes99]

I don't buy used games - but many do and I get that. If Sony truly is about "Play" and for the "Gamer", restricting used games would seem to fly in the face of those statements.

[brave27heart]

Couldnt have said it better

[SAE]

Blocking used games will destroy them. Trust me on that. I'm the first to stop supporting them. I buy all games new but What the hell will i do with the games after i finish them?. hide them. No way. I just play not collect for show off. I won't accept this like the pass codes...

[BitbyDeath]

That's my concern as well. Thinking if it was introduced though they might not block them completely but instead allow a small fee to be paid to unlock the games.

That will keep everyone happy and that fee could even be introduced at the store level so it'd have less impact on the consumer end.

[Soldierone]

If they block used games, I will purposely buy less games and I hope everyone does so the numbers have a massive downward spiral of sales. That way they realize how important the market is.

I buy new games, but take away used games and I'll buy less.

[AtomicGerbil]

Publishers whinge about a downward spiral in the industry now, imagine if they are successful in convincing the console manufacturers to introduce used game blocking. It'll be a complete disaster.

The obvious problem I see with this, which will be true for me at least is that gamers will become extremely careful with their purchases as reselling unwanted games will be a thing of the past. This will mean that only those publishers with money to throw at the very best marketing will become successful resulting in less competition and an extreme degradation in quality. Ultimately pushing more and more gamers away.

Simply put, remove the used game market, destroy the industry.

[dangert12]

That was put well brought things to my attention i never considered such as the well marketed games being the only ones that sell.

I always do my own research hence why i am here but and my last few games have all been downloads but damn that would be a curve ball to the industry except pc gaming pretty much

[DarkZane]

They're waiting to see what Microsoft does. If Microsoft doesn't block used games, they won't either.

If Microsoft does block used games, same scenario, Sony will obviously come out and say they don't do it. It would give them a huge edge over Microsoft.

If Sony doesn't block them and Microsoft does, Sony will bury Microsoft next gen.

[DOMination-]

I disagree. If MS blocks and Sony doesnt then publishers will simply not support ps4. Then Sony are screwed.

Both will block. Sony would have just come out and said it otherwise.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I really don't see publishers being so stupid as to do that.

I see them caving in faster then MS in such a situation. Even worse, I feel people who didn't ordinarily pirate would, just based on them maybe wanting to "try" a game and having no option to get it at a cheaper price.

This think such a move might actually make more pirates then stop. This will hurt a lot of publishers in the end a lot more then they think. Many people who bought new IP's used, ended buying there sequels day 1. Now what happens if there is no used market? So..spend $60 on a new IP you can't sell or trade in or may not even be good?

It would be dumb for either company to even try such a thing. Used games are GREAT for MS and Sony, bad for publishers, but at the same time even publishers owe used game markets like Gamestop.

Here is a litte story abotu myself and used games. I bought GTAIII and GTAVC used many years ago, when I heard GTASA was coming out, I went NUTS!!!! Read every article about it, talked about it etc and pre-ordered it and got it DAY1! Every GTA game since, EVEN GTAIV (and I've been quite vocal about my hate for that game and DVD9 over the years) GTAV too, I've pre-ordered and got new. Did I buy them used? Yes, but there sequals I bought DAY 1!

I bought a friend of mine Dead Space (based on him really only playing Nintendo games and really, really liking RE). Now I LOVE Dead Space 1, being a old school RE fan, I like it more then anything after RE4 (I even like it more then RE4!) so come Chrismas, I knew what I was getting him. I bought him Dead Space 1 used, he ended up beating it SO many times! He got Dead Space 2 day 1, (Now I haven't even beaten Dead Space 2 yet...shame on me) and he now has beaten Dead Space 3 probably over 6 times (I kid you not) also bought Day 1.

Now this is the type of thing used games do, they allow gamers to get into an old series and become new fans, without having to pay a jacked up price.

If publishers don't see the pattern (I mean they kind'a have to by now) new IP's may become a whole lot harder to back.

[kassler]

They will continue to have online-passes and more games with microtransactions.

[Oh_Yeah]

Used game sales certainly outnumber new copy sales, so I understand..Some devs have lost their jobs due to not meeting sales marks and some games don't see sequals because of okay sales so yeah used games are not really favorable to the gamer. If used games were cut they could definitely start charging 40$ for a new release and easily make more money then they do now. Instead of selling back your game to the vulcher used game stores maybe the devs/publishers can set up a discount thing, where if you bought their game they could give you $ off towards their next game. To lay it out ..cut used games, charge 40$ for a new release, 10$ credit towards their next game..more money for the devs= more games for you and at cheaper prices. I don't see how any gamers could be upset with that.