We double-checked whether Sony is being cute with their DRM plans and might actually be matching Xbox One in allowing publishers to block used gamesâdespitenot blocking used games themselves
We asked: Can third-party publishers restrict used games on PS4 even if Sony wonât?
A Sony PR person, who told us theyâd triple-check, told us this morning: âOur used game position for PS4 is exactly the same as PS3, which publishers and consumers broadly support today. In fact, all publishers weâve spoken to are in agreement with our position.â
Publishers can still do online passes to restrict multiplayer, though Sony has dropped that for their own games.
Weâd love Sony to flat-out say publishers can or canât block the playing of used games themselves, but it seems that this answer is the best weâre getting right now.
Take a tour through Sonyâs statements on PS4 used game DRM here
UPDATE: Some readers have wondered what could possibly be vague about Sonyâs statement. Some have pointed to Sonyâs dropping of its online pass for first-party games as proof that the PS4 canât possibly permit third-parties from restricting used games.
So letâs elaborate on this a bit.
Sony has said that the PS4 wonât restrict used games. Theyâre talking at a system level.
Just yesterday, John Koller, v.p. of hardware marketing at Sony, told me that third-parties could still do online passes, but that Sony wonât. âOnline pass would be up to a publisher if they wanted to continue it,â he said.
In an e-mail we were then sent this Sony statement:
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.
We are in the age of ultra-confusing Xbox One policy statements, so weâre looking extra-closely at any expressed policies from these companies.
So I e-mailed Sony PR the following note:
âOh, ok. So weâre still a tiny bit unclear. Could third parties independently block used games sales even if Sony isnât blocking them on PS4? Or is that option off the table? I understand what you guys are saying about charging for online, but weâre trying to be clear on whether publishers can still opt to restrict sales of their used games on PS4, even if Sony isnât restricting them.â
And thatâs the request, e-mailed yesterday after my interview with Koller, that Sony PR wanted to triple-check the answer. This morning, they e-mailed this response:
Our used game position for PS4 is exactly the same as PS3, which publishers and consumers broadly support today. In fact, all publishers weâve spoken to are in agreement with our position.
We just want them to say that third-parties can or cannot restrict used games. We want to have that iron-clad for readers. And thatâs why we keep asking.
UPDATE 2: Hereâs Sony Computer Entertainment of America boss Jack Tretton to AllThingsD, making it sound like a done deal that all disc-based games, first and third party, will work even when theyâre used, for anyone:
Tretton: âAny game that is made for PS4 that is physical goods, whether first-party or third-party, can go into a PS4 and play regardless of where it came from. The first player will play it, no problem, the second player will play it, no problem. What I was referring to was the online proposition.â
So maybe there could still be a loophole that publishers could try to restrict them? Even if there is, Sonyâs setting a pretty clear example of what they think is right on PS4 and how it should work by default, which is to not restrict used disc games. We may fear the worst, but thereâs good reason here to hope for the best.
