SONY: All Future 1st Person Games will Require Online Pass

[Groo The Perverted]

EDIT: Mods, please change thread title to reflect that this refers to all 1st party games with MULTIPLAYER.

Sony just revealed that starting with Uncharted 3, all future first party games will require an online pass.

This was sort of predicted when Resistance 3 came out with it, but now it's official.

Thoughts?

Last weekend, it was confirmed that Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will be the second title (after Resistance 3) to make use of Sony’s Online Pass to enable the game’s multiplayer mode. Now it looks like the single-use code will become a regular feature of Sony’s upcoming games.

“Online Pass will be incorporated into Uncharted 3 and future Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios games with online functionality,” the company told Destructoid. “We will provide further information in the future.”

Online Pass requires users to submit a code in order to unlock the multiplayer mode for games, and was created in order to generate revenue from the used-game marketplace. Anyone purchasing a used copy of Uncharted 3 or Resistance 3 will be required to purchase one of the codes in order to access the games’ multiplayer modes.

The system has had its share of critics, but the statement from Sony seems to indicate that Online Pass is here to stay.

[Bizdady]

Cant say didnt see this coming. Any word on what the price for the code will be if you decide to get a used game?

[Navster]

Sony did this as an F-u to Gamestop whos making a killing re-selling trade ins

[dereksworl]

Originally Posted by Bizdady

Cant say didnt see this coming. Any word on what the price for the code will be if you decide to get a used game?

if the code is about $14.99(which i predict it will be), it would pretty much render any used game priced $44 or more useless. better off just buying it new.........

[ScarredLungs]

Very interesting. I wonder if we will see this kind of thing spread to the xbox as well.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by cvm

Very interesting. I wonder if we will see this kind of thing spread to the xbox as well.

I dunno, but I know some people were complaining that Crysis on the Xbox which just was released on Live and the PSN, requires you to be connected to the Live service at all times. If you get disconnected (internet/power goes out, Live goes down, etc) you have 10 minutes to reconnect.

So you can't play the game offline.

[ScarredLungs]

This will apply to all PS3 FPS games multiplayer? (I should have asked this above, but i drew a mind blank)

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

I have zero problem with this as long as the original purchaser is not being charged for a pass. When the game is sold new, there should be a code already with it at no extra charge, but when I buy used, I don't mind having to pony up for a pass so long as the used price + the pass are still a better deal for me than buying new.

But if this is going to be an across-the-board-everyone-pays-extra kind of thing, then I just might skip the next generation of consoles. I'm already getting fleeced with all the micro transactions. Here, buy this map pack two days after the game released.

[Elandyll]

Not just FPS.

The article is pretty clear: All 1st party (Sony studios) games with online functionalities. In this day and age, read: "All Sony Games".

Obviously they can't force 2nd or 3rd party studios to follow suite, but that's something that's already going on anyway (EA), so I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the rule rather than the exception.

Seems like an ok solution to me. Doesn't require you to be online 100% of the time (even when you play in offline mode) like some other companies, just to create your online account with a code that is a 1 time use.

Wouldn't surprise me if during the first 6 months of a game's shelf life the code alone would be $29.99 (to outright deny competition between used copies and new games), and then $19.99 or $14.99 after that time.

I have zero problem with this as long as the original purchaser is not being charged for a pass. When the game is sold new, there should be a code already with it at no extra charge, but when I buy used, I don't mind having to pony up for a pass so long as the used price + the pass are still a better deal for me than buying new.

Pretty sure the code (one time use, obviously) will be included with all new copies.
The alternative would be the sell the brand new packaged games at $39.99 and the code online for $19.99, which I don't see happening for now, they make more money off the forced packaging of both (offline and online) with new releases @ $59.99.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Not just FPS.

The article is pretty clear: All 1st party (Sony studios) games with online functionalities. In this day and age, read: "All Sony Games".

Obviously they can't force 2nd or 3rd party studios to follow suite, but that's something that's already going on anyway (EA), so I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the rule rather than the exception.

Seems like an ok solution to me. Doesn't require you to be online 100% of the time (even when you play in offline mode) like some other companies, just to create your online account with a code that is a 1 time use.

Wouldn't surprise me if during the first 6 months of a game's shelf life the code alone would be $29.99 (to outright deny competition between used copies and new games), and then $19.99 or $14.99 after that time.


Pretty sure the code (one time use, obviously) will be included with all new copies.
The alternative would be the sell the brand new packaged games at $39.99 and the code online for $19.99, which I don't see happening for now, they make more money off the forced packaging of both (offline and online) with new releases @ $59.99.

Good point. If the pricing followed your above thoughts it would be a huge blow to Gamestop.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

And once again, the milking of the games industry continues. The whole thing is just one big joke, I mean, day 1 DLC, overpriced map packs and pass codes (as well as comparing used games to piracy, in the hopes of playing off an idiotic sympathy card), it's only going to get worse from here.

[DaleDark]

Originally Posted by dereksworl

if the code is about $14.99(which i predict it will be), it would pretty much render any used game priced $44 or more useless. better off just buying it new.........

The Mega Media Exchange near me charges $10 less for any used game requiring an online pass. I actually picked up a copy of Dead Space 2 there earlier this summer for $29.99, and it had a working online pass.

[Bizdady]

Remember back when gaming was simple. I would save up my allowance for 2 weeks, get a ride to the local game shop and pick up the newest crash bandicoot lol Ahhh good times lol

[KamiAmaya]

The gaming industry has been heading downhill for a while now in my opinion.
This will be one of the reasons I stop earning plats and possibly "retire" from gaming. At this point I really don't see myself being a gamer next gen.

[Groo The Perverted]

Yes I made a mistake in phrasing the headline. Hopefully a mod can change it to what I requested in the OP.

Meant to say first party games with multiplayer, not first person. lol

[MOONPHASE]

This is 1 of the many reasons why I love my offline only games. But then again, I always buy my games as new unless the game is OOP or just too rare to find a new copy.

So i'm guessing this means the next Sony Bleach game for PS3 will have online multiplayer but with an online pass even though a game like that doesn't nead multiplayer.

[hellmonkey]

Im fine with this, I really am as long as its reasonable priced. There needs to be at least 2 levels of pricing. One for rentals that is fairly cheap, $2-3, that lasts for a week or so, and then a permanent one.

[Freeza]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

I have zero problem with this as long as the original purchaser is not being charged for a pass. When the game is sold new, there should be a code already with it at no extra charge, but when I buy used, I don't mind having to pony up for a pass so long as the used price + the pass are still a better deal for me than buying new.

My issue with this is that if more than one person in your home games, then how does it handle separate profiles on the same PS3. I'd imagine it blocks all but the original user unless it somehow records the use of the code in your purchased items list (there have been some 1 time use codes that were usable this way via game sharing). Anyone know for sure?

[SleeperAgent]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

Im fine with this, I really am as long as its reasonable priced. There needs to be at least 2 levels of pricing. One for rentals that is fairly cheap, $2-3, that lasts for a week or so, and then a permanent one.

They will most likely have a 48 hour pass for free (one time use) like with Need for Speed Hot Pursuit.

I really don't see a problem with this. Gamestop is absolute garbage, they still charge upwards of 39.99 for USED copies of MW2! All their pricing is ludicrous. "Here kid, we'll give you $25 for this gamme THAT'S LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD THEN WE'LL TURN AROUND AND SELL IT FOR 54.99." I understand profit margins, but 100% is unreasonable.

This is why all my selling is online, or if that won't work, I'll just give it to a local kid.

everyone needs to remember, this doesn't hurt people who bought the game at release, or even a few weeks later at discount, or pre-ordered. This only hurt the used game market, and eventually (HOPEFULLY) hurts Gamestop enough to make their pricing FAIR.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Freeza

My issue with this is that if more than one person in your home games, then how does it handle separate profiles on the same PS3. I'd imagine it blocks all but the original user unless it somehow records the use of the code in your purchased items list (there have been some 1 time use codes that were usable this way via game sharing). Anyone know for sure?

Pure speculation here but it probably goes based on the S/N of the PS3.

Bill