Sony’s Shocking Anti Used Game Patent
Sony’s newest technology patent could wipe out the pre-owned games market.
According to CVG, this new technology tags individual games, recording that copy’s previous use. Essentially, this points to the possible restriction of game usage linked to one console or device and one user account – potentially wiping out the pre-owned games market.
Pachter also said that while this move might benefit Activision or EA, it would really hurt GameStop - a massive retailer that may refuse to stock PS4 or new-generation games.Already, the reports about the new Sony patent have driven the market to respond: GameStop’s shareholders have rapidly sold shares, causing the game retailer’s stock to plummet by $1.57. A large portion of GameStop’s retail division is dominated by pre-owned games.
According to Wedbush Securities’ Michael Pachter, Sony would be silly to fully implement such technology. “Sony would be materially hurt is its console blocked used games and competitor consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo did not,” said Pachter.
But, Pachter believes that the reaction and the stock sell-off that GameStop experienced is a little overblown. And SCEA CEO Jack Tretton reportedly does not support any action to block pre-owned games.
| Article Comments | |||||||||
| Now I wonder if Microsoft might implement the same thing on their system. | ||||||||
| Didn't MS already cause concern about the apps? If you purchase apps on the ARM architecture (eg Surface Tablet)marketplace, you can't use them on the x86 architecture (eg PC, laptop). It makes sense, because it's 2 entirely different coded systems. What doesn't make sense is that instead of just downloading the correct version app for your alternative platform, they expect you to pay both versions, for example, buy an ARM and x86 version of Angry birds. | ||||||||
| @Sous, this patent specifically refers to the PlayStation and competitor consoles. But downloading both versions does seem to be the most inefficient way of going about it. | ||||||||
