PS4 DRM is up to the publisher

[Haze]

Sony may have just shot itself in the foot after revealing DRM on the PlayStation 4 is entirely in the hands of the game publishers.

The platform holder was cheered last night after it appeared to take a huge step into winning over gamers by stating it would not place restrictive DRM on PS4 titles, but it appears this only applies to first-party games.

Quizzed on the matter of DRM by GameTrailers, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton said: "We create the platform. We've certainly stated that our first party games are not going to be doing that, but we welcome publishers and their business models to our platform.

"There's going to be free-to-play, there's going to be every potential business model on there. And again that's up to their relationship with the consumer."

Asked again about DRM he added: "We're not going to dictate that. We're going to give them a platform to publish on."

"The DRM decision is going to have to be in the hands of the third parties – that's not something we're going to dictate or control or mandate or implement."

Source: PS4 DRM down to the publisher - VideoGamer.com

I know it sounds like bad news but according to this article, it's not what it appears: http://www.gamefront.com/sony-third-party-drm-refers-to-playing-used-games-online-only/

Rather than speculate, we went directly to Sony to find out what’s going on. Turns out, it’s a very similar system to what’s in place on the PS3 now. According to Dan Race, Senior Director, Corporate Communications for Sony, Tretton’s statements were referring specifically to playing used games online. He told me,

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.

This is good news for gamers, indeed. In a nutshell, you can buy a used single-player game for the PS4 and play it all you want. If you want to go online with it, you may have to deal with some sort of publisher-determined DRM, be it an Online Pass or whatever.

So I really hope that's what they meant. Even if it isn't, still won't affect my decision of grabbing the PS4.

 

[Joker99352]

I think it really is what it is now. Certain games require online passes and things to that effect, so it probably isn't going to change. I think the only reason they decided to bring it up to begin with is because of all the confusion over the Xbox One announcement, which in itself was a bit unnecessary if what they're saying is really true. Bottom line, I'm not worried.

 

[BlackSolaris]

That's unfortunately to hear, because with this piece of news, it's pretty much confirmed that companies like EA and Activision will definitely take advantage of this, even after they just dropped the Season Passes and all of that.

 

[Haze]

That's unfortunately to hear, because with this piece of news, it's pretty much confirmed that companies like EA and Activision will definitely take advantage of this, even after they just dropped the Season Passes and all of that.

Well at least it's only online passes so far! Really hope they don't go the Xbox One route and you will have to pay fees to play used games.

 

[rehsot]

Well at least it's only online passes so far! Really hope they don't go the Xbox One route and you will have to pay fees to play used games.

Hi I had a chat to manager at game today about this topic .the games on the Xbox one have to be installed like a pc based game and pc games need a serial key to install.He told me you can trade the game in and obtain credit for it against a new purchase .But when they resell the game they will have to supply a new code with it for the next person to install it on their xbox one.you can still sell the game but to a retailer.IF the game is still activley registered to one console this is where a charge will come in to install it on another console if you buy from retail source you will be given this code with your purchase.So you can still trade and obtain used games but only from a retail source.game have to buy these codes from microsoft my take on this is to try and stop piracy.what do you think?

 

[CaptainWoodzy]

I think most of the developers for PS4 are smart enough not to pull any silly crap with consumers. Microsoft is dumb enough to try and placate retailers BEFORE consumers, and that should never be the case. Sony is treating their customers fairly and actually giving them the benefit of the doubt, which will go a long way this generation.

 

[Haze]

Hi I had a chat to manager at game today about this topic .the games on the Xbox one have to be installed like a pc based game and pc games need a serial key to install.He told me you can trade the game in and obtain credit for it against a new purchase .But when they resell the game they will have to supply a new code with it for the next person to install it on their xbox one.you can still sell the game but to a retailer.IF the game is still activley registered to one console this is where a charge will come in to install it on another console if you buy from retail source you will be given this code with your purchase.So you can still trade and obtain used games but only from a retail source.game have to buy these codes from microsoft my take on this is to try and stop piracy.what do you think?

Ah so you can still trade in Xbox One games? I suppose you'll only be able to at certain Microsoft-approved game stores?

 

[DrRipley]

If they are going with the PS3 route, then I wouldn't mind, as the system in place now is still a lot like back when we were using cartridges anyway. I agree that as long as they don't go with how MS originally planned to "reinvent" the system, then it should be fine. I doubt it would be in developers best interest to start enforcing strict rules anyway, especially after the backlash we've seen with Xbox One.