14 DAY TRIAL // Sony clarified a few more things regarding used games and how the PlayStation 4 supports them, highlighting that third-party companies can still employ things like Online Passes to regulate the access of pre-owned copies to multiplayer.
Among the biggest announcements made by Sony at its E3 2013 press conference was the fact that its PlayStation 4 fully supports used games and won't impose any sort of restriction onto owners of the console who want to sell or buy used retail games.
This is a stark contrast to Microsoft's Xbox One, as that console requires a complex procedure to be followed and even forces owners to go online every 24 hours so that their games library is checked by Microsoft's cloud system.
Even if Sony won't impose any sort of limitations onto used games on the PS4, this doesn't mean that third-party publishers will follow the example, as Sony Computer Entertainment America boss Jack Tretton emphasized to GTTV that decisions concerning DRM will be in the hands of the companies that are bringing games to the PS4.
Sony Communications Director Dan Race then told Gamefront that the DRM mentioned by Tretton refers to online passes, and he even revealed that Sony would drop the system for PlayStation 4 games.
"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."
Overall, it seems that the PlayStation 4 will employ practically the same policies as the PlayStation 3, although access to multiplayer will be locked behind the PlayStation Plus subscription.