PlayStation 4 will play used games

Sony's freshly announced PlayStation 4 will allow users to play used games, Sony has announced.

It was previously rumoured that the machine might be looking to block preowned software from running, though Sony has now shot down this idea on the evening it formally unveiled its next-gen hardware to the world.

Speaking in an interview with Eurogamer, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida allayed previous fears: "Used games can play on PS4," he said.

Speaking about consumers' expectations when they purchase a physical disc, Yoshida said that people "purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation."

Another source speaking to Eurogamer suggested that a Sony patent uncovered in January, which would register software to one machine, and one machine only, never had anything to do with PlayStation 4 in the first place.

During its unveiling, Sony confirmed the PlayStation 4 would feature a PC-like architecture and x86 processor. The publisher also announced new entries in the Killzone and Infamous franchises, before unveiling new IP in the form of Drive Club and Knack. Media Molecule showed off a new sculpting prototype, Capcom unveiled its new title Deep Down (working title), and Square Enix promised to unveil a new Final Fantasy game at E3.

For more information on the PlayStation 4, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.