Sony confirms network pass program

Yesterday, the rumor mill churned out speculation that Sony would debut something called the PSN Pass with Resistance 3 this September. Today, Sony has confirmed that rumor, officially noting that the network pass program will make its debut with Insomniac's sci-fi shooter later this year.

Sony today confirmed the new online initiative, which was first spoken of in August of last year.

"Starting with Resistance 3 this September, we will be instituting a network pass program for PS3 games with online capabilities," reads a statement on the program provided to GameSpot.

Titles that are part of the program will come bundled with a single-use code that grants users "full online access for that title." According to Sony, this move "allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio."

The online passes bundled with new copies of EA Sports titles, as well as Homefront, Mortal Kombat, and others are seen as an effort to make buying games new more attractive than buying them used (a sale that puts no money in the publisher's pocket). Typically, secondhand users must pay a nominal fee ($10) to access all the features new purchasers receive with online pass-enabled games. However, Sony did not say what it plans to charge secondhand gamers for its online program.

Resistance 3 ships exclusively for the PlayStation 3 on September 6. For more on the sci-fi first-person shooter, check out GameSpot's most recent preview of the game.