PS4 will NOT block used games/No always online CONFIRMED

So (hopefully) here is the end be all to the ever persisting question of "Can I play used games on the PS4?"

Linkypoo

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida has told Eurogamer that PlayStation 4 will not block the use of second-hand games, contrary to various reports, speculation and even a Sony patent unearthed last month.

I sat down with Yoshida a few hours after the PS4 reveal tonight and one of the first things I asked was whether used games would be blocked.

"Do you want us to do that?" he asked.

No, I said. I think, if you buy something on a disc, that you have a kind of moral contract with the person you've bought it from that you retain some of that value and you can pass it on.

Do you agree, I asked?

"Yes. That's the general expectation by consumers," said Yoshida. "They purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation."

So if someone buys a PlayStation 4 game, I asked, you're not going to stop them reselling it?

"Aaaah," was Yoshida's initial answer, but seemingly only because he'd forgotten his line. "So what was our official answer to our internal question?" he asked his Japanese PR advisor. The advisor stepped in but didn't seem to answer clearly, at least to my ears. Yoshida then took control again firmly:

"So, used games can play on PS4. How is that?"

I said I thought that was fine.

Interestingly, I also spoke to a Sony source elsewhere at the event this evening who told me that the anti used-game patent discovered last month was actually nothing to do with PlayStation 4 at all.

The patent suggested that discs would come branded with a contactless tag that could be recognised and read by your console, which would then bind it to you and prevent you from selling it on.

But whatever reason Sony did have for patenting it, it sounds like it wasn't for its next-generation console. Hopefully Microsoft will also avoid this ludicrous technology with its next-generation Xbox as well.

 

EuroGamer

Well there you go folks, breathe that audible sigh of relief

------

And 2nd link

http://kotaku.com/5985874/ps4-will-not-require-an-always+online-connection

Sony's head of worldwide game studios, Shuhei Yoshida said, of PS4 gaming, "Oh yes, yes, you can go offline totally. Social is big for us, but we understand there are some people who are anti-social! So if you don't want to connect to anyone else, you can do that."

UPDATE: More relief... At a roundtable this morning, Sony's game studios chief, Shuhei Yoshida, told reporters that any requirement for users to register a game online in order to play it would be left to game publishers. Sony won't require that.

Kotaku

And just for giggles

"I'm still hearing from at least one very good source who hasn't failed me yet that the next Xbox, codenamed Durango, will require an online connection, though that source isn't sure whether the console would tolerate spotty, dropped connections."

Sony: +1

Sony: +1

NoirLamia777

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

So (hopefully) here is the end be all to the ever persisting question of "Can I play used games on the PS4?"

Linkypoo

[QUOTE="EuroGamer"]

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida has told Eurogamer that PlayStation 4 will not block the use of second-hand games, contrary to various reports, speculation and even a Sony patent unearthed last month.

I sat down with Yoshida a few hours after the PS4 reveal tonight and one of the first things I asked was whether used games would be blocked.

"Do you want us to do that?" he asked.

No, I said. I think, if you buy something on a disc, that you have a kind of moral contract with the person you've bought it from that you retain some of that value and you can pass it on.

Do you agree, I asked?

"Yes. That's the general expectation by consumers," said Yoshida. "They purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation."

So if someone buys a PlayStation 4 game, I asked, you're not going to stop them reselling it?

"Aaaah," was Yoshida's initial answer, but seemingly only because he'd forgotten his line. "So what was our official answer to our internal question?" he asked his Japanese PR advisor. The advisor stepped in but didn't seem to answer clearly, at least to my ears. Yoshida then took control again firmly:

"So, used games can play on PS4. How is that?"

I said I thought that was fine.

Interestingly, I also spoke to a Sony source elsewhere at the event this evening who told me that the anti used-game patent discovered last month was actually nothing to do with PlayStation 4 at all.

The patent suggested that discs would come branded with a contactless tag that could be recognised and read by your console, which would then bind it to you and prevent you from selling it on.

But whatever reason Sony did have for patenting it, it sounds like it wasn't for its next-generation console. Hopefully Microsoft will also avoid this ludicrous technology with its next-generation Xbox as well.

 

whiskeystrike

Well there you go folks, breathe that audible sigh of relief

I could see them selling a lot of games exclusively through download.

A wise move. I bet that will make MS have a hard look at whether they will do it or not. If MS were to go ahead and block used games, that would be a huge win for Sony IMO. Respect +1.

I could see them selling a lot of games exclusively through download.

NinjaLegacy

Glass half empty type of person eh?

A wise move. I bet that will make MS have a hard look at whether they will do it or not. If MS were to go ahead and block used games, that would be a huge win for Sony IMO. Respect +1.

Serial_Killa

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

RossRichard

I could see them selling a lot of games exclusively through download.

NinjaLegacy

Great news!

nobody is happier than gamestop. they would have bankrupt if sony banned used games. microsoft turn now?

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

RossRichard

It has already been stated that PS Plus will carry over to PS4.  Since Sony is keeping the paid subscription of PS Plus, then it is pretty much a given that online will be free. 

I used to care but I just realized that I never buy used and I don't use gamefly.

[QUOTE="RossRichard"]

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

AmazonTreeBoa

[QUOTE="RossRichard"]

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

gamenerd15

It has already been stated that PS Plus will carry over to PS4.  Since Sony is keeping the paid subscription of PS Plus, then it is pretty much a given that online will be free. 

Good info, but not what I meant. I meant if the console will be required to be online to function, like the XBox is rumored to.

[QUOTE="RossRichard"]

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

AmazonTreeBoa

I could see them selling a lot of games exclusively through download.

NinjaLegacy

full retail games? Thats would be the dumbest of the decisions... they would alienate a big chunck of the market while doing so

wont happen

[QUOTE="AmazonTreeBoa"][QUOTE="RossRichard"]

Sweet, just tell me that online isn't mandatory and we are in business.

LightR

I never bought into the rumors that the PS4 would block used games. Companies patent lots of things for lots of reasons. A lot of times a company will patent something with no intention of ever using it commercially themselves. Sometimes they'll patent something just to keep from laying claim to it. Sony may well have patented this with an eye towards future compensation should someone else use something similar enough to it.

http://kotaku.com/5985874/ps4-will-not-require-an-always+online-connectionLightR

http://kotaku.com/5985874/ps4-will-not-require-an-always+online-connectionLightR

[QUOTE="LightR"]http://kotaku.com/5985874/ps4-will-not-require-an-always+online-connectionwhiskeystrike

[QUOTE="whiskeystrike"][QUOTE="LightR"]http://kotaku.com/5985874/ps4-will-not-require-an-always+online-connectionLightR

Won't be till I get off work though

Sony: +1

NoirLamia777

Sony +2 ... as we're getting "Destiny" on PS too. XBox isn't going to have much left for exclusives next gen...

Great news on both counts. If only they would have made it backwards compatible it would have been an instant purchase. Still, the next generation is looking much rosier.