Sony Files Patent On Hardware To Prevent Used Games Sales
It came to light yesterday that Sony filed a patent for a chip that, if successful, would inevitably negate the used game market. The chip would restrict “disc IDs” to “player IDs,” permanently locking the two and shutting down the disc if the IDs don’t match. The chip is reported to be implemented on individual software discs for a future Sony console, and would create and link these IDs on the disc’s initial start-up.
The patent hasn’t been a confirmed feature for the Orbis/Playstation 4 yet, as well as any specific details on how this system would actually be implemented. It seems more likely that the feature will be link the discs to a person’s PSN account, rather than the game being anchored to a single console, enabling you to take your games over to your friends’ house and sign into your PSN on their system to access your player ID.
Be careful not to get skeptical or worried so early on, as Sony has made no official statement about the patent, making any information at this point merely rumors and speculation. But it’s also important to consider the overall harm that the used game markets can cause to publishers and developers, as they only profit on the purchase on new games. Studios are closing down on a regular basis, with even major publishers like THQ possibly facing extinction.
Nobody write off Sony just yet! Keep checking back with us at VGN to hear more about Sony’s future plans for Playstation as they break.
