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Sony introducing "Network Pass Program" for games to get full online features
Okay Geek Team
We’ve seen this before with the likes of Mortal Kombat in which retail buyers would get a code known as the “Kombat Pass” that allowed them to get all the online features necessary to play multiplayer and so on. While this is an effective way to cut down on ‘Used Games’ sales, it does seriously screw with with most of the gaming community. Well, apparently after some packaging for an upcoming Resistance 3 bundle was spotted with some noise about a “PSN Network Pass”, Sony has since clarified that it means exactly what gamers wish it didn’t.
The official word from Sony states:
“We are always evaluating new programs for our online offering, and starting with Resistance 3 this September, we will be instituting a network pass program for PS3 games with online capabilities.
This program will be game-specific. Games that are a part of this program will include a single-use registration code that grants the account holder redeeming the code full online access for that title.
This is an important initiative as it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhancing premium online services across our first party game portfolio.”
By the sound of this it doesn’t really specifiy whether this will solely be reserved for New Games or if a network pass could be purchased online through the Playstation Store after acquiring the game as a used games purchases — this is what Warner Brothers eventually did with the Kombat pass.
Not sure what to think of it at the moment, I can understand that publishers would want to keep their investments safe with an additional fee to player multiplayer, seeing as most games nowdays become hits for having such features. But it does seriously impede the notion that once you’ve bought a title you’re entitled to all its content, including its online features.
However, on the other hand you could say that just as with any online capable game, sure you own the software but the platform in which you run the game is hosted by the developing studio and continues to pump in cash and resources to keep the experience going long after you paid the original $60 bucks or whatever you paid for it in a bargain bin.
ust sayin’.
