This Anti-Consumer Decision From Sony May Cause Outrage Among PlayStation 5 Fans

Reselling or buying used console games has been a taboo issue for a very long time. There was a time when people used to just borrow video game discs from their friends and start playing them. Over the years, technology has changed, and the way games look has changed, but the media on which they are sold is still disc and flash-based. Hence, selling and borrowing used games have not changed much either. But it looks like Sony PlayStation does not like this.

Recently, some fans have uncovered a bunch of very problematic terms in Sony PlayStation Europe’s Software Usage Terms. And it appears no PlayStation user is allowed to sell the games they paid for.

Sony’s new policies about PlayStation games have alarmed fans

Back in the era of the PlayStation 3, Sony decided it would be an excellent idea to release games with a dedicated online pass. What was an online pass? Well, it was a code that came with every “first-hand” video game. And using this code was the only way for gamers to play online. If someone bought a used game, they would not get an online pass because it had already been used; hence, online games were pretty much useless.

That was Sony’s attempt at preventing pre-owned game sales. After a major backlash, they had to back out of this plan. But games like Unit 13 and Little Big Planet for the PlayStation Vita ended up being permanent causalities of this. People were now stuck with used copies of these games without online passes. Now Sony is doing it all again.

Seems like they are discreetly warning their fanbase about not selling their games. Speaking of terms, these specifically suggest that any software for a PlayStation console, physical or digital, is only licensed to buyers by companies or Sony. Then it goes on to say, “You must not resell either disc-based games or digital games unless expressly authorised by us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally by the publisher.”

No doubt, fans are alarmed about it. While many people are denying this being the case, it is clearly written on Sony’s own website. It would be pretty hard for anyone to believe that Sony would not start enforcing this rule in the future. Unless they decide to change these words. Maybe they might find a way for PlayStation 5 or even 6 consoles to find out if a person is using a pre owned disc.

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Here’s hoping Sony is not sliding back to its PS3 era yet again. It would be sad to see such a robust platform holder getting pushed aside just because they decided to be difficult. If Sony continues with this anti-consumer clause or enforces it, a backlash would follow for sure.

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