For the many gamers who buy used games, there is good news from Sony concerning the PlayStation 4. Although it was rumored that the next-gen systems would not play used games, Sony Worldwide President Shuhei Yoshida has confirmed that it will not be an issue.
"That's the general expectation by consumers," Yoshida told Eurogamer. "They purchase physical form; they want to use it everywhere, right? So that's my expectation...So, used games can play on PS4."
This is good news for gamers on a budget or those who frequently sell back their game's to retailers. Even though the PlayStation 4 is expected to have the majority of its games go digital, games will still be released on physical copies. This means that people looking to save a few dollars while buying games will still have a chance to do so.
It has also been discovered that Sony had filed patents for a"Electronic Content Processing System" and "Use Apparatus." While some suggested that this would lead to companies being able to track games to individuals (and thus preventing others from playing that copy), this announcement means gamers no longer have to worry about having to buy strictly new games. It is heartening to see that Sony will allow used games on its newest console, so that gamers on a budget can still enjoy discounted games.
With the focus on going digital, it remains to be see how much of an impact the used game market will have on the upcoming generation of consoles. The PlayStation 4 is rumored to come out around the holidays and has yet to have an official price tag put on it.