That came to an end, in some style it must be said, when sources recently suggested that the PlayStation 4 is known as ‘Orbis,’ and that it will include an anti-used games system. US retailer GameStop has already expressed their belief that the next Xbox won’t feature a pre-owned blocking feature and, according to one analyst, the firm will go as far as not selling the PlayStation 4 if it utilizes such a system.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter stressed to GamesIndustry International the importance of Sony and Microsoft not going down the path of implementing a system to block used games within their next consoles.
Pachter also continued to state that if a single platform holder were to integrate the system, they’ll face the ramifications via a loss of market share. He elobarated on this by telling NowGamer that a “collusion charge” would ensue if various platform holders were to release anti-pre-owned games system. Moreover, Pachter added that neither Sony, Microsoft nor Nintendo “are stupid enough to do this unilaterally,” whilst the manufacturers aren’t “evil enough to do it together.”
DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole, meanwhile, shares the same sentiments as Pachter. He believes it would be imprudent to block pre-owned games as a console which utilizes such a system would ultimately fail to capture a considerable portion of the hardcore gaming market.
With all the talk regarding Sony and Microsoft preparing their rumored consoles to support blocking the devices’ owners from playing used games, what financial benefits could entail for the companies? Not much, it seems, as Pachter says that both platform holders’ used-games software sales amounts to “less than 10 per cent of sales on their respective consoles.”
Do you agree with Pachter’s appraisal of the situation? Could a console be successful if GameStop refused to stock it? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Sources: GamesIndustry International, NowGamer
