Analyst Michael Pachter thinks GameStop would not stock an anti-used console
Rumors circulating earlier today claiming the PlayStation 4 would employ tech preventing it from playing used games have drawn criticism from analyst Michael Pachter.
Calling such a decision stupid, Pachter said GameStop could simply refuse to stock a console that would be so damaging to their business.
"It isn't really in Sony's or Microsoft's best interests to block used games," he told Games Industry International.
"It would benefit Activision and EA slightly, and would hurt GameStop a great deal. If Sony unilaterally did this, I could see GameStop refusing to carry their console, and sales of the PS4 would therefore suffer."
"If one does it and the others don't, the one who does it will see a loss of market share."
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This means the odds any major consoles block used games are slim to none.
None of the console manufacuters "are stupid enough to do this unilaterally," claims Pachter, and none "are evil enough to do it together."
David Cole of DFC Intelligence agrees, adding that a system that didn't support used games would turn off the main customer base, which rushes to trade in old games for credit toward new releases.
"In other words, I don't think it would do so well in the core market," he said.
I can not imagine that console manufacturers would seriously consider not allowing second hand games to be played on their consoles.
It is unnecessary and foolish - more and more content will be dlc only anyway, and that will be tied to an identifiable account one would guess. So the question is why?
The current system does work, and people who wouldn't pay full price for a game would definitely have the opportunity to purchase if a second hand copy came along.
Imagine an automobile manufacturer saying to it's dealers it can't sell second hand cars! It would be pure madness, and what would they gain?
I would imagine that everyone who is now a casual gamer - who didn't grow up on games but who likes spending 0.69p on a game would find it difficult to look at a £45 or £50 price tag and have any interest, so the manufacturers would lose the potential audience, Apple, and Zynga ave been nurturing for them.
As the owner of practically every major console since the Atari 2600 - I'm not going to invest in something which tells me I have to pay full price for every game I buy for a system.
IPete2.
I wouldn't buy a locked console like this. I am what you call a "patient gamer" I have only ever played used/sale games, because I don't like spending $60 on a game. I pick up an old game for $10 and have fun.
Still dont learn do you...
Pre owned killed my goldfish.
The truth is that we'll don't really know what effect removing pre owned will have on revenue. The quicker we get that into our heads, the sooner we will begin to find a solid understanding before potentially reducing revenues by shutting off revenue stream that fuels purchases.
