Calming fears over a recently filed patent, Sony has officially confirmed that the PlayStation 4 will not block users from playing pre-owned software or require an always-on Internet connection to function.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Sony Worldwide Studios boss, Shuhei Yoshida, revealed the the patent in question (which suggested that game media would contain a tag that would bind the physical disc to a particular player) had nothing to do with the PlayStation 4. Yoshida then expanded on his view of pre-owned software, stating that the company has no intention of blocking used games from being played on the PlayStation 4 due to customer expectations.
“That’s the general expectation by consumers. They purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere, right? So that’s my expectation.”
Yoshida did not reveal why Sony decided to file the anti-consumer technology, or what they intend to use it for, but it seems we are safe from seeing it implemented in the next generation PlayStation.
Another concern that Yoshida knocked down is any notion that the PlayStation 4 would not be able to be played offline. The Worldwide Studios head specifically addressed the console’s offline capabilities in the interview, saying:
“You can play offline, but you may want to keep it connected… The system has the low-power mode – I don’t know the official term – that the main system is shut down but the subsystem is awake. Downloading or updating or you can wake it up using either the tablet, smartphone or PS Vita.”
“Oh yes, yes, you can go offline totally. Social is big for us, but we understand there are some people who are anti-social! So if you don’t want to connect to anyone else, you can do that.”
The unannounced Xbox 360 successor has recently been rumored to not allow users to play offline or run pre-owned software. If that turns out to be true, this confirmation by Sony will certainly give the PlayStation 4 a huge advantage in the next generation console war.