Is Sony Banning The Resale of Physical and Digital Games?

Alright, let’s clear the air on something – despite the buzz, Sony is not about to shut down the resale scene for your beloved PS5 games. There’s been a bit of a mix-up thanks to a tweak in the PlayStation Software Usage Terms, and we’re here to set the record straight.

Clarifying the Buzz

So, here’s the deal: rumors started flying around about Sony cracking down on game resale. YouTuber RGT 85 and a bunch of Twitter folks spread the word, and even Insider Gaming jumped in, only to pull the plug when the community revealed it wasn’t breaking news after all.

An Oldie But Not a Newbie

The so-called problem? It’s hidden in section 7.1 of PlayStation’s Terms of Service, stating, “You must not resell either disc-based games or digital games, unless expressly authorized by us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally by the publisher.” But here’s the kicker – this rule isn’t the new kid on the block; it’s been hanging around for over a decade.

A Quick History Lesson

Flashback to the PlayStation 4 days, and Shuhei Yoshida, the head honcho at SIE Worldwide Studios, stepped in to say, “Chill, folks, you can sell or share your disc-based PS4 products,” despite what the ToS said.

Still Standing Strong

As far as we know, this clause has been on the books, unaltered, for a solid 10 years. It’s like a gaming relic, surviving from the PlayStation 1 era. A Twitter user, whereisaaron, even dropped a pic showing that the updated clause is basically a clone of the old one.

Sony’s Cool with It

So, relax. Sony isn’t slamming the door on reselling your PS5 games. Despite the existence of the clause, nothing’s changed in a decade. You’re still free to sell or swap your disc-based treasures.

Under the Hood of Software Usage Terms

The drama centers on Section 7 of the PlayStation Software Usage Terms, with that attention-grabbing line: “You must not resell either disc-based games or digital games unless expressly authorized by us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally by the publisher.”

Time-Tested Rules

Keep in mind, this isn’t some new rule they snuck in recently. It’s been hanging out in the Software Usage Terms since the PlayStation franchise kicked off. Heck, if you dust off your old PlayStation 1 games, you’ll find a similar message on the back.

Yoshida’s Word

Back in 2013, Yoshida assured everyone that selling or sharing disc-based PS4 products was A-OK. He emphasized how tricky it would be to clamp down on the resale of physical games.

What’s the Real Scoop on the Software Terms?

Sure, the resale clause is still in play, but the recent PlayStation Software Usage Terms update had its sights set on tweaking the Code of Conduct and software updates:

• Updated the Code of Conduct and what happens if you break it – check out clause 10.2.
• Added more info on when Sony might roll out software updates – peep into clauses 16 and 20.

In a Nutshell

To wrap it up, Sony’s latest software update doesn’t mean they’re waving goodbye to your freedom to sell or share your games. This so-called “new” clause has been chilling for ten years. Game on!