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Sony: 'We won't impose any restrictions on PS4 used games'

Countering Microsoft's murky message regarding used games on the Xbox One, Sony says it won't impose any restrictions on trading or selling used games.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy
Sony makes a simple declaration to much applause (click image to enlarge). Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

The battle lines have been drawn.

After Microsoft created a controversy with an ambiguous used-games policy at the launch of the Xbox One, Sony's striking back with a simple message to gamers: "We won't impose any restrictions on used games" for the PS4.

"I guess that's a good thing," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO Sony Computer Entertainment America, earning big applause from the crowd at Sony's press conference at E3. "When a gamer buys a PS4 disc, they have the rights to use that disc. They can sell it to another person, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever."

Tretton then went on to add that that games didn't need to be connected online to play, taking a swipe at Microsoft's new DRM program for the Xbox One. "It [the game] won't stop working if you haven't authenticated within 24 hours," he said.

For all intents and purposes, it appears that gamers will be able to treat and play PS4 games just as they would PS3 games.

We'll see how -- or if -- Microsoft responds, but it clearly left Sony with an opening that Sony now seems determined to exploit.

Watch this: Sony drops a bomb on Microsoft