PlayStation 4 is Code-Named ‘Orbis,’ May Restrict Second-Hand Games - pagelfarge1999

The next-genesis PlayStation comfort leave display resolutions up to 4096-by-2160 and show 3D games in 1080p, but it may render second-hand games otiose, accordant to an online report. Games would only be ready to hand for the purported new solace, codenamed Orbis, on brand new discs or Eastern Samoa downloads from the PlayStation Network. New discs would require online certification via PSN and so be locked to the account of a single user, according to Kotaku.

While these are only claims from anonymous sources at this point, the theme that console makers are looking to destroy or leastways restrict the second-hand gaming and rental market is non surprising. The move could crowd more users toward victimisation Sony's PSN Store to download spirited titles. And crippled makers would also wanted the lockdown, as Kotaku points proscribed, since it would remove the need to create so-called online passes to bilk more money taboo of second-hand gamers. Online passes typically offer pre-owned game users access to online features or hot content downloads for a fee.

It's not clear what Sony's purported plans would mean for secondly-hand gaming havens such every bit GameStop or online phonograph record rental services such American Samoa Gamefly. Kotaku says one possibility for pre-owned discs, when inserted in another console, could be that users have access to a trial version of the game with the choice to purchase the stentorian translation.

If Kotaku's claims are straight, this is good the latest example of how technology companies are moving toward locking down electronic computer ironware as much as possible. Sony has already shown its desire to keep the PlayStation closed when it went subsequently hacker George Hotz for distributing jailbreaking tools for the PS3. Microsoft is also said to be considering an anti-used game limitation for its next-contemporaries Xbox console.

This lockdown mentality is also creeping on the far side consoles, smartphones and new devices to PCs. Microsoft currently plans to lock u toss off the Underground-style interface on Windows 8 PCs by constrictive Metro-style apps to the company's possess app stash awa. Some critics fear Orchard apple tree may eventually lock down the Mac too, restricting users to purchasing apps only from the Mac App Entrepot. At this point, however, Microsoft is going farther than Apple when it comes to PC lockdown.

Sony's Orbis is purportedly scheduled to launch before the 2022 holiday season and beta consoles could be in developer's hands by the end of 2012, Kotaku says. The accompany's current console, the PlayStation 3, debuted in the U.S. in late 2006.

Connect with Ian Paul (@ianpaul) on Twitter and Google+, and with Today@PCWorld on Twitter for the in vogue tech news and analysis.