Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3 MP Will Require Online Pass
Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3 will require an Online Pass for playing online.
Gamers waiting to pick up a used copy of Battlefield 3 and Mass Effect 3 at a somewhat discounted price might as well purchase a freshly printed version, as the multiplayer components of both games will require an Online Pass. Those who purchase new retail copies will get this pass for free, but customers lingering in the used games sector will have to fork out the extra bucks if they want to play online.
"The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War feature can be activated via the Online Pass code found in every new copy of Mass Effect 3," the company said in an official statement. "The Mass Effect 3 Online Pass can also be purchased separately on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation3 computer entertainment system."
Just days ago Battlefield 3 core gameplay designer Alan Kertz said that an Online Pass can be purchased separately for used games. While most of us already know that it's a way for publishers and developers to generate revenue from the used games sector (because, after all, they get absolutely nothing from second-hand sales), Kertz said the Online Pass revenue also helps pay for the cost of keeping multiplayer servers up and running.
Earlier this week EA went into further detail about Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode, explaining that progress made the multiplayer component and "a suite of Mass Effect games and applications" will directly link back to the player's main campaign, helping Commander Shepard "rally the forces of the galaxy to eliminate the Reaper threat once and for all."
"Featuring four-player cooperative gameplay, multiplayer in Mass Effect 3 puts players in the role of a team of elite Special Forces soldiers sent to protect resources and assets that can help the war effort against the Reapers," EA said. "Players will have the option of playing as one of six classes and from six different races: Human, Krogan, Asari, Drell, Salarian and Turian."
Details surrounding the multiplayer portion of Mass Effect 3 can be found here.
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This is crap. I bought a used copy of call of duty 2 years ago. I use if fine online. Whats the big deal?
EA are turning into the next Apple....
Booooo!
That being said, BioWare games tend to be so awesome I'll still pay for ME 3.
I'm not sure why they think they should get ANY money from second hand games, do Ford etc get any money from second hand cars?
This news will probably cause EA to lose more money to people pirating out of spite, than it will make from trying to monetize second hand sales.
Ford DO get money from second hand cars in after market parts sales. What a daft comment to make.
Only one answer to this problem.
Do not use legal copy!
If we are using pirated products, we do not have to worry about this at all.
I dunno, lately...I am beginning to think of using pirated products rather than buying...
Online passes will really damage the gaming industry if they become standard, some people rely on the used gaming service to trade in old games for a discount on new ones because they're so damned expensive.
If you think this will cause me to buy new and not used, you're mistaken EA, I'll just get a pirate copy, how would that suit you? I have no issue paying for games but I hate the current ridiculous prices and these moronic idea's being put into action that some cheap suit thinks up.
Ford DO get money from second hand cars in after market parts sales. What a daft comment to make.
Right so the next owner has to pay for the parts bought previously? Do they have to pay to get the options again? No?
What's so different about these games? If I bought the game then decide to sell it, I no longer have it, but they still have the same amount of players, they haven't gained an extra player.
Like most things nowadays it boils down to greed and trying to milk every last penny out of the consumer.