EA to drop Online Pass system

Gimpymoo · 16 May 2013 at 10:16

http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1...#5278&utm_campaign=GPAU Newsletter 2013-05-16

Online Passes for EA titles will be a thing of the past, according to the publisher, which said it made the decision based on player feedback.

“Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass,” EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg told VentureBeat. “None of our new EA titles will include that feature.”

The Online Pass programme was instituted by EA as a way to earn revenue from second-hand sales of its games. A code for online access would be supplied with copies of the game purchased new, which would unlock online features including multiplayer. The code could only be redeemed once, which meant second-hand purchasers would need to buy a new code from EA if the original purchaser already redeemed it.

Battlefield 3, Madden NFL and numerous other EA games use Online Pass, and other publishers including Activision and Ubisoft have similar programmes.

For obvious reasons the feature was never popular with players, however.

“Initially launched as an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format,” Reseburg said. “We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.”

But EA will continue to seek other ways of monetising content.

“We’re still committed to creating content and services that enhance the game experience well beyond the day you first start playing,” Reseburg noted.

Ok, I know this is a console centric article, however, I feel this is E.A treating all gamers like idiots... AGAIN, and trying to be "smart".

Yes, they are "dropping" the online pass system, HOWEVER, it is now well known that both the PS4 and the next XBox have DRM "built in" should a publisher/developer require it. E.A will never utilise such systems, would they?

So, are E.A doing the "right thing" or is this what they thought to be a clever PR tactic of filling the room with smoke, then when it clears, everyone realises they have stole the family silver?

agnes · 16 May 2013 at 12:15

"We've listened to the feedback."

Ha... Sure EA... :rolleyes:

Antar Bolaeisk · 16 May 2013 at 12:21

That or they've microtransactioned everything in future games to the hilt so they don't need the pass anymore.

agnes · 16 May 2013 at 12:23

Antar Bolaeisk said:
That or they've microtransactioned everything in future games to the hilt so they don't need the pass anymore.

Battlefield 4 for example...

ZombieFan · 16 May 2013 at 12:24

Gimpymoo said:
Ok, I know this is a console centric article, however, I feel this is E.A treating all gamers like idiots... AGAIN, and trying to be "smart".

Yes, they are "dropping" the online pass system, HOWEVER, it is now well known that both the PS4 and the next XBox have DRM "built in" should a publisher/developer require it. E.A will never utilise such systems, would they?

So, are E.A doing the "right thing" or is this what they thought to be a clever PR tactic of filling the room with smoke, then when it clears, everyone realises they have stole the family silver?

Okay, I'm confused about what you're complaining about here. Are you saying that they should have just turned it off and not told anyone? Or are you saying that they should explain that there is a possibility in the future that they may use an alterative scheme instead (which is just speculation on your part at the moment?)

Evilsod · 16 May 2013 at 12:51

I like how the article states 'It was done to get money from second-hand sales', then has a quote from EA reps saying 'we did it to provide a service to players'. As if anyone has ever believed that stance?

Carlow · 16 May 2013 at 12:57

tbph this reads as: we are dropping online passes, to use Xbox/Ps4 DRM instead.

Cold Fusion · 16 May 2013 at 12:58

ZombieFan said:
Okay, I'm confused about what you're complaining about here. Are you saying that they should have just turned it off and not told anyone? Or are you saying that they should explain that there is a possibility in the future that they may use an alterative scheme instead (which is just speculation on your part at the moment?)

I think what Gimpymoo is annoyed with is EA making out that they have changed thier mind about Online Passes because of customer feedback (which in the past EA have been heavily critised on), when infact it is likely this will become redundant anyway when the new console generation force games to be tied to an account (the situation we have had in PC Gaming for while and what Origin effectively does)

panyan · 16 May 2013 at 12:59

agnes said:
Battlefield 4 for example...

buy a better K/D

FrenchTart · 16 May 2013 at 13:00

Cold Fusion said:
I think what Gimpymoo is annoyed with is EA making out that they have changed thier mind about Online Passes because of customer feedback (which in the past EA have been heavily critised on), when infact it is likely this will become redundant anyway when the new console generation force games to be tied to an account (the situation we have had in PC Gaming for while and what Origin effectively does)

Indeed.

Shock horror as company puts positive PR spin on something.

Gimpymoo · 16 May 2013 at 13:08

FrenchTart said:
Indeed.

Shock horror as company puts positive PR spin on something.

The thing is, their PR department stinks, they always manage to goof things up.

FrenchTart · 16 May 2013 at 13:09

Gimpymoo said:
The thing is, their PR department stinks, they always manage to goof things up.

Their PR department is about on par with the rest of the company then

Gimpymoo · 16 May 2013 at 13:11

FrenchTart said:
Their PR department is about on par with the rest of the company then

Consistency is a virtue I guess?

Maybe not when consistently ****?

They should be applauded, not many big organisations are able to offer consistency across all departments.

Bravo E.A

MatsyLR · 16 May 2013 at 13:19

hairyfeet · 16 May 2013 at 13:26

agnes said:
"We've listened to the feedback."

.."of our investors"

elmuzzy66. · 16 May 2013 at 13:52

Games tied to live/psn accounts could be a reason.

Twirlywoos · 16 May 2013 at 14:15

You do know that this probably means DRM on next gen consoles and tying a game to an Origin Account? This is EA afterall.

FrenchTart · 16 May 2013 at 14:20

majnu said:
You do know that this probably means DRM on next gen consoles and tying a game to an Origin Account? This is EA afterall.

Lol. Did you read the OP?

MatTheCat · 17 May 2013 at 18:37

agnes said:
Battlefield 4 for example...

BF4

Pay2win?

If so, that will definitely be the end of my obsession with the Battlefield series.

My BF obsession that EA have already urinated on with their insistence that I now must use Origin, and all the other game interfering nonsense that comes with it.

I personally am eyeing up ARMA III. Looks like it may be a little too intense for my preferences towards arcade action over reality, but this will be the first proper PC shooter in years. A PC exclusive made by developers who will hopefully have been much more free from the corporate whip.

Gimpymoo · 22 May 2013 at 00:51

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/407912/microsoft-confirms-pre-owned-fee-for-xbox-one/

Do I get a cookie?

Microsoft has confirmed that all Xbox One games will require mandatory installation onto the system's hard drive and, to install the same disc onto another user's drive, a fee must be paid.

UPDATE: secondhand install may incur same fee as brand new purchase, suggests MS rep

Well done E.A, well done.

You have proved what ***** you really are.

Of course you do not need online passes