Blocking Used Games Would be “Anti-Consumer” Admits Jack Tretton

According to industry analyst Michael Pachter on GameTrailers.com’s Bonus Round series, Jack Tretton has voiced his opinion that blocking used games would be “anti-consumer”.

Tretton, the president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, allegedly said he is “totally opposed to the blocking of used games”. Unfortunately, this is just his personal opinion, and not necessarily one shared by by Sony in general, but it does restore some faith that even the higher ups of the corporate ladder understand that used games are not an evil that must be eradicated – a view often voiced by the publishers and an argument often heard when online passes are discussed.

Pachter himself even says that the next generation blocking used games is the “dumbest rumour [he’s] ever heard”, which is nice to hear coming form a man whose job it is to predict the future of the industry. All told blocking used games would harm many stores whose significant income is from pre-owned, as well as rental stores, let alone the consumer who would then be forced to pay full price for a brand new every time, which at £40+ would be a serious monetary commitment.

With both Tretton and Pachter saying that used games should and will be around for at least another generation, though, we can keep our hopes up for now. At least until the internet gets good enough to warrant the switch over to complete digital distribution anyway…

Source: GameTrailers.com