DC Universe Online for PS3 Cannot be Purchased Used

Just a heads up in case you were looking to give DC Universe Online a a try on your PS3 - you won’t be able to buy a used copy to save some dough. LazyGamer found out that Sony Online Entertainment has put a one-time-use serial code in each copy of the game that’s used to activate your online account, meaning that each individual disc can only be used by one person. On a console, that’s a completely dick move.

Sure, single use codes have been in place on the PC for a while, but PC gaming is largely done by a single person per machine and the used game market is exponentially smaller than that of consoles, where sitting in the living room facilitates multiple players and sharing. While the game publishers don’t like the used game market, it’s here to stay as long as physical media is involved.

I’m sure Sony is going to lose quite a few sales from this single-use code ordeal, and then piss off a large number of purchasers who find out they can’t sell their copy back to GameStop or get any money on eBay. Maybe they could have gone a system like EA’s Online Pass, where secondary buyers/players can purchase a code on the PlayStation Store to be able to play. Hell, they’re getting a monthly fee anyway, so why fuck over people that want to give your game a try? This is just going to further hamper the uptake of MMO’s on consoles.