Sony Exec Confirms: PlayStation 4 Will Play Used Games

Last month, Benzinga detailed the top five reasons why PlayStation 4 will play used games. Now Sony SNE has confirmed that its next game console will definitely not attempt to stop consumers from playing used software. During an interview with Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida, Eurogamer asked about the rumors surrounding a patent Sony reportedly filed to block used games. Eurogamer: So if someone buys a PlayStation 4 game, I asked, you're not going to stop them reselling it? "Aaaah," was Yoshida's initial answer, but seemingly only because he'd forgotten his line. "So what was our official answer to our internal question?" he asked his Japanese PR advisor. The advisor stepped in but didn't seem to answer clearly, at least to my ears. Yoshida then took control again firmly: "So, used games can play on PS4. How is that?" Eurogamer: I said I thought that was fine. Another (unnamed) source told Eurogamer that the anti-used software patent was actually filed for reasons other than gaming. While it is unclear what those reasons could be (a new way to reduce piracy, perhaps?), Sony does not seem to be interested in applying the technology in a detrimental manner. In a strange twist of events, GameStop GME is actually down more than two percent this morning. Investors had feared that GameStop, the world's largest retailer of video games, would not survive if console manufacturers began to block the sale of used games. Now that two out of three of the new consoles (Wii U and PS4) are confirmed to play used software, GameStop's troubles have been greatly reduced. Sony had reportedly experienced a slight boost in value after its new console was unveiled, but the company is currently down nearly four percent in pre-market trading. Activision ATVI is up more than one percent on the news that Destiny (the company's first game from Halo creator Bungie) will be coming to PlayStation 4. However, while PlayStation 4 is due this fall, Destiny will not be released for any game machine until 2014. Electronic Arts EA, which was mysteriously absent from yesterday's event, is up nearly one percent. Take-Two Interactive TTWO, which managed to survive a delay of Grand Theft Auto 5, is not getting any love from investors this morning. That could change in the near future, however. Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz told Trusted Reviews that the delay may indicate that Take-Two is planning to bring GTA5 to next-gen game machines, including PlayStation 4. Follow me @LouisBedigianBZ