Region-free PS3, free online multiplayer confirmed
by Dan Choi 
{ Mar 23rd 2006 at 2:00AM }
During a Q&A session with media over lunch after yesterday's GDC keynote, Sony's Phil Harrison
confirmed that PS3 software will be region free and that multiplayer gaming will also be free.While we'd heard rumblings of the region-free set-up for games back in early November, we hadn't heard any official confirmation outside of Australia until just the other day. Importers (as well as online gamers) should be quite pleased with the development, though this move likely won't follow for Blu-ray movie discs. It's good to see the region-free status of PSP games spread to the PS3's.
If online multiplayer is included as part of Sony's free basic service (known internally as the "PlayStation Network Platform"), then what would constitute Sony's premium service besides the typical content downloads for games? Subscriptions for movie and/or music services, perhaps? And going back to the region-encoding news, it's heartening for our friends on the Continent to hear Phil's following statement: "It's possible for developers to put all the TV formats - PAL, NTSC, HDTV, and so on - on the disc." Can Sony bring the world together with games?
[Thanks, DarkFlash; image taken from Final Fantasy Odyssey]
See also:
- Free basic service on "PlayStation Network Platform"
- GDC: The PS3 keynote blow by blow ["P(S)NP" just an internal name]
- PS3 region encoding unlikely? [from Sony
Computer Ent. Australia]
- PS3 to share region
encoding on Blu-ray [for the U.S. and Japan?]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
P @ Feb 4th 2008 9:37PM
This will be a nice to finally play games online for free.
http://www.freegamesystems.info
Dan Choi @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:05AM
The original 1UP source cited didn't seem to specify whether Blu-ray movies would be region-free as well, but the GameSpot article below indicates that they won't be--that is, they'll still be restricted by region (based on the same conversation with Phil as 1UP):
"...Films, however, would remain limited to their regions of origin, as with movies released on the PSP's UMD format."
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146475.html
Jago @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:07AM
When I read that announcement earlier today I was left speechless...I wonder if this will be the case for PS2 and PS1 games as well or if this is only for PS3 games.
Dasutin @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:10AM
This is totally going to blow Xbox Live out.
http://www.dasutin.com
rayk @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:14AM
Holy crap!!! O__O Finally! Looks like I'm buying a PS3 then, since the thing that always held me off from getting a console was region locking.
Wonder if it's region free for PS2 and PS1 games.
vakerorokero @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:16AM
What does Microsoft have to say about this? What's going to happen with subscription based XBOXLIVE if both competitors are offering the same thing for free??
Alkaiser @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:18AM
No region locking? If Nintendo doesn't offer something similar, I'm fully backing Sony this gen.
Region locking is the dumbest thing ever. You guys with only one region of PS2 miss out on so many good games, it's sad. Not to mention that you can't get a jump on some of the games that don't have any sort of language barrier, like DDR.
Ian @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:21AM
Wow, I wonder what Microsofts response will be to this.
Jake @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:51AM
I was thinking about the "premium" (monthly charge) service earlier today, and I'm thinking it will probably allow you to access your PS3 online (with the PSP and such). I'm sure they'll have plenty more features to go along, but that's just a thought.
MEgo @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:59AM
Finally, SONY has figured it out. If you make your lies more believable, your hype will be that much more effective. I don't hate SONY (ok I do a little, but not the PS3, I just don't like them as a company [think rootkit]), I just wish that they would just once do something that they promise they're gonna do.
/personally I think this console round will be similar to the last except microsoft will gain some ground thanks to the early launch. But otherwise, the power difference between consoles will be similar to MS/Sony last gen just reversed.
//either that or Nintendo will win because of the price point. It could be the dark horse in that it will be very few people's primary system but nearly everyone will have it to play on the side. It's just so damn appealing if they can hover it around (or slightly less than) 200 dollars.
///I know the Nintendo thing is a long shot but hey, I thought I thought I gave up on the big N after the 64. They've really got me interested to the point that I'd consider setting one next to my 360 just so I could play it with my girlfriend or other friends who aren't that into games.
////done now, sorry
fawazr @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:01AM
Sony made the right choice. It's kind of out of line with their recent DRM debacle, but it would be stupid of them to charge for services that competitors will likely offer for free (referring to Nintendo). Also there's reason to believe the Rev will be region free as well (a la DS). I'm waiting to see how Microsoft responds to this. The way I see it, MS takes a huge enough loss without making their networks free. Furthermore, players are already glad to pay; perhaps they'll offer more premium content and perks to subscribers. One more thing, I hope the ps3 network isn't free at the cost of the user's privacy (telephone no.s, e-mail, spam, spam, spam).
Fan @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:05AM
This is great news.
While blu-ray movies will still be region encoded(too bad) its still great for games. And the region encoding is probobly there because the studios wanted it. Maybe they will see the success of simultanious worldwide releases on games and follow Sonys example.
And the free to play online anouncement was pretty much expected. I mean its totally ripping of your customers charging for a p2p service. When PC releases can support an online community for free with DEDICATED servers in a lag free enviroment(usually). There is no reason charging for a P2P service that uses YOUR bandwidth that YOU allready pay for. The nerve of some companies...
The PS3 is turning out just as i expected, with the exception of an integrated HDD(great move). I mean charging 100$ for a 20gb HDD is basically ripping your customers off(again).
The PS3 is basically blowing the 360 out of the water. Now all i need is for the TV tuner to appear as an add-on. PLEASE! I just want 12 channels and a browser on my TV at the same time. Thanks.
shaka @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:05AM
OMG this is freaking sweetttttt ,all i need to complete the package is the price of 499$ or less and then the PS3 will be the best console to buy in history.
cant freaking wait for this badboy is going to freaking rock.
Zero_ @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:10AM
This is great competition. If it were not for Microsoft, Sony would not be offering this type of competitive service. Hooray for competition.
Also, Eurogamer.net speaks of an interesting concept for games like Singstar, where you can record (audio and video) and then send them to your friends, and/or download more songs etc.
And lastly, what the hell does Final Fantasy XII have to do with this!?
Skullfire @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:23AM
I'd like to point out that the 360 is also region-free for games (as was the original Xbox) and it is left up to the publisher, and guess what the majority of them do? They still make them region-specific, as there is more money in it for them (they can charge by region).
Alkaiser @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:47AM
Skullfire:
Ok, but the PSP is region free, and ALL the games on it are region free. Therefor, I think that Sony might have one definition of the term, and Microsoft another.
Kind of like the 1080p thing earlier today. One says it's possible, the other says it's impossible.
soco @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:51AM
glad to hear sony is following others leads in allowing region free games. now we just need nintendo to do it with theirs to close up the last of the group. Microsoft has always left it up to developers, so i've been able to import games for a while now like on my portables.
multiplayer was free on the PS2 as well, so i don't see this being such a surprise. it also sucked there in pretty much everything but Socom and a few other games.
i am curious what the premium will bring though, because it seems like they've still got some unannounced features.
Jago @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:13AM
Both Xboxes are Region free? I've never heard of that...got a link to prove that?
mike @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:30AM
ridge reacer 6, call of sytu, tony hawk, DOA4, ghist recon are all region free games its up the the publisher, the 360 has the functionality to restrict games to a region if the publisher stes htis on the disc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Region_Free_Xbox_360_Games
Dan Choi @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:33AM
"...what the hell does Final Fantasy XII have to do with this!?"
Zero_, I included that Japanese paean to FFXII because Sony, with this news, will apparently allow Japanese imported games to be played on non-modded American PS3s in the future. If that policy extends to PS1 and PS2 games on the PS3, we could possibly witness a renaissance in the import retro-gaming scene as well. As Square Enix has been a big supporter of Sony's consoles and looks to continue its classical JRPG support on the PS3 in the next generation, I felt it fitting to include one of its franchise games in the image for this post. Sorry if you found it distracting and/or irrelevant.
Jago @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:35AM
Hmm...internesting. I never knew that Mike.
Hey Dan...can I have a positive star now? ;-) hehe
soco @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:36AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Region_Free_Xbox_Games
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Region_Free_Xbox_360_Games
the system only respects whatever the developer decides. at the moment all or nearly all of the japanese games are NOT region free as well as the first party MS games. the 360 list isn't up-to-date. GRAW, with all of it's numerous bugs, is also region free, or at least the US version.
Dan Choi @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:37AM
"Hey Dan...can I have a positive star now? ;-) hehe"
Judging by his contribution, it would appear that mike is more deserving, but we'll see, Jago... we'll see! ;)
Curry @ Mar 23rd 2006 4:40AM
Yay Sony tries to make an Xbox Live copycat service and introduce it worldwide simultaneous, larger than Xbox Live, untested infrastructure and no idea how much load they will be getting.
I know what will constitute Sony's premium service: an actually working network instead of a laggy, bugged, unusable one.
Zsavior @ Mar 23rd 2006 5:24AM
Ok OK, I am not going to even act like I am in the mix. Is sony Going to get all Clintonesque on us and define some unbridged, Oxford law journal definition of multiplayer that makes my little ape brain explode when I try to wrap my limited logic on their verbal linguistic lawyering skill that would make Matlock, go a round or two with a revolver Christopher Walken Deer Hunter style.
Seriously Do they mean Multiplayer, Multiplay like FF XI free to play with anyone and anybody multiplayer with out the molestation of my imitation leather wallet flapping in the wind. I mean no really, if that is true even this hype I have to admit has caught my full attention. Because I got to admit they got me, hook line and banana.
soco @ Mar 23rd 2006 5:36AM
@Zsavior
No. it means that Sony will not charge you for their basic service, but you'll still have to pay the fees requested by the individual companies who have their own servers, if those developers choose to have them. that means 10$/mo for FFXI, and another fee for WoW, etc. exactly as it is now. Maybe even EA will charge the 2$ fee like they do on that PSP game, which you get waived if you sign up for advertising.
This is just sony talking about their "Central Station" again. same thing they had last time around but better integrated.
AckAck @ Mar 23rd 2006 6:27AM
Um, I bought a 360 because the PS2's online setup was a mess -- an account per game, no space to download the patches to, small game sizes, and a mess of different lobbies etc.
But now it turns out I can get all of that from Sony and for free!?!
Probably I should sell the 360 soon if they're going to ramp up production...
Fake_Brasilian @ Mar 23rd 2006 7:05AM
You all keep saying that Sony was the first to do this. I'm not saying that Sony stole it, but remember that the DS is actually Region-Free too. I've imported quite a few on that sucka.
rico @ Mar 23rd 2006 7:07AM
SO are MMOS going to be free on the ps3 cause if they are ill get one
Jeff @ Mar 23rd 2006 7:26AM
This actually makes me a lot more likely to plunk down $400-$500 on a PS3. It's simple economics - I buy so many Japanese games that I usually end up with both an American and a Japanese system *or* I chip it (I have Japanese and US Saturns, Japanese and US PS2's, and I've chipped all my other systems), and it ends up costing at least that much anyway.
It's great to see Sony FINALLY doing something that's *actually* good for the consumer (as opposed to telling us it's good for the consumer when it's really just good for them, i.e. their crappy DRM schemes, their ATRAC3, Sonic Stage, etc.). In fact, I have to say I still don't even quite believe this. The proof for me will be in the pudding. But if it is true, then Sony's just made a sale.
Tai @ Mar 23rd 2006 7:33AM
This seems more like a marketing ploy to me. When the uber-awesome games for PS3 come out in Japan (My eyes are set on MGS4) and have yet to be english...ated, then we'll feel really guilty about not havnig our favorite game series uber-awesome, next-gen sequal. Our gaming brains will no choice but to buy the game... TWICE... or even THREE times... (Mmm... MGS in French...He he he)
I think this is another one of those, "Hey, we're being nice to you people" When behind our backs sony's all like: "Fools! Muwahahahahahahahahaha!" But we're still listening and there's a very akward silence following.
Tatsuya @ Mar 23rd 2006 8:12AM
Region free games: I will only believe when I see it.
So many times we heard that kind of hype but it never happened(at least for non portable consoles).
It's almost true for the 360 but unfortunately it doesn't apply to every games.
#28 Don't go to fast, do you seriously think MMORPGs are going to be free on consoles and not on PC? You still [flame], don't you?
William @ Mar 23rd 2006 8:27AM
What, PS3 won't charge for unified online gaming?
(Which amounts to Gamespy + ICQ).
It's not suprising. Nintendo's being doing in. All the PS2 games give you the lobbies/matchmaking for free (some with friends lists), but they didn't have the infrastructure to make it unified.
What's suprising is that Microsoft tried to get away with charging $50 a year for it. Over the life of the console, say 4-5 years, that's $200 to $250 to play a game that a friend of yours is hosting on his machine.
Well I for one am glad that the PS3 is following the DS's lead and making online free!
Zsavior @ Mar 23rd 2006 8:57AM
@ SOCO
Thanks for Clearing that up for me there, I was double taking for a minute, I didn't quite get what they meant by the idea of Free Multiplayer service, but I see what you are saying now. That was to much of a wish right there, thanks for clearing it up for me.
Thomas Crymes @ Mar 23rd 2006 9:47AM
This is a great move for Sony, but just hold off on declaring XBL dead in the water.
We have no idea what the experience will be like. I'm guessing it won't be exactly like XBL, and I'm assuming that there will be differences between a pay service and a free service.
How can Sony take a huge loss on systems AND operate a free gaming network. Has anyone entertained the idea that Sony's network will be ad driven (on screen commercials)? That would be the most logical way Sony could afford to offer the service for free.
At this point, to assume that Sony is going to deliver everything MS delivers, and with the same quality for free, is foolish.
Let's wait and see exactly what Sony has plans for.
As of now we don't have:
A release date for PS3
A final production unit (concept designs don't count)
A controller
A Price
Details on their free network.
Playable games
Hopefully a lot of these questions will be answered at E3.
B @ Mar 23rd 2006 9:54AM
I'm glad. Any region locking on any console is the most idiotic thing a company would do. Good job,Sony. Now announce the official price,so we could start camping!
Tony @ Mar 23rd 2006 9:54AM
Maybe I'm missing something here, but no one at Sony, from anything I have read, has remotely said what the "basic" service will include. Calling something "basic" obviously implies that there will be tiers of service and I severely doubt they're considering a separate ability to buy extra content (like on Live now) as a separate "better" service.
Ken Kutaragi specifically states that the "PlayStation Network Platform basic service will be free of charge initially".
The keywords here are "basic" and "initially". There's no more specifics about it right now. Microsoft made an announcement at E3 last year saying anyone could access Xbox Live... of course, it was quickly stated that this was simply a "basic" service and included no online game play. Whoopdie-doo. I'll be very surprised if Sony allows anything beyond simple internet access, demos and pay-for downloads for its free service. Of course, sticking in "initally" leads one to believe that even that might not last long.
I guess we'll see. In any case, I'm expecting some sort of pricing plan like Live, myself. If that'll be right away or after this "initial" period Ken refers to, who knows.
Flak @ Mar 23rd 2006 9:56AM
Forgive my english (German), but I want to say that here XBox Live Gold is 60euro per year. (This is about $70usd).
To play Halo2 (great game!) and other games online will cost me 300euro for 5 years. That is a lot of money, especially here in EastGermany!
I will wait and see the PS3 games before I buy.
KaptainK @ Mar 23rd 2006 10:13AM
who announced the idea of downloadable games first?
was it Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony?
i could have sworn Nintendo announced this idea first, at last year's E3, it seems like all the companies are jumping on the bandwagon, XboxLiveArcade, and now the sony downloads....
if anyone can provide a link to an official announcement by Sony or Microsoft about this feature before E3 2005 i would like to see it. i'm looking for an OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...not unsubstatiated speculation or rumors....
i'm sure Sony and Microsoft will end up adopting the free-hand controller as well, and Nintendo will slowly die as the other systems become more affordable. the 360 will probably have a price drop right about the time the revolution appears in stores. PS3 doesn't even have a controller right now....dual shock 3? With new gyration technology? It can support 7 controllers, i'm sure there is some simple way they can rip off Nintendo's controller for thier own still unreleased controller design. A lot of speculation there....
Maybe Nintendo will reign supreme because of their great first party Nintendo games (Miyamoto). He's the only thing that ever made Nintendo REALLY successful in the games industry...Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers, Zelda. Mario is the highest selling game series of all time. Miyamoto designed it, just like he designed mario64, just like he is designing a new Mario for the revolution right now. It will probably completely change gaming and create a new genre just as mario 64 did. and Super Mario Brothers 1 and 3 did. He is the only small gllimmer of hope for Nintendo at this point.
There still be plenty of independent developers "trying" to get games developed for the revolution, who knows how that will go. and it will be cheaper to develop for than any of the other next-gen systems. and they still a few years ahead of everyone with free hand control technology (developers are already creating games for revolution that will use this controller) if sony decided thier controller would use gyration you wouldn't see it used in game for about a year or 2.
you know the only thing nintendo has going for it right now....1st party nintendo games, which is truly the only thing they have every really had...
ry @ Mar 23rd 2006 10:15AM
I don't see how publishers won't be pissed about mandatory region free games. Companies that do their own world wide publishing like UbiSoft probably won't care, but little guys like Atlus would. It'd be great if it was encouraged, but I don't see how it can be mandatory on a home console.
bandit @ Mar 23rd 2006 10:47AM
I gotta say, I'm shocked. However this is the EXACT same sony which claimed that 3 weeks ago their PS3 was still sheduled for a spring launch. And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE dont forget their fiscal year ends in 8 days. Enormous public and media approval will drive investors sales and inflate their yead end fiscal numbers. Im not saying they cant do it. But 3 weeks before launch I wont be surprise if they suddenly "figured out" it was not cost effective to include Blu-ray, a 60 GB hard-drive, a free online network, region free games, and the many, many, many other bells and whistles they are promising.
Remember 3 weeks ago SONY Officially declared the PS3 would launch in spring. In my opinion MOST of this announcements are reactionary to investors concerns. A way of getting a massive influx of capital before they sink a ton of it into the PS3 sinkhole. if they are taking $200 a loss per console (VERY EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE) they will be losing 200 million dollars a MONTH!!!!!!! for an undetermined period of time!!!! In 5 month they will have lost 1 BILLION DOLLARS!!!!! thats at a meager rate of $200 lose per console!. Is anyone here actually in the game industry and running the financial numbers?!?!?!? use common sense people. SONY is a business!!!!
Jacob @ Mar 23rd 2006 11:04AM
The OTHER side to this announcement, which everyone is too excited to notice: Now that the region excuse has been eliminated, this will give Sony the ammo needed to go after mod-chippers.
Dan Choi @ Mar 23rd 2006 11:08AM
^^ That's probably what prompted the original SCE Australia executive's comment about region-encoding in the first place, Jacob. See the other post I also mentioned in the original post below:
http://www.joystiq.com/2005/11/08/ps3-region-encoding-unlikely/
Skullfire @ Mar 23rd 2006 11:58AM
KaptainK : "6. who announced the idea of downloadable games first? Was it Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony?"
Actually, it was MS, they had Live Arcade on the original Xbox, which allowed you to download games to the HDD. Although you still needed the disc, it was seen as a trial run for the Arcade we know now.
Icelawn @ Mar 23rd 2006 12:09PM
I didnt read everything on here excuse me if I repeat what someone already said. I am excited to hear this news like everyone else. Problem is, how do I play a game from J-pan if I cant understand it? Unless there will be some sort of language pack installed. Lastly Sony is a big hype machine and I am a firm believer in NOTHING in life s free. Something is up with this scenario.
bd @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:06PM
Hey bandit, they are only going to lose that much on the initial shipments. If they keep selling the millions of consoles they say they'll send at 500 each, they will eventually sell them at less of a loss, or even profit.
By Merryl Lynch's numbers, the PS3 will go down to 320 in a few years (and that was probably assuming few Blu-ray games would be sold; now all games well be on Blu-ray).
bandit @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:08PM
actually sega first piloted the idea, (and in my opinion has thus far done it best) The sega GENESIS pre-dreamcast had a cable service which included much of the functionality of xbox live which was amazing for the times. in addition you could play several games for a monthly fee. similar to gametap, yahoo games, and the infinium labs phantom. The reality is MS has a heck of alot up their sleeves. But are not showing their cards yet. I hate to say it but early adopters got ripped off only for the fact that the FULL capabilities. DVR, network storage on local PCs, online subscription service with legacy xbox games (similar to gametap) and many other products and services have been planned and have long been in the works for the 360. MS just doesnt feel they have the user base to affordably implement it right now. However. MS will wait for PS3 to launch before they bring out the big guns. Im sure they feel no pressure to when they have hardware shortages at the current model pricing and are unsure if sony's promises are only half-baked.
magilacudy @ Mar 23rd 2006 1:52PM
Am I missing something? Weren't PS2 games (with the exception of a couple of RPGs) already free to play online? Also, with the announcement of a hard drive to further increase the cost, how is this not going to lead to Sony hemorrhaging even more money?
-magilacudy
King @ Mar 23rd 2006 2:10PM
In response to KaptainK,
"who announced the idea of downloadable games first?
was it Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony?
i could have sworn Nintendo announced this idea first, at last year's E3, it seems like all the companies are jumping on the bandwagon, XboxLiveArcade, and now the sony downloads....
if anyone can provide a link to an official announcement by Sony or Microsoft about this feature before E3 2005 i would like to see it. i'm looking for an OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...not unsubstatiated speculation or rumors...."
_______________________________________________________
KaptainK, you do realize that XBLA was available on the original XBOX and the ability to download games has been available on the PC for years now. Just because Nintendo announced it for the Rev doesn't mean they invented it.
bandit @ Mar 23rd 2006 3:17PM
BD, the estimates are still estimates. Alss are you telling me that Sony will sell the ps3 for $500 the entirety of its life span? for sony to make a profit the Ps3 much reach sub $100 manufacturing costs. Considering that The HDD is now standard, and they do not own the IP to neither the graphics chip, nor the processor in the way that they did for the PS2. The manufacturing costs are no where near as scaleable as the 360's cost. in a few years the core 360 will sell for $150 and the PS3 to make money would still need to be at least $400. If you look at the numbers the majority of consoles sales and influx are done approxiamtely 2-3 years into the consoles life span. Meaning even by that time the Ps3 will STILL be expensive and STILL losing money. Thats a huge sink hole. Nintendo can AFFORD a huge free online network because they make PROFIT on their handhelds and consoles right out of the gate. The software sales are just icing on the cake. Essentially the hardware and softeware sells PAY for online network. Sony does not have that luxury. That being said. Nintendo obtaining licenses to distribute more that 1000 genesis titles is freaking HUGE. What the F&^$ Microsoft, can we at least get Sonic the Hedgehog 3?!?!?! Gametap has it, why cant you? I swear there are some brillant people working with utter idiots over at Microsoft. In addition I dont care what people say, J. Allard and Bill Gates have ZERO idea what gamers want. They can make one heck of a system but in terms of games they cant give us something decent even 10 year old gamers. (although street fighter 2 online is brillant) Anyway. Im telling you Sony has deep pockets, but yes even SONY cannot AFFORD everythign they are promising unless there is some exterior supplementary income likely in the form of ads or selling you personal information to advertising agencies. The number DONT add up.