PS3 DRM: Downloads support five systems
by Zack Stern 
{ Oct 20th 2006 at 6:46PM }
Games bought through the PlayStation Store will be able to run on five-or-fewer systems. Of course, if you own more than five systems, you can probably afford to pay for the game again on the sixth. (Hah, we kid; you didn't get so rich by wasting money on a game you already bought.) The important application for the five-or-less rule is that you can log in to the PlayStation Store at a friend's house and re-download a game for free.When you leave your friend's house, Sony says that you can leave the game there. If the title is an online multiplayer game, only one of you can use it at a time. But if it's an offline game, we were told that the multiple systems can continue to play it.
Sounds like you and your four best friends may be splitting PS3 game downloads.
See also: Share XBLA games on two Xbox 360s... legally
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pulse @ Oct 20th 2006 7:06PM
Sounds awesome :) Not that I have 6 sad friends sitting at thier PS3s waiting for me to download it for em.
But its nice anyhow incase I do come across another PS3 owner. I just wanna know is if you can re-download games and music etc free once you have paid for them once already incase you have to delete them for space on your hardrive.
Psaakyrn @ Oct 20th 2006 7:04PM
I do like the intent but... I think we should be encourage to share multiplayer games, as opposed to single-player ones. Also, I can forsee some mixup in DRM understanding.
Still, 5 is better than 1, I guess. Wonder how Nintendo's one will shape up..
Optimus Prime @ Oct 20th 2006 7:05PM
Wha? ..b.b.b.bbbut SONY is EVIL ..wtF?
ttr @ Oct 20th 2006 7:07PM
Hmm, that's a pretty good way to solve things. I can't really think of another solution that people won't take advantage of. It's nice that they are letting you do this rather than having to purchase the game multiple times.
PhillyRampage @ Oct 20th 2006 7:12PM
Totally awesome.
I wonder if any developers/publishers will have any problems with this though. Since, you know, my friends and I will each come up with $2 to buy their $10 game, instead of them getting $50 for their game.
_habit_ @ Oct 20th 2006 7:22PM
Well, you guys have posted 2 (bold)PRO(/bold)-SONY "stories" (lack of better word, my preciousss) today (one of these may have been on Engadget, but same thing), that HAS to be a record!
joe smith @ Oct 20th 2006 7:26PM
Seems like a way to leave money ont eh table. I am very surprised they would do this if they plan to actually make a profit on DL games. FOr every game sold, if it has good offline play, you essentially cut your potential sales by up to 80%
Optimus Prime @ Oct 20th 2006 7:23PM
I wonder if you can redownload without revealing any identifiable information; ie. if you just enter a 32 character password.
This would create a online huge market/economy; ie. buy the whole game, then sell the remaining 4 downloads on eBay or whatever; or give it away as a gift; or trade download codes with someone else that has a game that you want.
360us Maximus @ Oct 20th 2006 7:23PM
You know on paper it sounds like a great idea but...This is gonna work out pretty shitty the first time some kid goes to play online and discovers that one of his 5 friends is already playing that game online. The game HE payed for. Would work if you could passkey lock the game on the other console for online maybe unless they get their own copy. Otherwise NO SOUP FOR YOU!!
DBX00 @ Oct 20th 2006 7:42PM
People will get paranoid that their friends will use the game while they want to play online, so they won't share. Also, it might be tied to the user, so you would have to login under that persons account on your PS3 to utilize their games. Therefore, you wouldn't technically have access to your friends games.
bobeotm @ Oct 20th 2006 7:44PM
Can I call it? Can I finally say the Sony hate-fest that had be going strong since may across the internet is officially over? Probably not.
This is great news, now me and my friend can split up the games we buy so that we all can benefit from the other's purchase.
Neil @ Oct 20th 2006 7:58PM
Wow, how selfless. Good idea. :D
Brock @ Oct 20th 2006 8:18PM
What if I only have 3 friends.... :(
Ethan @ Oct 20th 2006 8:31PM
you guys do realize though, that this is safe for sony. There is no way you can just sell these over the internet, or give them out to random people. You will have to trust the people you give them to, or at least go on their ps3 first. Since you have to login to your own account in order to re-download these, you couldnt give your account password away, so you would have to be the one who downloads it.
Miniboss @ Oct 20th 2006 8:37PM
Of course, this just means that you'll have to disconnect your PS3 from the Interweb when you play these "single player games", because after all, Sony has said that they don't see the PlayStation 3 as being "offline". Read that however you will.
mcloki @ Oct 23rd 2006 7:59PM
This is a very smart idea. It''ll end up creating a bigger game economy.
mountain_rage @ Oct 21st 2006 12:05AM
Now im wondering does this only let you download the game 5 times after buying it. Like if your ps3 harddrive fails will you loose your games after the repairs if you bought it with your friends?
Grudge @ Oct 20th 2006 8:55PM
Where did this information come from?
Grudge @ Oct 20th 2006 8:56PM
Hit Add to quick.
Miniboss, I'm not sure what you mean. XBL allows you to download trailers and demos whileplaying a single-player version of an XBL Arcade game.
Why would you assume this can't?
Zack Stern @ Oct 20th 2006 9:01PM
Hey Grudge. The info came from Gamer's Day and talking with Sony execs.
Grudge @ Oct 20th 2006 9:04PM
Excellent, thankee.
Usedtabe @ Oct 20th 2006 10:08PM
Yeah, s0 l1ke u c4n dl it ag41n wh3n ur f1rs7 3 g4ystations br34k down
LOL. Just kidding. I just had to do it. Only a joke fanboys. But on a serious note, this is good news
BPM? @ Oct 20th 2006 10:11PM
Though I am a Nintendo fan, I think this is a very smart move on Sony's part.
Sure, the bit about multiplayer games is a bit of a downer, but in those cases, just get your friends to buy it as well. And you guys can share all the single player games.
Durg @ Oct 21st 2006 2:01AM
Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. They'll probably lock it to specific logins, as well as the 5 machines. Theres no way Sony is going to let people skimp out on paying for 5 copies of the downloadable games. No one would bother releasing anything.
Inferno @ Oct 21st 2006 2:28AM
See, you guys have to see that in order for joystiq to report good news about Sony, Sony has to be in the news with something that isn't the equivilant of them sticking their foot in their mouth. Even if I were backing Sony, which I used to do and may still once they start focusing on pleasing me... the consumer, instead of trying to 1up MS every turn and alienate me... the consumer, Sony has made very few moves that are good. They have been pissing off share holders or pissing off customers. Every silver lining has had a caveat. Price drop, just in Japan. Global launch, except Europe. Only true HD cause both version support HDMI, here are you component cables.
I have always bought all systems, then play devils advocate and rile up all the fanboys by arguing against all the consoles. But I find myself really hoping for Sony to fail and for the fanboys to see that supporting Sony is only going to make things worse, in future console releases, for us... the hardcore gamers. The ones who do care about gaming. So, flame if you wish, but know, I hope for Sony to fail this gen, so that with the PS4, they go back to making a good gaming machine and quit all this BS with proprietary formats and unnecessary hardware at the cost of a ridiculous expense of 3DO proportions.
wasp @ Oct 21st 2006 2:55AM
what this meens if you say delete a game by mistake or reformat the drive or get a new drive if sony makes a larger HDD you can just redownload your game. this is good
Lekko @ Oct 21st 2006 3:26AM
I hope they keep an online account of your gaming catalogue (wouldn't be hard) as well as the ones you have purchased a la IGN or Gamespy lists. That would let you remember which ones you own on an online account tied to you, so when you go to anyone else's place, you have your entire online catalog with you that you can share and play anywhere.
Superdotman @ Oct 21st 2006 3:49AM
Hmmm... At first I thought it was Sony doing something spontaneous and kind-hearted, but I searched around my Nintendo fanboy soul and found their true, evil intentions.
It's clear that the PS3 is only designed to last 2 years without breaking down. Over the course of its supposed 10-year lifespan, people will either get to play their own games as much as they want, or share with their friends only to permanently lose a game they paid for.
So all this means is that the PS3 will stop working after a mere two years of playtime, and that Sony is discouraging such values as friendship and sharing. =D
Seriously though, congrats to Sony for pulling its PR squad together and adding cool stuff that's not so much needed as wanted.
Jim @ Oct 21st 2006 12:09PM
This a hoax?
Pseudo99 @ Oct 21st 2006 6:49AM
YES! I can now say that there's at least ONE thing I like about the PS3!!!!!!
(I'll believe linux openly running on the system when I see it)
AG @ Oct 21st 2006 1:22PM
The PS3 is looking better and better!
Optimus Prime @ Oct 21st 2006 1:52PM
"It's clear that the PS3 is only designed to last 2 years without breaking down. Over the course of its supposed 10-year lifespan, people will either get to play their own games as much as they want, or share with their friends only to permanently lose a game they paid for.It's clear that the PS3 is only designed to last 2 years without breaking down. Over the course of its supposed 10-year lifespan, people will either get to play their own games as much as they want, or share with their friends only to permanently lose a game they paid for."
That is the most MORONIC thing anyone has ever said on joystiq.
iamwarpath @ Nov 19th 2006 10:33PM
To me, this is really meant for people that have somehow broke their PS3s or have more than one(how many of us have more than one ps2?). It's something like what Apple does. Going over your friend's house and letting him play it is a great bonus.