Sony offering PSP developers code to 'slow down' piracy

Sony's senior vice president of publisher relations, Rob Dyer, has always been vocal about the "biggest problem" that plagues the PSP: Piracy. However, a new endeavor by the platform holder may offer renewed hope in the continued battle against illegal downloads. Dyer told Gamasutra that Sony has been helping developers implement some kind of protective code, potentially offering "a 60-day shelf life" before a game inevitably "gets hacked."

Dyer did not provide details on how this added code functions, and whether or not it functions similarly to the PlayStation Network connectivity first tested in SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3. Like EA Sports' Online Game Pass, all online functionality of Bravo 3 is locked out for gamers that don't buy a legitimate copy of the game at retail or online. The upcoming PSP version of ModNation Racers also features the same restrictions.

"It's become a very difficult proposition to be profitable," Dyer admitted. With PSP on the cusp of a series of major releases -- including God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep -- publishers and developers will undoubtedly want to pay close attention to Sony's continued battle against non-seafaring pirates.

Reader Comments (55)

The PSP scene is always havok. I think that PSP is great, as are it's games. I personally do have custom firmware, it allows to do so much more and resulted in a second PSP purchase. The issue of piracy is ridiculously out of hand on the PSP and if a firmware could be created that blocked the running of pirated games but allowed the other important functions such as installing games to the memory stick and having cool custom themes, the PSP issue would be solved. It seems to me that way too many people that change to custom firmware on the PSP fall to the dangerous temptation of downloading full games, endangering themselves and hurting developers.

Yeah I want to get a PSP, but not being able to run games off a flash stick, and the shorter battery life are things I dislike about it.

There is no way any code can keep the game from getting hacked for 60 days.

Supporting your developers will curb piracy? These are some revolutionary ideas there, Sony. Good timing, too.

I don't know. Although I agree that people are pirating PSP games, is it really the problem? Look at PS1 and PS2. Those 2 consoles are the mostly pirated console in SE Asia, yet those 2 consoles were a huge success for Sony.

Sony offering PSP developers code to 'slow down' piracy

Reader Comments (55)

Posted: May 21st 2010 9:40PM Zurrafax said

Posted: May 21st 2010 9:42PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: May 22nd 2010 12:22AM OmegaIXIUltima said

Posted: May 22nd 2010 2:07AM ch3burashka said

Posted: May 22nd 2010 3:58AM pika2000 said

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