Pachter dismisses PS4 used games block

Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter does not believe PlayStation 4 will prevent users from playing pre-owned games.

Rumours spread this morning that the next Sony console– reportedly named Orbis – will include anti pre-owned technology to block second hand titles.

Reports earlier this year claimed the next Xbox will feature similar technology, but Pachter insists this would be counter-productive for the format holders.

"It isn’t really in Sony’s or Microsoft’s best interests to block used games," he told GamesIndustry.biz.

"It would benefit Activision and EA slightly, and would hurt GameStop a great deal. If Sony unilaterally did this, I could see GameStop refusing to carry their console and sales of the PS4 would therefore suffer."

The analyst went on to say that blocking out the used games market relies on the Big Three – Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo – all adopt the same anti pre-owned stance.

"If one does it and the others don’t, the one who does it will see a lost of market share," said Pachter.

He added that neither Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo are "stupid enough to do this unilaterally" or "evil enough to do it together".