It sounds almost one-sided at this point – Microsoft is floundering to keep a consistent message while each and every one of Sony’s top figures is incredibly clear about their stance with the PlayStation 4. This time, it was the turn of Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Andrew House to speak to Yahoo! Games about the situation concerning used games.
“You could argue that it’s a storm in a teacup – a very vocal minority of passionate gamers. This huge outpouring of feeling around the concept of ownership of content. But I have to say I don’t see it that way.
“I think we saw a lightning rod for feeling that has been bubbling up – that doesn’t just apply to games, but to entertainment overall. I think there’s an increasing nervousness about what ownership of content means. In the absence of physical goods. When that nervousness was starting to migrate into control over physical goods that consumers have purchased, that was a bridge too far.
“I want to be very clear about where we have been on this issue: I think there’s a danger we could be seen to have reacted and capitalized on a situation. When we first announced PS4 in February, people were saying, ‘Oh, Sony’s being coy’ – almost with some implicit suspicion.”
In the end, House states that Sony’s overall position is the same as it’s always been. “It struck us as very odd. We had no intention of changing our position – it hasn’t changed from what it’s been for the last fifteen years. We believe that if you buy it, you own it, you’re able to do with it what you want.”