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| Image from Joystiq |
The Online Pass. It was EA's form of rebellion against the used game market, enabled for the sole purpose of forcing gamers to buy their games new. In short, EA would ship a code with certain new games that would unlock features such as multiplayer (among others) in that game. If a player wanted to save a few bucks and buy the title used, you could still have those features - provided you pay a fee for the online pass. This fee also applied if you moved the game over to a new console. No pay = no full game.
It was (and still is), a cash grab dedicated to squeezing every last cent out of a game even after they've gained the profits from it [opinion]. But, thanks to consumer feedback, they're finally getting rid of it.
In speaking to GamesBeat, EA's Senior Director of Corporate Communications John Reseburg confirmed the news. "Yes, we're discontinuing Online Pass," he said, "None of our new titles will include that feature." He went on to say they are, "...still committed to creating content and services that enhance the game experience well beyond the day you first start playing."
After almost three years, that's that. Other big publishers such as Acitivision and Ubisoft are still using the online pass, and there's no word on whether or not they will follow EA's lead.
Source: [VentureBeat]
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