EA Cancel Online Passes

Online Passes have always been a controversial attempt by publishers to encourage new game sales by locking online-centric content from used copies. This has been aggressively argued against by gamers and retailers alike and it’s no surprise that someone would listen.

The most interesting thing is that it’s a major player too – Electronic Arts. The publisher behind FIfa, Battlefield, Mass Effect and more will be ‘discontinuing’ it’s Online Pass initiative. In a statement provided to VentureBeat, EA’s John Reseburg said that “none of our new EA titles will include that feature.”

He admitted that the passes just don’t seem to be work and that their initial efforts to create a selection of online content have been rejected by many players. They have obviously listened to the crowds – well done to the few of you that didn’t purchase Online Passes.

Many major publishers – including Sony and Ubisoft – continue to use Online Passes, though interestingly, Microsoft never seemed to go down that road. Will EA’s abolishment of this system coerce other publishers to follow suit? It’ll certainly give people a reason to go with their titles over the competition – I’m looking at you Call of Duty.