EA revealed today that they will not be using the unpopular online pass system in any of their games from now on, much to the relief of many gamers who disagree with the system.
Online passes are codes that come with new copies of the game which give you access to the online multiplayer modes, meaning that people that rent or purchase a used copy cannot access these features without paying money for the online pass.
According to EA, “Yes, we’re discontinuing Online Pass. None of our new EA titles will include that feature, initially launched as an effort to package a full menu of online content and services, many players didn’t respond to the format. We’ve listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward.
“We’re still committed to creating content and services that enhance the game experience well beyond the day you first start playing.”
As someone who regularly rents games this is a big relief, being able to play online is a huge feature for a lot of games and blocking access unless you give them some money seemed a bit bullish. Considering EA were recently voted the worst company in America maybe this is an attempt at trying to reverse some opinions and gain some favor with the community.
Let me know in the comments what you thought about the Online Pass and whether you think this was a good decision.
