As Sony scopes in on their plans for the PlayStation 4’s successor, it seems that they are preparing for the inevitable all-digital future console gamers have been prepping for, and their latest patent secures that potential.
While PC gamers have had the pleasure of gifting games for quite some time thanks to Steam and their game gifting system. However, there is one that has managed to, unfortunately, elude us all is becoming a relevant talking point that includes the ability to trade, gift, and even sell your digital copies of your games.
Today, Sony has finally taken the steps to be the first to explore the idea of letting PlayStation users taking advantage of the all-digital future. Their steps include the ability to gift, loan out, or even sell their digital PlayStation library. Doing so would eliminate the need for third-party vendors such Amazon, GameStop, or even Best Buy in order to part with their games.
Instead, it would allow for an ecosystem to be introduced, allowing for innovation among digitally distributed games. You can read the summary of the patent down below:
“Tangible tradable collectibles having a digital copy
Abstract
Tradable physical collectible objects are described. In particular, systems and methods for using the tradable physical collectible objects facilitate generation of a digital copy that can be used within a network game. A user can use the digital copy and perform various modifications to the digital copy. A value can be determined for the digital copy based on the various modifications. At a later date, the user (e.g., owner) is free to give away, sell or trade the digital copy to another party in transaction with terms based on, for example, the determined value of the digital copy.”
At this time, it doesn’t seem if it’s meant for the immediate feature, but it does seem Sony has the wheels turning for the future implementation of this feature.
[Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office]
About the Writer(s):
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook.