Get you up to speed: Do you really own your video games? Kelowna gaming experts discuss Sony decision
Digital video games do not allow for ownership in the traditional sense, limiting users’ ability to lend, trade, or sell titles. This change in the video game purchasing model has been a significant shift over recent decades.
Digital video games are typically tied to an online account, limiting ownership rights compared to physical copies. Investigations into the implications of this shift on consumer rights are ongoing, with regulators examining the impact on trade and resale options.
The industry body representing video game developers has expressed concerns over the limitations imposed by digital ownership, stating it undermines consumer rights. In response, several publishers are considering measures to enhance digital resale options, aiming to strike a balance between consumer demand and digital distribution models.
What remains unclear — The impact of digital ownership on the resale and lending of games is not fully understood.
Kelowna gaming experts examine Sony’s impact on video game ownership
For decades, buying a video game meant owning it. You could lend it to a friend, trade it or sell it. But with digital video games, none of that is possible.