The alleged photo of a Resistance 3 PlayStation 3 bundle seen above shows the logo for something called PSN Pass. It surfaced on a German forum and current speculation pegs it as an online pass similar to what we’ve seen EA, THQ, Codemasters, Warner Bros., and others employ. These companies include a one-time-use code with new copies of a game that must be redeemed in order to access certain content, typically online multiplayer.
It wouldn’t be the first time Sony has done something like this — ModNation Racers on PSP requires a $14.99 “online entitlement” for those who don’t have a code that comes with new games. Ditto for SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3, except in that case you had to spend $19.99 in order to pick up the add-on from the PlayStation Store.
In the latter case, Sony claimed this was a move against piracy — which is rampant on PSP — rather than against used games, although the secondhand market certainly felt its effects, too. At the time, it expected fans to react “quite positively” to the news, though judging by the comments on 1UP’s story at the time, that was not the case.
