Dirt 3 came out yesterday and it, like many games that come out on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 nowadays, comes with an online pass. Dirt 3 blocks online multiplayer from being accessed without first redeeming an included code (a “VIP Pass”) on the respective platform’s online store. So, even with Sony bringing the PlayStation Network back online almost two weeks ago, the PlayStation Store’s continued downtime means online play is currently inaccessible for owners of the PlayStation 3 version of the game.
Mortal Kombat, released one day before the PSN downtime began last month, was subjected to the same restriction once the service was restored — unless you had redeemed the included Kombat Pass code before PSN went down on April 20, you were unable to play the game online. Thankfully that requirement was temporarily dropped last week so that all owners of the game could finally get online. Once the PlayStation Store returns, so too will the online pass requirement.
Those hoping for a similar solution from Codemasters are unfortunately out of luck. The company told Eurogamer that doing the same thing is “not technically possible” because it’s “hard-coded into the game.”
