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EA Announces One-time Use Online Pass for its Sports Games

EA Announces One-time Use Online Pass for its Sports Games

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Publishers and developers have been taking the secondary games market to task over the past 18 months.

Today, EA announced that their sports titles will now include a one-time use voucher, called Online Pass, that will give consumers of brand new copies of their games free access to online content, but force secondary purchasers to cough up some cash.

For those consumers that purchase the games used, they will be subject a $10 additional fee to reactivate the online features. This change will first be implemented with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11.

Relicensing a product can be done trough in-game EA store acces or by picking up a code at brick and morter retail outlets.

Press Release:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today introduced Online Pass content from EA SPORTS™. Online Pass rewards game owners with a game-specific, one-time-use registration code for online services, features and bonus content. Each title-specific Online Pass may be used with upcoming releases of EA SPORTS simulation games on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, beginning next month with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 11. The one-time Online Pass registration code comes included with each unit sold new at retail. Once redeemed, additional Online Passes will be available for $10. Fans also may sign up for a free 7-day trial to experience Online Pass. International pricing will be announced within territories in the near future.

“This is an important inflection point in our business because it allows us to accelerate our commitment to enhance premium online services to the entire robust EA SPORTS online community,” said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS.

Retailer GameStop (NYSE: GME) has shown support of EA’s digital strategy by selling Sony PlayStation Network cards and Xbox Live Microsoft Points cards with the purchase of new and used EA titles. “GameStop is excited to partner with such a forward-thinking publisher as Electronic Arts,” said Dan DeMatteo, Chief Executive Officer of GameStop Corp. “This relationship allows us to capitalize on our investments to market and sell downloadable content online, as well as through our network of stores worldwide.”

Moore continued, “We’re delighted that GameStop is offering their support of this program as a place for gamers to purchase points that provide access to downloadable content from EA at their stores and through their website.”

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