SSX Gets Unique Variation of Online Pass
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It’s no surprise that next month’s release of SSX will carry with it an “online pass” – a code that is given for free inside new copies to access online functionality and which requires those who obtain used copies to pay a fee to access the content in question.
Interestingly though EA Sports isn’t walling off everything online-related with SSX and everyone will be able to play online. Instead those who doesn’t have the “online pass” simply won’t be receiving the “credits” that are given based on performance or completing tasks.
Game Informer received a statement from EA on the subject: “In SSX, players without an Online Pass are able to compete and play in both of SSX’s online game modes, Explore and Global Events with no restrictions. In Global Events, the top finishers from each event are awarded with in-game credits. These in-game credits earned during play will not be awarded to the player if they do not have an Online Pass; these credits will be stored so that at any time, if a player redeems an Online Pass code, all the credits that they had previously earned in Global Events will be immediately awarded to them.”
The credits are spent on things like additional gear or new events – but all that can apparently be unlocked through the course of regular play anyway. So this is a welcome change to the “online pass” in that it doesn’t come across as much as punishment towards used buyers but more along the lines of an incentive for those who buy new or find value in what is offered later.
That is really how it should be but don’t expect this to be a widely adapted change. The high-profile yearly licensed titles will keep the more restrictive online pass and, if anything, are likely to shift even more features under that umbrella over time. Those titles that aren’t so front-loaded due to time sensitivity may get consideration however for more welcoming terms such as SSX here.