Dankzij Echte Assholes aka Electronic Ars hebben oa THQ en Ubisoft de Online Pass systeem ingevoerd om nog meer te verdienen aan tweedehands games. Want als je een game tweede hands koopt en de online mode is al aangezet door de vorige eigenaar, dan kan je niet meer gebruikt van de multiplayer mode maken of DLC voor de game te kunnen aanschaffen. Maar na betaling van tien Euro kan je weer verder, en deze nieuwe hossel heeft nu EA tussen de tien en vijftien miljoen opgebracht. Dus je begrijpt wel dat dit nooit meer weg gaat.

This year, EA introduced its Online Pass, which directly combats the used games market by offering one-time use codes to play its EA Sports games online. Those obtaining used copies of the game must purchase an additional $10 pass from EA to play online.

According to Brown, the revenues from the program have not been terribly substantial for the company, though the profit margins are of course significant.

"The revenues we derive from that haven't been dramatic. I'd say they're in the $10-$15 million range since we initiated the program," he said. While the sales are not "dramatic" in volume, he pointed out that it is all "found revenue" that comes from users who previously "consumed bandwidth for free."