Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as a famously effective piece of marketing and as Sony's clearest public stance on used games versus Microsoft's.
What it is
A short, deadpan Sony instructional video from E3 2013 showing how to 'share' a PS4 game by physically handing the disc to a friend. It was Sony's jab at Microsoft's planned restrictions on used games and game sharing for the Xbox One.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2013 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Cites kevincrane · 2013-06 · on “Sony will allow indie devs to publish their own games on PlayStation 4”
They said this about their used game policy: [this video] (for those who can't watch it, it sounds like they gave the green light for all kinds of used games and sharing)
Cites Azulsky · 2013-06 · on “What is Microsoft smoking?”
Sony has been pretty explicit about it [this video] They are also encouraging developers to remove online passes [LINK]
Cites 015a · 2024-07 · on “Xbox console sales continue to crater with 42% revenue drop”
You're probably right; its hard to say when speaking in retrospect and on hypotheticals. Ultimately I tend to feel that the success of Xbox 360 is predominately attributable to the early failures of the PlayStation 3. PS3 was WAY too expensive, inflation-adjusted one of the most expensive consoles ever made outpacing everything on the market today, and had almost no great launch titles. When you consider that X360 had CoD2 as an exclusive launch title in 2005, the story kinda writes itself; people may have bought the console on these points + the promise of Halo 3 in the future, but it likely would have done well without it. Its also important to recognize: The PS3 did outsell the Xbox 360 b
Cites kstrauser · 2024-09 · on “Playstation 5 Pro”
Sony released this tutorial years ago in response to Microsoft making it harder to share Xbox games with your friends: [this video] That's lived in my head since.
Cites Springtime · 2025-03 · on “Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account”
It was Adam Orth (aka 'Sweet Billy') but clearly others shared similar views. Sony capitalized on the larger always online controversy with a low budget ad poking fun at the concept[1], which was great marketing. [1] [this video]
Critical binsquare · 2026-07 · on “Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation”
Sony also used to mock digital only approaches. [this video] Now at a time when memory and storage prices are at an all time high - they pull a move that directly hurts the customer.