Since they have dropped their online passes for good, what will EA do to combat used games in the upcoming gen?  (http://www.gamefront.com/ea-games-the-online-pass-is-dead/)

Here's a few that came to mind.  Hopefully I don't give them any ideas.

1.  They make players verify their game online before playing it.  This is virtually assured to happen on the X1 but it still might be a possibility on the PS4. 

2.  Free to play games for console.  This would mean games would be online only and they would be able to nickel and dime players to get the 'full' experience.

3.  Maybe they will use their own special disks which get locked/registered to one console.  The technology is there but I doubt it’s in either console.

4.  Season Pass galore, and more Day 1 DLC.

I'm sorry but I can't help but be a pessimist when it comes to EA and their reckless attempts to make as much money as possible.

What other ways did I not think of? Which are most likely?

This is a good question, my guess is:

-EA will bring back the online passes with a different name.

-Multiplayer portion for used games will be caped at certain level and will offer a million of microtransactions to match the brand new game multiplayer experience.

-You would not be able to play mutliplayer online on used games EVER.

-EA would lie to customers that they use "the power of the cloud" for calculations and all of their games will be "Always Online" even on single player (like they did with Sim City) with a registration per user.

-EA will just deal with it like Activision does.

micro-transitions they already started this move.

EA has given up on restricting used games AND online passes.

Recent interview with Polygon and EA's Peter Moore:

http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/11/4421314/electronic-arts-talks-drm-and-used-games

PETER MOORE:

"Absolutely incorrect. As the guy who is the chief operating officer of Electronic Arts I can tell you that EA did not aggressively lobby for the platform holders to put some gating function in there to allow or disallow used games. I am on record as being a proponent of used games. I like the ecosystem. I like the fact that it's kept pricing at a good level for eight years. I like the fact that someone can buy a physical game and see some equity in that game. That keeps GameStop vibrant and they are a great launch and marketing partner for us."

"EA has never had a conversation, and I have been present at all of them, with all of the manufacturers, saying you must put a system in place that allows us to take a piece of the action or even stop it. Absolutely incorrect."

"We cancelled Online Pass. I was at the meeting. It just wasn't resonating with the consumer. It just wasn't consumer friendly. It was hard work and it was as much work for the guy who would never trade his game in, even though we gave him some digital content, because you're punching numbers in. We just made a decision. I was the chair at the meeting. We said enough of Online Pass.

I can't believe anything they say tbh.

They will make games digital only or online only just wait and see.

Lets boycott EA next gen

Pay wall to fight the last boss/complete the final mission.

this can be fixed by not buying their games.