All PlayStation 3 Games Will Use The Same Online ID

Ambiguous reports surfacing in recent weeks have left us wondering if PlayStation 3 games would use a single centralized online ID, or if each game would let players create a different account for accessing the online features. For reference, the PlayStation 2 uses a single "Central Station ID" which identifies players in every game, and the Xbox Live service also uses a similar system for Xbox 360 games. So where does Sony's next-gen console stand, then?

As expected, they're sticking with the centralized approach. Dan Brooke (Resistance: Fall of Man producer) spoke to GamesIndustry.biz yesterday and set the record straight, saying that he "wishes to be clear that Resistance uses the PlayStation online ID to sign into the game. There is no separate login for Resistance and the online ID you create will be the same you use for all titles".

Just last week, another Resistance developer (Ted Price, head of Insomniac Games) discussed the game's online functionality, revealing that players will build an in-game buddy list unique to Resistance - even though the PS3 is known to offer a central buddy list of its own. So apparently this is one feature that will not apply to every game, and only the PS3 online ID will be unique throughout the system. Confusing enough for you?

Again, for reference, Microsoft's Xbox Live system requires all online titles to use the same buddy lists, messaging and voice chat features, making things a lot simpler.

Simpler isn't always better, but ultimately it sells better.

UPDATE: This is just in from Sony: they sold 40 million PlayStation 2 units in Europe and PAL territories to date!

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced a significant milestone for PlayStation 2 with 40 million units now in the hands of consumers throughout Europe and the PAL territories.

The 40 million mark establishes PlayStation 2 as the most popular computer entertainment system in Europe and surpasses its predecessor, PlayStation (PS one), which sold just over 39 million units. Now into its 6th year, PlayStation 2 has proved a worthy successor to the groundbreaking PS one, which at the same 6 year mark had sold just 33 million units."

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