Syndicate Won’t Have Online Pass

Starbreeze's upcoming Syndicate reboot will not be shipping with an Online Pass, an EA rep has confirmed.

Traditionally, EA ships all its games with an one-use Online Pass code that unlocks some portion of the game's content, most frequently online multiplayer. Those who buy the game used are required to pay $10 if they want to access the linked content.

However, EA Partners executive producer Jeff Gamon has explained that Syndicate would not feature any sort of Online Pass, as the publisher wants everyone to have access to the game's highly touted co-op component.

"We want as little resistance or barriers to entry as possible," Gamon told Eurogamer. "The co-op is equal billing in this. We wanted everyone who owns a copy of the game to have access to the entire product."

Gamon went on to explain that EA was confident that the game was meaty enough to keep people interested and discourage secondhand sales.

"There are nine maps. It's hard to say, but just to play through the maps once on normal is a good six, seven hours. To progress your character and upgrade a few weapons is a heap of content."

Alongside Monday's news that the SSX would allow used buyers to play online, it looks like EA has seriously begun to consider the impact its Online Pass program is having on customers. I wouldn't expect the codes to disappear anytime soon, but a more reasoned approach would certainly benefit everyone involved.