While there are many reviewers and end users like myself that would state that the PC gaming market is healthy, strong and certainly not going anywhere, it's becoming clear why some detractors are saying otherwise. Publishers hate us.

Despite excellent indie developers like Cliffski from Positech Games stating what should be obvious to everyone by now - DRM only hurts the legitimate consumer – the big boys in the PC publishing game keep paying for this trash on their games. Beyond that though, they're now limiting content to the original buyers and are collectively attempting to break an industry that has grown to be worth billions: the second hand game market.

EA announced a new initiative the other day that would bring an "Online Pass" system to all future titles from the publisher - this one affects you too Console Kiddies - where anyone buying a second hand game won’t be able to access online content without paying for it. Anyone who visits a second hand game shop, or looks in the pre-owned section of a game, or Gamestop you'll notice the dominance of sports titles. This is because they become out of date every single year as the rosters are updated. This is fine, and it's something that has worked for years with people picking up old Fifa games, or Fight Nights just because they want a quick game and don’t care about the latest features. Maybe they want to play with their friends online. Well, from now on you won't be able to unless you pay another $10.

While many are reporting on this as a bit shame faced by EA, it actually borders on anti-competitive behaviour, as it attempts to monopolise the market for sports titles. Why would you buy a game second hand for £10 when you're going to have to spend another £7 or so to get the online play and DLC? Why not just spend the £25 on the new one?