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Sony recalls 1.25m PlayStation 2 CDs

Replacement disk prevents Region One DVD playback - so why upgrade?

As predicted, Sony will recall utility CDs shipped with all its PlayStation 2 consoles to date, the company admitted earlier today. The reason: the bug exposed by users earlier this month that allows the console to play DVDs from any region - a feature that violates Sony's DVD licence agreement. Sony has already had to asks user who experience problems with faulty DVD playback to return their PlayStation Memory Card. Shortly after the console's release, it rapidly emerged there were problems with some consoles in which they overwrote the DVD driver with saved game information. Sony narrowed the bug down to some faulty MCs. The latest recall only affects the PlayStation 2 utility disk. Console owners will be able to return their CD from 1 April by post, or at their local Seven-Eleven between 7 and 21 April. Sony, of course, has a close relationship with Seven-Eleven through a major e-commerce deal signed earlier this year. Sony is now shipping all PlayStations with the updated Utility CD. However, that leaves some 1.25 million disks in circulation. A massive advertising campaign will draw users' attention to the upgrade. The cost of all this to Sony is said to be a considerable sum, though much will depend on whether users actually do return their CDs. After all, the scope to play Region One DVDs - Region One is the US, in the DVD industry's map of the world; Region Two is Japan and Europe - is a very appealing feature, particularly when the film business is so keen to enforce it. Region One compatibility is particularly to be wished for since far more movies have been released in the all-digital format in the US than elsewhere, and many of them provide more features than their other-region equivalents. ® Related Stories Hackers use PlayStation 2 to dump DVDs to tape PlayStation 2 can play US DVDs - apparently Sony asks buyers to return faulty PlayStation 2 MCs Sony disputes PlayStation 2 Memory Card recall Sony to recall all PlayStation 2 Memory Cards Sony plugs US DVD PS2 grey market Sony PlayStation 2 prices hit £1000 on UK grey market

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