Electronic Arts appear to have decided that they will continue to combat the trend of used game sales by offering additional content to original game purchasers. While the company has not directly stated that this is actually their intent, with the release of Mass Effect 2, as with Saboteur and Dragon Age, they will include a one-time use code that allows the original purchaser access to additional download content; while those that choose to buy used will have to buy the additional content if they want it.

While some are calling the incentive an “original purchaser’s reward,” some feel that it is nothing more than an attempt to curb the sales of used games and generate at least some revenue from used titles. It is expected that like Saboteur, the additional content could cost $15 to buy if you elect to go the used purchase route.

The additional content that is expected for Mass Effect 2 is called “The Cerberus Network” which, according to reports, will be a portal of sorts that will deliver messages and information about downloadable content within the game itself. It could be that access to the additional content might leave those that buy used feeling as if they didn’t get the entire game with their purchase; and, of course, we have to believe that this is the intent and a trend that is likely to be implemented by other developers and publishers as time goes on.

While we don’t believe that this strategy will curb the sales of used games, in many cases we can see that it will become an effective tool for publishers to drive the sale of games to those that might be on the fence regarding a purchase of new or used.

The amount of additional content that publishers are charging for is becoming somewhat alarming. In some cases the amount of downloadable content is rivaling the total cost of the original title as a new purchase, but at the same time others are insisting that it is helping to give titles a longer lifespan. Of course, publishers want to generate new streams of revenue and this trend (along with the high development costs) isn’t something that we expect to go away anytime soon.