Maybe next console generation we will get to see hardware come with single-use activation keys. Second hand users will need to purchase a key to cover hardware verification administration fees.

It’s subscriptions and school textbook online access fees all the way down. Cyberpunk 207X will be so immersive that you start playing it before the game even releases

I really wanted to wait to buy a PS5 until the slim version came out, but I couldn’t hold out long enough. I just really dislike the odd shape and size of the current one. I would have just preferred a black box.

This reminds me of the way launch Switch units were incompatible with microSDXC cards without a firmware update (and the security updates that implies). I guess they viewed it as a relatively minor inconvenience for most people but putting another hurdle in the way of getting a modded console with access to a large pirated library. Of course the mod community just shipped updated drivers themselves but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯