Sony Demands Cash For PlayStation 4 Online Play

[crimson sickle2]

So if a next-gen Souls game is released, does that mean non-PS+ members get to use messages, but don't have to worry about invasions? I can see a lot of people liking that.

So I'm not 100% sure on this, does this apply to going to the Playstation Store and buying stuff off of there as well? Or does it just apply to multiplayer? I do remember XBOX Live had a Silver membership that was free which allowed you to access other online features that wasn't multiplayer.

If that's the case, I'm okay with this. I don't really play online multiplayer all that much anymore besides Skullgirls.

It will most likely be better than Silver membership though, because that doesn't allow you to use most of the apps available on Xbox Live (ex: Netflix). So far, we only know about online multiplayer being made PS+ only. Keep an eye out for information though, we don't know the full service details yet.

 

[Aitamen]

This was E3 stuff... genuinely thought that you meant *cash*, as in physical money, because that would be bullshit and bizarre, really. Title is a bit shit.

 

[stabnex]

Fair enough, I'll go with it on one AND ONLY ONE condition: Remove requisite Online Trophies from games preventing me from getting a platinum if I'm too broke to afford PS+.

That is all.

EDIT: Oh, and if you require me to get PS+ for Netflix that I'm already paying for, I'm shelving your unit in the same section on my walls where I keep my other antique systems like my 360 and my VCR.

 

[darksakul]

Isn't this OLD news?

I think Sony announce this was going to happen a year ago.

 

[The White Hunter]

Free online play was the reason I was going to switch consoles dammit! Has anyone heard how much it will cost......

Free online play was the reason I was going to switch consoles dammit! Has anyone heard how much it will cost......

From what I have read it will still be $50 a year like it is now, but it will count towards all 3 Sony consoles (provided you have all 3). This means if you have a Vita and a PS4, you'll gain free games and discounts for both systems for the price of one subscription.

Don't forget early beta access, extra avatars/themes/demos, free trials, extra discount during sales, etc.

 

[Lightknight]

Previously, ps+ looked appealing, it actually looked like a good deal(unlike xbox-live), but now it is turning into the same thing i hated last gen

? It's still the same deal? Does it being necessary somehow change the content?

Before, it looked attractive because it was completely optional, it didn't affect the games you already owned, now if you don't have it, all your multiplayer games will suffer for it

I didn't completely understand your reply, so mine might not make much sense

The deal is still just as attractive then. It's only percieved differently because, like me, you probably didn't jump on the deal and now you have to.

However, I'll add that the multiplayer games would suffer for not having this. The introduction of ps+ gave sony a significant amount of capital to put into the servers to keep competing with Microsoft. The online games now demand servers that are significantly pricier than the days of the ps2 and the money is necessary to provide that infrastructure. Frankly, I understand why people don't like spending money, but we should also understand that there are significant costs involved here that PS shouldn't have to swallow.

 

[Jaden Kazega]

Fair enough, I'll go with it on one AND ONLY ONE condition: Remove requisite Online Trophies from games preventing me from getting a platinum if I'm too broke to afford PS+.

That is all.

EDIT: Oh, and if you require me to get PS+ for Netflix that I'm already paying for, I'm shelving your unit in the same section on my walls where I keep my other antique systems like my 360 and my VCR.

Not sure about the trophy thing, as I've been with Xbox since the Xbox On-.. Original, but from what what's been said you won't be blocked from Netflix or any of those other apps. Also, truly F2P games like Planetside 2 and Elder Scrolls Online won't require PS+ since those games are hosted on their own servers. There is some online functionality that doesn't require PS+ also; say, for instance, pawn-trading in a game like Dragon's Dogma, you can still trade between friends and all whether you're PS+ or not. From what I've read so far it seems only 'real time' multiplayer functions, like actual multiplayer games, are restricted to PS+.

 

[theApoc]

Oh snap, Xbox Live gold costs $5 a month now. They used to charge $60 a year, I wasn't aware they'd changed it. My bad.

At any rate, this isn't just PSN access. This still has everything PS+ already had, namely a shitload of games, and discounts on the PSN store. Yeah, the basic online service is mediocre at best, but I get the impression that's exactly why they're charging for it now; presumably, this'll help them to bring it up to XBL Gold quality. Even if it doesn't reach that point... it's still got all the PS+ stuff it already does, and is therefore still a better deal.

P.S. Thanks

Um, $5 a month is $60 a year...

 

[Roxas1359]

Oh snap, Xbox Live gold costs $5 a month now. They used to charge $60 a year, I wasn't aware they'd changed it. My bad.

At any rate, this isn't just PSN access. This still has everything PS+ already had, namely a shitload of games, and discounts on the PSN store. Yeah, the basic online service is mediocre at best, but I get the impression that's exactly why they're charging for it now; presumably, this'll help them to bring it up to XBL Gold quality. Even if it doesn't reach that point... it's still got all the PS+ stuff it already does, and is therefore still a better deal.

P.S. Thanks

Um, $5 a month is $60 a year...

They charge you $50 if you just buy the full year, and at times if you have a PS+ account already you can buy more time for cheaper. The time stacks.

 

[00slash00]

what i want to know is will playstation plus still include the bonuses that it does for ps3 (ie, free games and discounts in the playstation store)? i know those were incentives to get people to sign up for an optional paid service, but it would certainly lessen the blow for people who arent happy about having to pay extra to play online. it is also the only reason i would sign up for playstation plus. the only time i game online is when i play mmos, which i only play on pc. therefore, not being able to play online on a ps4 will not affect me in the slightest

 

[Lightknight]

what i want to know is will playstation plus still include the bonuses that it does for ps3 (ie, free games and discounts in the playstation store)? i know those were incentives to get people to sign up for an optional paid service, but it would certainly lessen the blow for people who arent happy about having to pay extra to play online. it is also the only reason i would sign up for playstation plus. the only time i game online is when i play mmos, which i only play on pc. therefore, not being able to play online on a ps4 will not affect me in the slightest

They've indicated that they will continue to do this. We do know that 360's crafty 2 games/month plan will end in December of this year and will only have 360 games. That was small print I missed the first time.

 

[Something Amyss]

No it isn't. It is exactly the same.

Sweet, where do you go to turn on the automatic cloud backups for XBL? And where's the instant game collection feature? I know they're doing a limited run of free titles, but this is a core feature of Plus, so I'm assuming there's a larger deal going. I can enable automatic updates, right?

[
They charge you $50 if you just buy the full year, and at times if you have a PS+ account already you can buy more time for cheaper. The time stacks.

It's worth nothing that comparable subscription always leave Plus cheaper at retail. You can get sales on botj subscriptions, so the base price is the primary factor. XBL is 25 for 3 months and 60 for 12. PSN is 18 for 3 months and 50 for 12.

The 5 bucks per month model for XBL is only true based on the base price for a year, which means that the comparable cost for PSN+ is just over four bucks. Similarly, a three month subscription is a little over 8 bucks for gold and six bucks for Plus.

I mean, just to clarify things a little.

 

[Roxas1359]

It's worth nothing that comparable subscription always leave Plus cheaper at retail. You can get sales on botj subscriptions, so the base price is the primary factor. XBL is 25 for 3 months and 60 for 12. PSN is 18 for 3 months and 50 for 12.

The 5 bucks per month model for XBL is only true based on the base price for a year, which means that the comparable cost for PSN+ is just over four bucks. Similarly, a three month subscription is a little over 8 bucks for gold and six bucks for Plus.

I mean, just to clarify things a little.

Yeah pretty much. I still kick myself though because I remember one time when I was on PSN in the PS+ section they were selling a 2 year subscription to PS+ for like $80 and I didn't take it. >.<

 

[theApoc]

Oh snap, Xbox Live gold costs $5 a month now. They used to charge $60 a year, I wasn't aware they'd changed it. My bad.

At any rate, this isn't just PSN access. This still has everything PS+ already had, namely a shitload of games, and discounts on the PSN store. Yeah, the basic online service is mediocre at best, but I get the impression that's exactly why they're charging for it now; presumably, this'll help them to bring it up to XBL Gold quality. Even if it doesn't reach that point... it's still got all the PS+ stuff it already does, and is therefore still a better deal.

P.S. Thanks

Um, $5 a month is $60 a year...

They charge you $50 if you just buy the full year, and at times if you have a PS+ account already you can buy more time for cheaper. The time stacks.

As my original point was that there is or will be very little difference in the service I will point out that you can do the same with XBL as well, and that there are many deals throughout the year where you can get the service at a steep discount.

Bottom line, Sony charging makes sense. They need a comparable service, so they have one. In the end there is very little difference between MS and Sony in this arena, people should and will, pick the system they like and in the end, just like with this cycle, they will sell more or less the same amount and both companies will profit.

Fanboys aside, the most exciting thing about the next generation IMO is the full integration of and focus on the gaming networks.

 

[Laughing Man]

That's all very well and good but Sony are in a very difficult corner with this move, specifically the fact that the PS3 user list, almost the entire list got hacked in to and stolen during the PS3s life time.

Now at the time this wasn't an issue, oh no somebodies gotten my user name and PS password and some details about me that aren't real or correct anyway. I change my password and moved on.

The real issue with the PS4 needing to charge for online multiplayer is

1). I can't use fake details since they will no doubt be checked against the payment method I am using to buy my subscription.
2). Sony can go fuck themselves if they think I am giving them ANY credit or account details.

The main reason for number 2 is not that they got hacked, it happens even to the best of them, but it was the details that came out after the hacking about just how pathetic Sony's security regarding its users details really was. The only way I'll pay for their online service is via those PSN cards that they do

 

[Lightknight]

That's all very well and good but Sony are in a very difficult corner with this move, specifically the fact that the PS3 user list, almost the entire list got hacked in to and stolen during the PS3s life time.

Now at the time this wasn't an issue, oh no somebodies gotten my user name and PS password and some details about me that aren't real or correct anyway. I change my password and moved on.

The real issue with the PS4 needing to charge for online multiplayer is

1). I can't use fake details since they will no doubt be checked against the payment method I am using to buy my subscription.
2). Sony can go fuck themselves if they think I am giving them ANY credit or account details.

The main reason for number 2 is not that they got hacked, it happens even to the best of them, but it was the details that came out after the hacking about just how pathetic Sony's security regarding its users details really was. The only way I'll pay for their online service is via those PSN cards that they do

PSN card. It's what I've been using since the network issue.

 

[Nieroshai]

The way I look at it: the $5 USD I spend is more than made up for compared to the cost of 8 game rentals a month and approximately $20 in discounts offered. PS+ pays for itself, giving back more than it takes in the grand scheme. XBL, on the other hand, costs more and does less.

 

[Lightknight]

The more I think about the title of this thread the more I feel like it is misleading. They're charging for the service. Demanding is a forceful/negatively concieved term and doesn't exactly convey the sense of non-biased journalism people like to see.

 

[Arina Love]

PS+ is a great value for 5$ a month. Already PS+ subscriber and if it will make online play better, im all for it!