AfterDawn: News

Sony talks subscription-based services for PSN

During a presentation at its media and investors conference today, Sony noted that they are "looking into" a way to make more profits from its free PlayStation Network, and said it was considering a "new revenue stream from subscription."

There is little to no chance that Sony will move the PSN to a subscription-based service like Microsoft does with Xbox Live Gold, and it is likely that Sony just hopes to expand their current pay-for features, such as movie rentals and the upcoming MMO "DC Universe Online."



JoyStiq spoke to a representative, who responded: "We have not made any formal announcements on a subscription based service. We're looking into a variety of options." Perhaps by throwing the words out there the company is testing to see public reaction to a possible pay-for PSN.

Writer's Note: We love our PSN Sony, but we certainly do not want to pay for it after having it for free for years.


Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Nov 2009 13:44

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• 17 comments

• emugamer

  Here's my reaction:
  
  NO!!!!!!!!!
  
  DO NOT DO IT!!!
  
  I love my PS3, and I've spent a lot of money over the years at the PSN for myself and my kids. Regardless of all that, I will stop using it. The cost of gaming is high enough. Subscribing to the PSN is something I would never do. Online is great, but I won't pay a penny for it, and will probably cut my purchases from the PSN and move back to casual PC game piracy. Subscription based XBL and all the other lame money making gimmicks are the main reasons why I did not buy a 360.
  
  Heck, if my kids want more games, I'll even break down and get them a Wii. Anything but pay for an online service. Especially one that's been free since inception.
  
  You think that will increase your profits Sony? You'll be in for a big surprise.

  20.11.2009 14:09 #1

• warriorp

  true that rightt there. i have a 360 but never paid for online it just sits collecting dust. thats why i bought a ps3 to play for free. im not paying 60 for a game the another fifty or sixty just to play online. thats crazy! i dont see how everyone does it with the xbox live.

  20.11.2009 15:12 #2

• rosedog

  Agreed, I gave my 360 up because of my PS3 and its free service. I hope Sony chooses not to do this.

  20.11.2009 15:15 #3

• xnonsuchx

  Hello??? It's only considering a subscription for PREMIUM services, not for existing PSN services.
  
  BTW, would you rather have forced ads streamed to you online to pay for additional content?

  20.11.2009 15:15 #4

• emugamer

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: Hello??? It's only considering a subscription for PREMIUM services, not for existing PSN services.
  
  BTW, would you rather have forced ads streamed to you online to pay for additional content? It's a slight possibility - Quote:There is little to no chance that Sony will move the PSN to a subscription-based service like Microsoft does with Xbox Live Gold, and it is likely that Sony just hopes to expand their current pay-for features, such as movie rentals and the upcoming MMO "DC Universe Online." "little to no chance" and "likely" are the same as saying "possibly and "very likely" when it comes to announcements from these companies. Just putting my thoughts in there. If the idea of making online play a subscrition ever came to the table, or making the online experience anything like XBL, it should be taken off immediately. I don't care about the other premium services, all of which I don't use anyway.
  
  "looking into a variety of options" also makes me wary.

  20.11.2009 15:23 #5

• SDF_GR

  Originally posted by emugamer: "little to no chance" and "likely" are the same as saying "possibly and "very likely" when it comes to announcements from these companies.rolf, you are so right.
  honestly i couldent agree more

  20.11.2009 15:39 #6

• TBandit

  I 'd be willing to pay up to 10$ and maybe 20$ a year for their subscription fee if they entailed one. As long as the servers showed improvement and they cut out the cheaters online. I really hate it when I'm playing and a glitcher ruins the game doing some stupid

  20.11.2009 16:50 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Its really simple really provide slightly better speed/ping to those who pay also offer them about 3 times as much free stuff in credits,ect. So say if I pay 9$ a month I get almost 30$ a month(non accumulating, spend them or be reset, they get spent first before the credits you buy with money) is PSN credits I can spend on anything in the PSN store. Now that would be something worthwhile but this nonsense of offering alil bit of free stuff for a monthly is stupid....

  20.11.2009 18:31 #8

• DXR88

  My biggest gripe with PSN is it just doesn't have the cutting edge Servers that live does. hell im sure some of the servers they use are a good 9 to 10 years old and im sure some of the PSN servers are just old SOE servers.

  20.11.2009 18:54 #9

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by DXR88: My biggest gripe with PSN is it just doesn't have the cutting edge Servers that live does. hell im sure some of the servers they use are a good 9 to 10 years old and im sure some of the PSN servers are just old SOE servers.All the more reason to add a subscrip level but not change the free level any, give more free stuff to the subscribers and build thier bloody infrestuture up some. I hate how free live cripples the basics of online....

  20.11.2009 18:57 #10

• Invasian

  I have both systems, but since Modern Warfare 2 came out I got it for my PS3 instead because my subscription for XBL ran out. I don't mind PSN the gaming experience is the same.

  20.11.2009 21:15 #11

• bteamfox

  I never do any thing that is subscription based. I buy a lot of games from the PSN store and would just not use the store any more if a subscription was in place like MS have. I wouldn't pay to play either. Heck the games cost enough already without having to pay to play them on-line. I bought two PS3's instead of two xbox 360's and a key factor was no subscription to PSN. SONY don't do it!

  21.11.2009 00:46 #12

• Unlockneo

  Quote:Sony talks subscription-based services for PSN
  if this happen
  i be moving back to my PC for all my gaming which it is still free to play online

  21.11.2009 09:33 #13

• canuckerz

  It looks like a lot of people missed the purpose of the article and jumped to conclusions based mostly off the title of the story.

  21.11.2009 10:28 #14

• Amak

  I read "Don't! I moved from the 360 because M$ rips you off! $50 a year! Don't do it Sony!"
  
  My brain processed "Don't! Don't improve PSN! Keep the cruddy service the way it is! I don't like great online services!"

  21.11.2009 10:40 #15

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Amak: I read "Don't! I moved from the 360 because M$ rips you off! $50 a year! Don't do it Sony!"
  
  My brain processed "Don't! Don't improve PSN! Keep the cruddy service the way it is! I don't like great online services!"Ya I don;t have a problem ,in theory, with subscription based services, its just every time I see it in action I wonder why bother.

  21.11.2009 14:03 #16

• xboxd00d

  I have always done ok on the free psn servers, most of my problems come with a very sub standard isp (Karoo for all us poor souls who live in Hull, we have no choice) :-(
  
  If Sony start charging a fee for PSN on a premium level I would be tempted but it would have to be a hell of alot better to spend money on a subscription.
  
  PS. I realise my nickname is xboxd00d, but I created my AD account back in the day when I had my old xbox, I changed allegiance to Sony when the PS3 came out, im not loyal to a brand, I buy the best thing out :-)

  27.11.2009 13:12 #17