Which is more likely next-gen for online play? Sony charges $60+ or MS charges $0?

[arredondo]

General online play is free on the PS3, Vita, PC, Apple machines, etc. and is expected to be free for the WiiU. Even XBox Live on the computer allows free online play.

However, XBox Live Gold members have to pay out of their pocket just to play X360 peer-to-peer games online, which is included in a subscription cost of up to $60.

So when the next gen "super" HD consoles arrive, which is more likely? That Microsoft allows free general online play (excluding MMOs) or that Sony starts charging gamers $60+ to play non-MMO games online?

It seems to me Sony has found a balance with the PS+ subscription that in no way interferes with free online play by offering great discounts and free games while subscribing.

Judging what we see on the Vita, they have already made it clear they can keep free online play while allowing cross-game chat, so the PS4 should be set with this model.

But perhaps some people feel that being charged for online play is worth it and don't want to see it separate from XBL Gold on the XBox 720? What are your opinions?

 

[viivo]

No way MS will be dropping their online model, but I can see them offering different tiers. People need a way to feel superior to others, so in addition to Gold they'll add Platinum, which gets some free or earlier access DLC, maybe a free arcade game each month. I wouldn't be surprised if they remove features from Gold, but of course that's all just conjecture.

What I would love to see is the eradication of achievements, if only for the entertainment of the holy shitstorm it would create.

 

[arredondo]

I'm not asking if they will drop XBL Gold. I'm asking specifically about charging for online play for general gaming on the Super HD consoles next gen.

 

[purbeast0]

sony charging a fee is definitely more likely. i mean they already have a PSN+ in place.

the difference between online play with PSN and XBL is night and day too.

 

[RedRooster]

I think now that they've seen what kind of money a paid service can make, there's no way the companies don't start charging next gen. I'm mainly talking about Sony, they'd be crazy to keep a "free" system like they have.
There's not a chance MS stops charging.

 

[mmntech]

I suspect this is the purpose of the online passes. An underhanded way to fund PSN off the backs of people buying used games.

 

[Doppel]

xbox won't drop paid. I hate it, though (paying), and haven't had an XBL in many years.

 

[JackBurton]

Sony needs to start charging for their service so they can secure their network.

 

[arredondo]

There were no confirmed account hijackings from that episode, but to secure Sony's network you say they need to charge online? How'd that work out for the X360?

 

[American Gunner]

Sony needs to start charging for their service so they can secure their network.

Wow, back on this huh? The hack was almost one year ago.

 

[JackBurton]

Wow, back on this huh? The hack was almost one year ago.

Yeah, and it wasn't just one hack. The network was taken down and when they brought it back up after 2+ weeks, it got hack SEVERAL more times. So if you think it's safe to give Sony your CC information now, good luck with that.

 

[dfuze]

I think it's more likely that Sony starts charging. No way will MS drop a revenue stream unless they have something else to make up those costs.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Neither I think

 

[cmdrdredd]

Yeah, and it wasn't just one hack. The network was taken down and when they brought it back up after 2+ weeks, it got hack SEVERAL more times. So if you think it's safe to give Sony your CC information now, good luck with that.

All my cards have protection beyond server security. I don't sweat it at all. Hey you can have your bank account stolen I bet you still have a bank account.

 

[JackBurton]

All my cards have protection beyond server security. I don't sweat it at all. Hey you can have your bank account stolen I bet you still have a bank account.

Ah you're right, if your bank account can be compromised then it's pointless. Let me just go ahead and email out my credit card info to everyone.

 

[Todd33]

sony charging a fee is definitely more likely. i mean they already have a PSN+ in place.

the difference between online play with PSN and XBL is night and day too.

Making money from PS+ makes it less likely they will charge for MP, not more. They have their own revenue and keep their competitive advantage of PSN being free. The features should also be in more parity since things like party chat will be in place for the next gen (see PSVita).

 

[arredondo]

Agreed. Also, keep in mind that PlayStation Home also makes good money for Sony and its partners due to micro-transactions. Combined with PS+, it doesn't make sense for Sony to force people to pay to play peer-to-peer online play when no other gaming platform except the 360 does it.

I think that the only way MS can justify charging for online play (even though XBox Gold will always be around in some form) is if they offer dedicated servers to play on. Of course that would be unlikely since that is a HUGE, ongoing added expense for them.

My vote is that it is almost impossible to think Sony will alienate one of its biggest selling points to current fans for an unnecessary move while MS will get with the times and allow people to play peer-to-peer games online for free like everyone else.

 

[JackBurton]

Agreed. Also, keep in mind that PlayStation Home also makes good money for Sony and its partners due to micro-transactions. Combined with PS+, it doesn't make sense for Sony to force people to pay to play peer-to-peer online play when no other gaming platform except the 360 does it.

I think that the only way MS can justify charging for online play (even though XBox Gold will always be around in some form) is if they offer dedicated servers to play on. Of course that would be unlikely since that is a HUGE, ongoing added expense for them.

My vote is that it is almost impossible to think Sony will alienate one of its biggest selling points to current fans for an unnecessary move while MS will get with the times and allow people to play peer-to-peer games online for free like everyone else.

As it stands now, the XBox Live! network is much better than the PSN. So there is justification right there. If Sony's network and features were as good as Microsoft's offerings on the next gen consoles, then yeah, I'd say it would be hard for MS to justify charging. But that's not the case now.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Ah you're right, if your bank account can be compromised then it's pointless. Let me just go ahead and email out my credit card info to everyone.

Way to try to spin things tough guy.

 

[JackBurton]

Way to try to spin things tough guy.

It falls right in line with your form of thinking, tough guy. Apparently Sony doesn't need to be held accountable in your eyes since you have "credit card protection." Getting hacked once I can understand. Getting hacked with a SQL injection is ridiculous and not something that should happen. Now, getting hacked with a SQL injection AFTER you say you fixed the problem is basically saying, "we don't give a shit." Now add on top of that, Sony got hacked 19+ times AFTER they said they fixed the problem, which is COMPLETELY unacceptable.

Like I said, if you are irresponsible with your credit card information and give it out to any fly by night online store, that's your business (and yes, I put Sony in the category as a fly by night store since they are obviously using the same level of security). But I'm a little more responsible and only give it out to companies I trust with my personal information. And Sony isn't one of them.

 

[cmdrdredd]

It falls right in line with your form of thinking, tough guy. Apparently Sony doesn't need to be held accountable in your eyes since you have "credit card protection." Getting hacked once I can understand. Getting hacked with a SQL injection is ridiculous and not something that should happen. Now, getting hacked with a SQL injection AFTER you say you fixed the problem is basically saying, "we don't give a shit." Now add on top of that, Sony got hacked 19+ times AFTER they said they fixed the problem, which is COMPLETELY unacceptable.

Like I said, if you are irresponsible with your credit card information and give it out to any fly by night online store, that's your business (and yes, I put Sony in the category as a fly by night store since they are obviously using the same level of security). But I'm a little more responsible and only give it out to companies I trust with my personal information. And Sony isn't one of them.

Whatever...miss out on PSN stuff I don't care. You seem to want to villify Sony for what amounted to basically nothing. Yes I say nothing because I can't find one case where someone could trace a fraud to the incident with PSN.

 

[JackBurton]

Whatever...miss out on PSN stuff I don't care. You seem to want to villify Sony for what amounted to basically nothing. Yes I say nothing because I can't find one case where someone could trace a fraud to the incident with PSN.

Sony needs to focus on security, that's all I'm saying. If they need to charge customers a fee to gain access to their network, that's fine by me. If you are going to run an online store, you sure as hell better do your best to protect your customer's data. You own them that.

 

[arredondo]

Exactly. There are no confirmed media reports of the PSN hacking incident leading to fraudulant use of consumer's credit cards or PSN accounts. At all (and the majority of his quoted "19 incidents", which includes Sony's movie division, aren't even related to the PSN).

However, the press is rife with stories of people getting absolutely hammered with fraud charges over XBox Live.

If you think paying up the wazoo for XBL Gold every year protects you from potential fraud, there's a bridge in Nantucket that I want to sell you. Myopia and placebos shouldn't mix.

 

[gorcorps]

Back on topic... I see Sony charging but not more than Microsoft. They may try and keep a competitive edge and keep Netflix free for non-paid members, but I'm not sure. I think people are going to pay for basic online play on both sides in the next gen and I expect some price changes to what already exists. I'm not sure what, but MS will change their structure a bit while Sony start charging for more.

 

[American Gunner]

Arredondo, you beat me to the punch on that one. But let's all pretend that XBL if perfect, we don't want to upset anyone. Anyways, I highly doubt MS stops charging for gold, they have people that are willing to just fork over money to play online, when they have nothing to do with the servers or anything. So in that regard, I would say I would think Sony would charge before MS drops the cost of gold.