PS4 for free: are subscriptions console gaming’s miracle?

"Microsoft revealed a subscription Xbox 360 yesterday, a move that has enormous implications for the HD console business. Monthly payments for hardware and services could change everything, says Patrick Garratt."

[BrutallyBlunt]

Just think back when the Playstation 3 came out and surprised many with its whopping $600 price tag. Imagine if Sony had the foresight to think of something like this and if Playstation Plus was available then too. Consumers could have had an OPTION (the reason I use caps if to show everyone how this is an option and need to react in the same manner) to offset the high price.

It never ceases to amaze me just how emotionally involved some people get on game forums about things, especially when they are options.

[thehitman]

When I bought my ps3 for 600 over a 100-200 cheaper 360. The subscription fee was 1 of the many weighing factors I decided to go w/ a more expensive console at base price then be burned after 6-8 years for another 400 dollars about.

[LOGICWINS]

So true. Many people buy through impulse and don't think about future added expenses.

[grailly]

for a good service, I would gladly pay 50-60$ a month, but that would have to be a service letting me play anything I want. à la netflix of gaming. and if I could get a cheaper console out of it, well great.

[ilikestuff]

that'd be awesome like sega channel way back when. doubt they'd give you that much though, cheaper console, all the games you want for 50, 60 a month.

[Baka-akaB]

Because it is never just an option . when that kind of stuff shows up , even as an option , it affects everyone else .

Dlc was an option , and in the end it permeated through everything and every publishers , in a way that withdraw and steal contents from those that didnt care for the option . And now all of them are constantly complaining about dlc tactics . Maybe if they thought about that earlier instead of going "hey man it's an option chill , you can just avoid it" , they wouldnt need to be feel constantly that angry .

So no i'm not looking forward to that kind of subs , when it easily directly lead to models like apple and its iphone/pad . i'll ignore it , and then if its successful , as usual i'll get affected by it unwillingly .

[BrutallyBlunt]

Then tell us, how will this trickle down to those who want to buy a new console and not pay monthly? The answer is it won't. You can speculate all you want about how the price of the hardware will be more but you will not have any proof on that. We have already seen high prices on consoles (Playstation 3, 3DO and NeoGeo come to mind). So use this new marketing as a scapegoat all you want, fear-mongering isn't going to get you anywhere.

To think consumers could only buy a console on a monthly plan is far-fetched but then again this is N4G, where a portion of the community seems to get-off making a mountain out of a molehill.

[grailly]

you've got a good point, I can only hope you're wrong.

EDIT: just out of curiosity, how many of you have a phone subscription?

[Lior]

people buy phone for $700 dollars or 500 pound they dont complain

[Fylus]

That's because some people are stupid:P

It's funny, America makes me ashamed to be American.

[TheLyonKing]

@Lior not just americans I am from U.K and import tax is higher and people pay such stupid prices for phones.

I got a pretty decent working internet/multi media phone for about 100 quid none of this waiting in a queue for hours for the brand new iphone nonsense

[DeadlyFire]

I think as an Option is a great idea, but as the only way of buying a console. I say no.

[ATi_Elite]

this all leads to one thing..........The imminent DEATH of consoles (except Nintendo)

SOny/MS cant keep selling you $500 consoles and $60 games on top of $50 yearly online subscriptions. That business model is DEAD and will be altered greatly next Gen.

SOny and MS are eventually gonna have to utilize the things that are in everyone's home already

A. The friggin TV connected to cable/Internet
B. The Personnel Computer connect to Internet

Like i have said before i see MS integrating Xbox through Windows and Sony could easily make a special hard drive and software for it's Playstation brand.

and it's all too easy to stream the video output from your PC to a Tv with no lag (I do it all the time and play online MP games like TERA).

MMO's and Micro-transactions are the things that are helping the PC make more revenue than PS3/360 combined (consoles win once you add in Nintendo) and next Gen the consoles will have the proper power to produce more MMO's and they will further exploit the Micro-transaction set-up!

The only other option is how Sony/MS tried to make PS3/360 entertainment hubs by offering netflix/hulu/espn etc. and other stuff through the console. Well they will need a lot more content to make that work and except for Netflix i don't think any other service was that good (correct me if I'm wrong but what was as good as Netflix).

[TopDudeMan]

I'd rather just buy it and be done with it.

[grailly]

you would just have a console and no games. you anyway have to pay extra for games, what if the service provided all the games you wanted?

[TopDudeMan]

That, plus all the games I don't want? Too good to be true, dood.

[grailly]

I dunno, netflix sounded too good to be true, 5 years ago...

[Boody-Bandit]

Gaming's miracle?
Early adopters would end up spending more money over the life of the console than ever before. And what is with all the comparisons between smart phones and gaming consoles? They have nothing in common with one another and are entirely different demographics.

And again with the whole "a lot of us gamers" want to download everything through digital distribution. Uh no, I don't know many gamers that want to throw their money out the window and not have any resale value or all the hassles that come with DD. As I'm sure most net providers wont be too keen on it either. Not to mention the fact that broadband does not exist every where. There are still tons of areas throughout the world and in every country that don't have access to high speed internet.

Sorry but this whole article, although well written, comes off as

[TopDudeMan]

Well, the comparison is because of the idea of this new pricing strategy. Essentially, you'd be signing a contract and paying monthly for your console, the way you do with mobile phones.

[Boody-Bandit]

You mean MS's new way to milk people dry even further and pretending with their smoke and mirrors that it is actually cost productive.

As long as there is an option to purchase the next consoles out right than all is good. If not, I will find a new way to spend my spare time. The gaming industry has become the epitome of being nickel and dimed to death and personally I am tired of it.

Pretty soon every game made is going to be subscription based. No matter how anyone spins this it's a bad thing for consumers and will ultimately be the demise / downfall of the industry.

[BrutallyBlunt]

@Brutallyhonest

Well to be brutallyhonest, services like Steam make a ****load of revenue and its service is entirely digital. They also have millions of Steam members who seem perfectly happy.

I know many complain about PC gaming and how it can be costly, well a lay-away plan could help some people. The truth of the matter is having different options is EXACTLY what consumers want.

The price to build new hardware whether it be consoles or PC's or anything else for that matter is going to rise, not fall. This new option for consoles is nothing new when compared to other purchases like a car or even a cellphone. Consumers will still have an option to buy the product for less money.

[Blastoise]

Nothing is ever free. Don't believe ondores lies

[wenaldy]

Well, dreaming is free

[Fylus]

Not in America.

[NAGNEWS]

costs you sleeping ;) think again, nothing is free

[TBM]

Id rather foot the upfront cost of the console/service then be raped for more money for the same service. besides paying to access my own online that im already paying my cable provider for is stupid as hell.

[asmith2306]

Its nice to have options though. Some people might not easily have $400+ at any given time so the extra expense in the long run is worth it if it means you can get a new console straight away rather than having to wait for it. As an example I might have about 800 to pay off my credit card but I sure as hell ain't gonna pay that off in one shot, i'll pay it over months. Even if the interest adds extra cost I can afford it month to month rather than the whole thing at once.

[Fez]

If you can't afford it you shouldn't be buying it. It's such a simple rule of thumb that people don't seem to understand these days.

The options seem to be screwing the poor people over and letting the rich get richer...

[TBM]

I respect your opinion but i personally can't see myself giving away extra money i can use for something else on a hobby i enjoy to relax.

Like Fez said if i can't afford it i won't buy it.

i asked a bunch of friends of mine who can see the bigger picture here and not one among the bunch would go for this deal.

[SilentNegotiator]

If next gen consoles pull smartphone BS, I'm going to knock someone's head off.

[BuckyBarnes]

This is why I have gone from avid sony and general console supporter to PC Gaming. Infringe upon my gaming, charge me a monthly fee just to play games all because you can "lower" the price? Newsflash: ends up being more expensive. Hurka durrk.
Im sure the mindless (m)asses will eat it up, after all the Wii was top seller..