Should I still be paying monthly fees for games? Part 3 – Xbox Live Gold Vs PS+

Michael C Black returns to CalmDownTom to cast a critical eye over Xbox Live Gold vs PS+

[STGuy1040]

Both offer services worth paying for in my opinion.

[Dovahkiin]

To put it simply, you paid for an Xbox, and you pay for your internet monthly. Yet to play your Xbox over the internet, there are more fees to pay? I don't think that is right, what Sony is doing, by offering you a more premium service for a small fee, is perfect. That way you don't have to pay for things you don't want/use.

And i paid for XBL for over 3 years, but I certainly don't think it's right.

[t0mmyb0y]

I have never understood why Xbox's have to pay to play the same games everyone else plays online. And it's even more mind boggling that so many people take the hit.

[palaeomerus]

$15 a month to rent some mostly rinky-dink games that are rather slow to come out,that usually turn up cheap in steam sales or humble bundles, and get a few older games with a discount is a rather worthless premium. Certainly NOT worth $15 a month.

Paying $35 a year(the price I actually pay for live) for a good online contact gaming network with a lot of people on it is a little bit annoying but not really onerous. I prefer the second option.

[Wikkid666]

Because MS is actually in business to make money. It costs millions of dollars to run servers, etc... so why should it be free? because others do isn't a valid reason? They are providing a great service and I only pay about $3 per month.

[Qrphe]

@palaeomerus

What's this $15/month service you speak of???

[ApolloTheBoss]

And that's why I'm switching to PS3 next year. Don't hate me for it. It's my decision.

[darthv72]

as the increase in online passes from developers it may get to a point where MS would reconsider the actual fee for playing competitively. I mean it is more possible that online passes could replace the monthly/yearly sub rate for live as a whole. Yet that would be even more $$$.

How it all started was, there was no console structure for an online community driven service. MS took the AOL approach in simplifying it. Obviously, without the competition from PSN and their free to play, we would not be having as much heated debates as we do.

It was rumored before Sony launched PSN that they too wanted to have it be a premium service. However, they lacked the infrastructure to warrant charging customers for a service that wasnt up to speed. So naturally Live was the blueprint Sony used to design PSN but instead of making it a fully community driven approach, they went for the on your own approach.

Like people who paid for AOL felt the community of internet and email and friends and whatever features of AOL as a whole made them different than someone just signing up with a local ISP and then...they are on their own.

Sony could not compete with live unless they took the one thing that made live a requirement and made it free. Online play. That too is somewhat of an argument because many think all sony games are run through dedicated servers (which many are) and that all MS games are P2P (which they are not).

so much misinformation about both services and yet if there was a full disclosure in black and white I think we would still have people saying they dont believe how things are run. That is just the nature of something you support. you will support it even with furious defense if someone opposes your view. And for what?

These are services people. Just like the platforms are simply that. Platforms to play games on. These are not sports teams to rally behind or wives and girlfriends you feel you have to defend their honor.

sorry...back on track. So now we are at a point where sony and their paid service is doing the EXACT SAME THING as MS and their paid service. Basically that amounts to providing something to the consumer that they feel is worth paying for. I'm not debating what you get for your $$ but quite simply the fact that if it's worth paying for....people will pay it.

Being a paid member of something should make you feel like you really are getting more for your $$ than those who arent members. Honestly...it does. Gold vs Silver or even PS+ vs non PS+. Not to mention that once you are a paying member, it becomes difficult to just give all that up. That is how they hook you.

[pablo-b]

wow the once a week live vs psn thread...

dont people get bored writing the same stuff which wont change anything??

[gaffyh]

@darth - I'm sure every online network wants to charge people to use their service, but the thing is, most services can't do it because they don't offer enough for it. The only reason MS can do it is because they had people invested in the service from the risk they took with the original Xbox and Halo fanboys, so they simply converted those, who then became fans of COD, which has brought in so many extra subscribers.

PSN was so crap when it first launched, I don't think many people remember it. Sony couldn't have charged for the service in that state. The online play was fine, but the Store was literally a webpage, and now it is a million times better than it was.

[DigitalRaptor]

@palaeomerus

You are ridiculous. Which service is charging $15 per month? Cause it's certainly not PS Plus. It's $50 for the year -> that's just over $4 per month.
http://us.playstation.com/p...

You really need to educate yourself before making yourself look completely foolish, by hating on a service that we all know you haven't used or played, or even know anything about.

"Mostly rinky-dinky"?

Hmmm.. Red Dead Redemption, LBP2, Darksiders, Borderlands, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Dead Space 2, Saints Row 2, Just Cause 2, Resident Evil 5, Oddworld: Strangers Wrath and many, many more. Wanna rent the games offered on plus separately? It will cost you a lot more than a year's sub. And a PS Plus subscription is much more than just access to a boatload of games. Look up PS+ and read about it, cause you seem to be clueless.

Keep paying Microsoft to unlock half your owned games because they can't afford to let you have that access for free. Microsoft definitely don't have a market value of $247.2 BILLION... definitely not.

I don't disagree with MS giving the choice to pay for premium features, but the simple ability to play online games (that is free on every other device) is outrageous and always has been. When it comes to XBL, there is no REAL choice and never will be.

So as a gamer, what is better? Paying a ransom for a service? Or paying for access to games and much more?

[mewhy32]

Can you say 'flamebait'? Wow. I bet this is getting lots of hits. I pay for both and enjoy both. Get over it.

[2v1]

to darth
So now we are at a point where sony and their paid service is doing the EXACT SAME THING as MS and their paid service.
how can you say this! lol this is wher i think i waste mi time reading you post
now gametimeuk speaks more clear truth

[darthv72]

here is what you chose:

"So now we are at a point where sony and their paid service is doing the EXACT SAME THING as MS and their paid service."

Here is the full statement:

"So now we are at a point where sony and their paid service is doing the EXACT SAME THING as MS and their paid service. Basically that amounts to providing something to the consumer that they feel is worth paying for. I'm not debating what you get for your $$ but quite simply the fact that if it's worth paying for....people will pay it."

If you are going to use my quotes then please be respectful and use the whole context of the quote. Seeing as you chose to stop after the first part, you missed the part that was the "key" to the whole statement. It wasnt about what you got for the $$ but more about how both have created something that consumers are willing to pay for.

That is where they are essentially doing the same thing in regards to having some type of premium membership service. Doing a comparison of the service is not my point as each side will have the pro's and cons and will have the members that enjoy what they offer. That is just personal choice.

Yeah my comments drag on (sorry about that). I am not one for incomplete thought. I try to be as complete as i can but have not quite figured out how to do so without long drawn out explanations (just like right now).

[stage88]

Why is there another news article on this??

PS+ is the better value and option. People have come wise to MS and paying to play online is something I'll never support.

[IAMERROR]

I think it's pretty funny that people say "PSN+ GIVES YOU FREE GAMEZ". Those "free" games are as free as Xbox live gold.

[rezzah]

Nope.

You pay for access to play online.

You pay for access to discounts, free stuff.

If we payed for access to PSN, then we would pay for access to PSN and then have to pay for access to PSN+.

That's the difference, it is the meaning of what you pay for.

[IAMERROR]

Missed my point....

[moparful99]

You are one of those people that spin facts to fit your agenda.. Look I pay for a service that gives me access to games at NO ADDITIONAL COST, I also get automatic downloads of updates, firmware, etc. I also get online save game storage, deep discounts on games and dlc, free avatars and themes etc.. Look you can sit here and twist words and meanings all you want but the fact of the matter is I actually recieve something of value in return for my subscription whereas live subs are paying for the privelege to play ther games online..

[rezzah]

If PSN+ was added to the 360, then not only would you pay for Live but you would have to pay for "Live+" too.

Two separate payments for two separate things.

[darthv72]

the free game you get for being a PSN+ member offers online play? Wouldnt that be similar to paying to play online like live? Granted that is a very rudimentary example but it is plausible none the less.

Take into consideration the number of games that have some type of online element and eventually the optional PSN+ membership becomes somewhat of a requirement.

That part only pertains to the games that are offered as part of the membership service and do not reflect PSN as a whole.

[rezzah]

Live provides online play.

PSN+ provides exclusive content.

It is not similar because of what you pay for, even if one of the contents further allows you to play online.

There is the game and the online mode within the game. In order to play online mode, we need the game first.

Live requires that you have the game, which has its own cost. The you must pay another fee to play online.

PSN+ provides that same game for free. The online mode is also free. Remember that you are not paying for access to just free games, but discounts, other things that are free, certain demos, beta opportunities, and whatever else there is.

Without PSN+ you buy the game, then you play online for free. Maybe you could have bought the game for a discount or even have gotten the game for free with PSN+. It will not change the fact that you do not pay for online.

This ^ was for your question.

Now even if PSN+ became a requirement such as Live, then there would be no point for the existence of PSN+. PSN itself would be free, but not everyone is willing to be forced into paying for extra content. Extra content resides outside the realm of regular content which is provided for free.

Trying to compare the two is pointless as they are separate things. One cannot be like the other. And if you attempt to make PSN+ seen as Live, then the nature of PSN+ will contradict the existence of PSN.

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

I have paid for LIVE in the past and now I pay for PS+
I just like the PS+ approach more. I treat it kind of like a nice cheap game rental service with some extra benefits. I think it is well worth the price.

With Xbox Live I used to pay simply to play online. I no longer feel the need to do so and it is the only feature I would use.

Live is great is everything appeals to you, but PS+ suits my lifestyle much better.

[Xof]

I don't think either service is worth paying for. XBL is probably the worst because you have to pay just to access online content, period--a fee on top of ISP subscriptions, and on top of this Online Pass bullshit. Basically, it's just Microsoft and publishers (EA) saying, "We'd like you to give us money, just because."

I can see the appeal of Playstaion Plus, and in concept I think it was a very good thing, but I don't like the direction it's gone in. Back when it first started up, there was a lot less--fewer "free" games, no free trials, fewer titles, period--but it did offer a lot more discounts. Meaning, conceivably, you could make up the subscription cost in savings.

But the "sales" are pretty sucky. Sure, the free games are nice--until you realize that you're just renting them for the duration of the PS+ subscription. This makes it conceivable to spend more money on renting games via a PS+ subscription than the games themselves would have cost to buy.

Ideally, a system like PS+ should offer a base discount for ALL titles, the occassional special sale (like steam), and should keep a running balance of what you "buy" versus what you pay. If you 'buy' a $50 game for $0 with a PS+ subscription, but don't buy anything else for... however long $50 gives you with PS+, you should then "own" the game even without the subscription.

[t0mmyb0y]

"...but I don't like the direction it's gone in. Back when it first started up, there was a lot less--fewer "free" games, no free trials, fewer titles"

You don't agree with the direction that they are going in because now you get more free games, trials, exclusive betas, early access to PSN games...I don't get it.

[Gridloc]

Here we go again. People forget PS plus is an optional service. You can still play your whole game for free. As for the the your only renting games on PS plus is crap. So then Xbox live is only renting the online portion of the game you bought. Xbox will more than likely launch their next console first. Will you be willing to pay 100 dollars for Xboxlive? Don't be surprised if that actually happens. MS has become extremely greedy this gen. I've said it before if Xbox let you play the online portion of your games for free, you would see an all time low in gold subscriptions.

[Xof]

@Tom: Maybe... re-read my post? I thought I articulated it well.

Back when PS+ started, there was more legitimate value because it had more sales--more discounts for games--which made it very likely to get more than you paid for.

Sure, the new model may seem better, with free trials and free games--but it's not, because those games aren't free. They are perpetual rentals. This makes it more likely to get less than what you pay for.

My basic point was that, for certain gamers (myself included) the current PS+ model offers us less value than if we simply buy the games without it.

I don't get why so many PS+ lovers refuse to acknowledge that the free stuff isn't free. It's a rental, an indefinite rental, but a rental all the same.

@Gridloc: You've replied to my post, but you're not replying to my post. I never said, or even intimated that PS+ wasn't optional. Not even close.

If you want to launch off on a tirade against an Xbox fanboy, you'll have to do better than spout bullshit at someone who's simply critical of Sony.

[SkittlesLikesPopcorn]

XOF..
what you say does makes sense. but dont forget that there is a pretty big convenience factor with PS+ because games get circulated to you monthly. All you have to do is sit back and play. for 50$ a year i think that is a steal. It will let you to always play something fresh if you are in a mood for it.

I personally plan to get PS+ b/c im getting vita this holiday season. I think between ps3 and VITA PS+ will give me my moneys worth.

[Larry L]

Xof

What is your point......Live Gold is also a perpetual rental service. You pay that subscription to rent the online portions of Xbox games. If your sub lapses, you can no longer play your games online. It's that simple. All it's other features are just fluff because they can be accessed on other devices for free.

Also, game trials have been included with Plus since day1, that's not new. And what I find inconcievable is that you think there's any possible way that I could play all these games I've gotten from Plus for less than $50 a year. That's complete non-sense.

I've been a Plus subscriber since about 2 months after the service started. I see absolutely no diference in the value I'm getting. If anything, there's more value now. They have cut down on actual SALES a bit, but there are still some decent sales. And since they're giving more free games than before and less sales, it gives the gamer more money to actually spend on the games they actually want to buy.

And I LOVE that they're doing sales on Day 1 games. I'm admittedly not a gamer who likes to spend money, but for example DOOM 3 BFG has a Day 1 discount, which will save me a decent amount vs buying it in store for full price plus tax. And since it's a game I would never trade in anyway, it's a fantastic deal for me over buying at retail day 1.

For me, Plus is pure value, start to finish. XBL on the other hand is just another bill.....another burden on my already strapped wallet. Granted, I gave up on Live LONG before Plus was even a twinkle in Sony's eye, but that's really neither here nor there.

[moparful99]

@xof See you are looking for the negative in this.. Yes its a perpetual rental service but my way of thinking is this, if they continue to deliver great high end games at no additional cost why would I want to allow my plus sub to lapse? Its actually kind of brilliant, by giving me access to all of these games they have guaranteed that I will continue to subscribe year after year.. Whats more alot of the games that I get from the service I rarely go back and play so if in the off chance that I let my sub expire and I lose those games well oh well I can still buy disc based games and play online for free... To drive my point home I tallied up the current market value of all the games I have recieved from plus and the grand total sits about $300 right now and I've been a subscriber since they announced it at e3 in 2011.. $100 turned into $300 of content.. You can't tell me that I haven't made a good investment..

[Irishguy95]

If there were any games I really wanted to play on Xbox i'd get live for them too, Halo 4 is coming up for example, i'll get live for that. But I haven't gotten it since Gears 3

[Summons75]

I really appreciate it how you called PS+ a game rental service instead of claiming Sony is handing out free games to keep. That is my problem with PS+, I don't like paying for a game that I am not guaranteed to keep plus I like a physical collection on my shelve. Both services have good perks for those who are willing to pay.

[KillerPwned]

@UK

I was doing the same thing you did awhile ago paid for live and now I am only paying for PS+ and its one hell of an amazing service.

I do agree with everything you said.

[Nutsack]

I stopped using XBL, as PS+ gives more bang for the bucks.

One thing that kept me at XBL for long was Gears MP and the friendbase I played it with. Also the cross game chat&invite.

But over time it got less important and PSVita showed how PSN CAN pull cross game chat&invite off with the right memory allocation. Too bad PS3 won't get it, but PS4 will.

Sticking with PS+, good thing is, I was a member at launch of the PS+ service too and the stuff from then gets activated again even with 2 years of inactivity in between. Nice.

[OhReginald]

ps+ offers wayyyy more.

xbox live only lets people play online with each other, which is free on psn....

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Pay for both if you can. If you like Free online and a free game rental service Plus. If you like a tailored gaming universe that's suited for online games then Live.

Its so late in the gen, both are great services. Its a matter of preference at this point.

@ any disagrees I would like a reply explaining why. If not, then I'm getting trolled for no reason what so ever.

[Pillsbury1]

I'll give you a reply, tailored gaming universe? Fact is you HAVE to pay to play online. I have no problems connecting and chatting with my friends on psn. I ask you would you pay for something that should be free?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

That's good, you can play with friends and chat with them online. but my system is different then yours and does that better. Online integration such as chat channels/ chat & IM, Beacons that lets me organize my games that I wanna play with people. voice msg party chat smooth interface that changes and gets better pins lets me organize the stuff I like live sports, shows, important events and TV.

From that perspective its better. Online deals and free games PSN offers, Live doesn't for the meantime anyway. Soon we'll have F2P games coming to Live pretty soon.

I respect yours and anybodies choice of system. As long as I get some respect in return.

I agree with you because I like your service of choice.

[FunAndGun]

"If you like a tailored gaming universe that's suited for online games"

lol, what does that even mean!? The same could be said for PSN.

does cross game chat = "tailored gaming universe that's suited for online games."??

I still fail to see how a MANDATORY 'service' can be considered a 'great' service.

[ItsTrue]

Haha you're getting trolled for no reason, they just want you to understand that no one should go to cafés.

[moparful99]

I disagreed with you because I've used both service extensively, Psn more because I own a ps3 but my point is this.. The basic rudimentary elements needed to play games online are there for both psn and live... Everything else is fluff, I love how I sign in to psn and nothing is shoved down my throat as far as adds are concerned, I feel that the xmb is better suited to handling online interacton because I can see a majority of my xmb at a glance no need to scroll through a bunch of tiles to get to something. Having everything organized under easy t see and recognize icons is more convienent in my opinion.. I mean if the xmb wasn't such a great UI then why is it that the NXE uses a similar cross scrolling system. scroll up and down for category and left to right for subcategories.. The xmb is left and right for category and up and down for sub category.. Anyway cross game chat has never been a big deal to me and yes I have used it.. I only talk to the people in game with me.. If thats important to you then so be it but for me it holds no weight in this argument. Of course it all comes down to preference but the way you stated that Live is the "tailored gaming universe" so matter of factly doesn't sit well with me.. Of course the deal breaker for me was the live membership fees which alot of people lord over ps3 users as a sign of elitism...

[abzdine]

i think it's stupid to pay to have the RIGHT to play online, i prefer to get free games each week and still play for free like any other gamer.

[Pillsbury1]

I am very happy I sold my 360 you shouldn't have to pay for something that is free everywhere else. For those that say its a superior service I can acces online on ps3 the same way I did on the Xbox but I get free games. I will no longer let micr0$0ft rape me of cash. Never again.

[AlucardFury]

By your logic, you should go to Spain to get a college degree since some universities offer them for free. Screw the schools at the US.

[Qrphe]

Most of our community colleges DO suck, so not a very good analogy.

Furthermore, it'd be make more sense if you inferred that it's easy to move (buying another system) or that you are a resident of both places simultaneously (owning both consoles).

[FunAndGun]

That is one lame comparison.

[Pillsbury1]

Worst...comparison...ever.

[AlucardFury]

Take it as you will, he's saying he shouldn't pay for something that is free elsewhere. So why pay for anything in life then? This is all a product of self-entitlement bullshit, I agree, its dumb to need Gold to enjoy Netflix,Hulu, Espn etc. I pay for it gladly because matchmaking is better along with party chat. To call these things crap is purely subjective. What Sony offers for free is passable but its not the best by any means.

[Pillsbury1]

You can't seriously be such a blind m$ fanboy that you can't see you are paying to play online just because m$ wants to. I had bought 2 Xbox 360 and bought a ton of games for it but I got so fed up with the way money grubbing m$ did things. And why do you bring up my point and spin it into everything else should be free if we are talking about consoles. Stick to the subject buddy.

[ItsTrue]

Uhh Pillsbury1, I'm pretty sure everyone who's paying for LIVE knows it costs money. Secondly, I don't see why you refer to microsoft as m$. Don't bother arguing about microsoft only cares about money because that's what they do, make money. With this, can't it be said that Sony is $ony then?
You must fail at English if you think he was off-topic. He used an analogy, which helps the reader understand the situation better. So he was clearly on-topic, you just fail at understanding what he's trying to say.
On a side note: Did you realise at any point while you were writing, that what you posted is off-topic? Now I understand that my own post is off-topic but i'm helping you clear false impressions so that you won't make the same mistake again.
So next time, "Stick to the subject buddy".

[AlucardFury]

Its such a dumb habit to call one a fanboy just because someone prefers something different than you. At the end of the day I use my money for what I want, if you think you're getting ripped for it well its your problem, I can afford paying 5 dollars a month for better matchmaking and party chat.

PS. For the love of God why by having a different opinion from others am I considered a fanboy?

Look me up on PS3, Alucard_Fury_9, I actually have more trophies than achievements actually. You people really just need to grow up, need to know the difference between what's an opinion and calling people out because they have different tastes, what gives any of you the right to tell me what I spend my money on, go to hell

[ItsTrue]

"Its such a dumb habit to call one a fanboy just because someone prefers something different than you..."
Wise words Alucard, may the bubbles be with you.

[Hicken]

"What Sony offers for free is passable but its not the best by any means."

Isn't PC the best? And isn't it free? So why pay for stuff on Xbox Live that you can get for free on PC, when PC is even better?

The matchmaking is scarcely different from anywhere else, you're still running on P2P servers for virtually EVERY game(including exclusive titles), and party chat isn't even an original feature. It was a late addition; it's now used to justify paying for Live, just like the ESPN, Netflix, and Hulu apps you mention.

All in all, there's really very little in the way of legitimate reasoning as for why you SHOULD pay for Xbox Live, except that if you DON'T pay for it, you DON'T play online.

The rest is just fluff to make you think you're getting value.

[moparful99]

Alucard PSN is just as good as live in regards to online play. The way you claim psn is just passable and live is much better just shows your bias and elitist mentality.. I'm sorry but I've been a ps3 owner and psn member since december of 2006 and I know the state of PSN and how well it runs.. Very little lag ever, matchmaking works just fine no issues there, online voice quality is high, and its free.. I know you are going to disagree with me and try to reiterate that live is better but I've used both extensively and I can attest that the only difference is the cost and some frivolous features and apps.

[DivineAssault]

XBLG is great but i wont pay just to play online games.. I wont give them any of my money for them to just release kinect & shooter games.. PS Plus gives in return & thats just economics... Why give money away for absolutely nothing? To chat? To play games i paid for with other ppl? Nah, i can do that free (Minus cross game chat) but my vita does it.. & PS Plus provides with content for the $50, NOT $60/yr...

[Captain Qwark 9]

and whine some more........

[KillerPwned]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO WE ARE NOT IN 2006!!!! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME HORRIBLE ARTICLE!!!!!

I remember similar articles like this appearing all the time right when PS3 came out....This one is not really all that bad.

[from the beach]

I don't pay for either at the moment.

I have had Xbox Gold in the past though and will again if something I want to play online comes out. Meanwhile PS Plus has no appeal to me whatsoever as I see no necessity to it - I just buy a game when it comes out if I want to play it, rather than rent it ... a year later.

Oh yes - and don't forget there's also Nintendo Network's 10% off downloads offer with the Wii U Premium console. That's free and seems like a good incentive to get your games / multiplatforms via digital. Although we don't know all the details yet, I suppose.

[LOL_WUT]

Umm okay?

[from the beach]

:P

Suppose any response is better than none!

[thehusbo]

playstation plus is FAR superior value for money over xbox live. this shouldnt even be discussed.

[CrustifiedDibbs]

I've had both and I like live better. I got nothing out of ps+ other than a few betas.

[stage88]

You're doing it wrong.

[CrustifiedDibbs]

nope, there was just nothing of value to me while i used plus. i know im not allowed to like xbox live on this website, but i dont really care. plus didnt offer any games worth my time that i hadnt already played. my opinion, get over it.

[majiebeast]

ps plus offers free retail games with xbl you just unlock the multiplayer portion of your game.

[moparful99]

So you'd rather pay to access the online portion of your game rather then recieve access to a whole slew of games, exclusive betas, game trials, demos, avatars, themes, discounts, online storage, automatic updates and downloads? Hmm guess ignorance is bliss..

[CrustifiedDibbs]

once again. that is my experience and my opinion. get over it. most of the things you listed are available on live. i dont use either at this point. i get all those ps+ "features" for free on steam anyways

[BabyTownFrolics]

Q: Should I still be paying monthly fees for games?

A: You can do what ever the hell you want with your own money.

[oldfriend86]

I've been on many arguments before and don't want to go into much detail, so:

1.) The need for 'online' play on XBOX exclusives I feel is higher than single player campaign games. Therefore, going online for 360 no longer becomes a choice, but something that you 'need'. Besides having a child, I can't imagine any gamer that can survive playing on a 360 without XBL for years. But even if PSN charged for internet, I'm able to live off of the games online-free.

2.) Let's say yeah, XBL service is better than PSN. It's still not $60 good (Amazon has a 12-month card for $46, which is slightly better). Personally, cross game chat is just crap I don't need anyway, but for the wider audience, the price should be brought down considering PSN and WiiU online are free. Meet it in the middle with $30 annual or so. I prefer free online, but $30 annual is something I would agree with and dust off my 360 for. As a tip, Black Friday deals usually bring the price down of 3-month for $7 and I've seen 12-month for >$40. Just do that every year and you'll be good.

3.) Disregarding any disagreements. Even if I insisted on XBL, the Netflix aspect still gets to me. You should be able to watch Netflix without XBL. The 'party chat' feature (not sure what it's called) should be a plus to get XBL, not as a means to stop you from Netflix altogether. And using Kinect to control Netflix is a novelty that has nothing to do with internet, let alone Microsoft advertising it as reason to need XBL.

Anyways, each is to its own. XBL is still great; I'm just happy with the PS+. Free and discounted games that I care about, game save backup, and I feel like I get my money's worth. June alone gave me more than $50 worth of games. If my account expires, it doesn't bar me from playing online or watching Netflix.

EDIT: Someone up in the comments mentioned that those PS+ 'free' games are really just rentals, which I do agree with. However, $50 annual is still better than my blockbuster days. $7 per game rental? Can't remember. Plus they'll always be on your account and are a simple download again if I decide to continue PS+. Discounted games are still yours. And as personal preference, if I had to pick my poison of losing those 'free games' on PS+ OR losing the ability to play games/watch things online for XBL. I'd rather it be PS+. Again, all just my opinion.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

I will never give up XBL until the competitors can offer me the exact same service or better for online gaming and community integration.

I hate paying for XBL but I would hate more not to be able to party chat or group chat. Also with XBL, you keep the games, demo's and content even if you stop paying for XBL.

For me and my online gaming habits, I NEED what XBL is offering that other companies don't. XBL party chat/group chat/integrated community service and how well XBL is put together is just to important to me then to NOT have it.

I will always pay for XBL so long as other companies don't offer the same features that XBL has. Who knows, maybe when the PS4 launches, PSN will have the same XBL features...

But then again, I am confident next gen Sony will start charging you for XBL like functions as part of their premium plan. There is just too much money that can be made by enforcing people to pay for online gaming. MS make around $500 Million from XBL. There is NO WAY a corporation like Sony (who is currently in a financial crisis) wouldn't see the value of adopting an XBL "type" of membership fee to access certain online functions. Not saying they will charge to play Online...but possibly other XBL functions that people would love to have that currently don't.

[Krew_92]

"Also with XBL, you keep the games, demo's and content even if you stop paying for XBL."

Keep games? Of course you can keep them you paid for them, also on the PS3...

Keep demos? Demos are FREE on PS3.

Content? Same thing as games.

Although I agree with the party chat, I can see the use, since I use it myself sometimes.

I do not see Sony charging for party chat or anything like that. It's already free on the PS Vita, come to think of it PS4's party chat might be exactly like the Vita's when it comes out.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

MS have given away free XBLA games in the past.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

A new game called Happy Wars is also about to launch which will also be free.

http://www.youtube.com/resu...

As for "Free Demos". Last time I checked GT5 Prologue wasn't free yet I have NEVER seen a demo on XBL that required $$$.

Sony are too smart to NOT make money by charging for some kind of online feature when the PS4 comes out. It will either be like XBL to pay to play online which just looking at XBL can see there is a market out there OR they will have premium services like "chat" as a part of PS+. Just because it's free on the vita doesn't mean it will be free on the home console.

[oldfriend86]

Krew was simply pointing out, when you said, "Also with XBL, you keep the games, demo's and content even if you stop paying for XBL." As if you can't do demos or the like with PS3 or PS+. Anything besides a free game or 60 minute demo; you keep, including discounted games, DLC content, discounted/exclusive free avatar/themes and such.

To download paid games at all, you need XBL, but PSN doesn't restrict you. The only thing I slightly agree with you is Sony seeing Party Chat as a possible money maker.

[Krew_92]

I never said XBL didn't have free games, and pointing one exception to the demos isn't really much showing me anything.

I doubt Sony will charge for online play, although I can be wrong and you can be wrong about that. So we have no say in that matter. If they do though you can be rest assured I will move to PC gaming fully.

In the end though I don't care, and I don't even know why I replied to you... I don't even take this site seriously.

[Bowzabub]

Apples and Oranges. PS+ FTW.

[ChunkyLover53]

Christ, not this again.

Seriously, why do people care what others are spending their own hard earned money on? If you are happy with what your spending it on, good for you.

These types of articles get hits and heat because Sony fans, who don't have Xbox 360's or XBL like to tell us real Xbox 360 owners why paying for online is bad or wrong. I don't mind paying for a premium service in the least, I've been an Xbox Live subscriber for almost 8 years now.

There are so many inaccurate analogies that its sickening to read through. I mean, I bought my TV and I pay for electricity, but I still pay for Direct TV, and even though I pay for TV through Direct TV, I still have to pay separately for HBO and Showtime.

If you don't want to pay, go with PS3/PSN. I have seriously never heard of gaming cheapskates until it comes to XBL. Its like $3 a month, I've never paid more than $35 a year for it. Its like if you cant buy it at the local Walmart for $35 people give up? You can ALWAYS find a deal on it. I spend more money at a single trip to the movies, and that is only 2 hours of enjoyment, I get much, much more enjoyment from my Xbox 360.

I love the updates, the new looks and features and I love the atmosphere. Let me be happy in peace, just like I let people who pay for PSN+ be happy.

[oldfriend86]

Though I agree about people being frugal; cause if we have enough disposable income for gaming, XBL isn't that much more. I myself have all three of the systems.

I think it's the principle that's at stake, not necessarily the price. If I paid for the system and games, the internet to play/watch/browse online, Netflix account per month, etc; XBL is just charging me to access what I already am paying for and should have access to from the get go.

It's like on-disc DLC. I have it, but I need to pay more to access it? I don't believe in that. Party Chat is indeed XBL worthy and I have no problems with perks like that, but barring me from online play period is a different story.

EDIT: Just to point out, cause PS+ 'free games' are only accessible when having a PS+ account, those games weren't being paid for before, Plus just gets them for free acting as rental that's year round; this is contrast to "paying" for Netflix and paying for XBL to access it. And I usually use PS+ to get discounts, which I keep after PS+ expire.

[oONinjavitiSOo]

I don't mind how you spend your money. But if you've been paying $35 for XBL annually for the past 8 years you've spent $280 to be online with your xbox.

[ChunkyLover53]

I actually paid less in the past, and I've paid more for Netflix in the past year, than I have for Xbox Live for the past eight years.

That is really chump change when you look at services that compete, I pay around $400 a year for NFL Sunday Ticket, I spend around $250 a year on hair cuts, I spend over $280 on beer a year.

See what I mean? spend my money how I want, on what I want, and I'll be damned if I let anyone dictate to me what is worth my own money. Gaming is a hobby, you need to spend money with any hobby, I don't care if its stamp collecting.

[Max-Zorin]

Not this again.

[elm]

The only thing left for xbox owners to throw out is they get cross game chat on xbox live so it's worth it! guess what I get cross game chat too on PSN for free via the Vita.

So lets recap,

pay to play online with x game chat or
play free online with x game chat via the Vita ( i know the PS3 hasn't got it but that's due to the original design of the system not actually Sony not wanting to implement it) and also have a OPTION to pay the same amount as live but you get loads of games to play on the PS3 and Vita (soon) plus plenty of discounts on new and existing games that more than saves you the price of admission alone.

Mmmmmmmm hard decision. LOL

[KMCROC]

Have always paid since i was aware of the online service during Xbox & will continue to pay for it till the day i stop gaming or die ,but either way it was my choice ,preference to do so. But if others feel differently about paying or not paying ,then by all means do what is best for you.

[elm]

Forgot to add. I wonder how many people would cancel their gold subs if Microsoft suddenly said all online play and streaming services no longer need a gold account?

[stage88]

Everyone.

[TekoIie]

XBL actually has something PS+ has also has which is discounts.

Deal of the week, Sales&Specials+ app and they do developer deals (atm its Activision). Every month XBL has just as many sales (if not more) than PS+...

[BitbyDeath]

PSN and PS+ both get sales.

PS+ sales offer better deals though.

[jetlian]

nope that changes from time to time. live has 33-50% sales whereas psn+ does 1-2 dollars off 10-15 dollar games. at max 2 dollars from 10 equals 20 percent less if its 15 dollars.

psn doesnt get as many games either or has as many apps nor the same functions. But you are paying to have someone rent games for you!

[BitbyDeath]

Incorrect, if you look at PS Blog right now you'll see some PS+ savings include 50% off while others are at 80% off.

[jetlian]

o really how much is collection 1/2 of mw3 how much is virtua fighter 5 fs on psn+?

Did I mention x game chat? psn doesnt have voice messages or custom sound tracks.

I dont hand 50 dollars and expect anybody to pick what I will be renting for a year. Thats what psn+ is its a rental service where someone else tells you what to rent!

Vita doesnt have nearly the games of ps3 or 360. When ps4 comes out you can get into argument with me assuming it happens that way.

Right now psn+ still has less going for it. Now if sony allowed you 5, 60 dollars games of your choice then I would say its better. but giving games 1-2 years old isnt gonna cut it.

One breath people like you claim MS only know how to buy timed exclusive blah blah. I'll take my kung fu strike, mark of the ninja, dust, fez, minecraft, trials evo,deadlight and others over journey and papo and yo.

PSN lacks content. it still lags behind in function. It still has worst MP games. MS dang near gives away MS points for being a reward member and from bing.

[BitbyDeath]

1. Not everything is always on sale on either system.

2. X game chat - vita has that for free. (PS3 does not have enough OS memory availabe to run it).

3. You pay 60 dollars and get no games in return, hardly the same.

4. Vita just came out this year so obviously it will have less games than a 6 year old console.

5. Still better than none though right?

6. Yeah that's your opinion and you are entitled to it.

7. Warhawk is the best MP game this gen IMO, but again that is opinion, as is yours.

[lodossrage]

I wouldn't know about MW 3 since I don't pay attention to that. And I wouldn't have to pay attention to any VF FS sale either considering I got it free with plus.

No, playstation plus is a benefits service. The "rentals" are a big bonus within the general infrastructure of that. And sure, since you don't have PS Plus, you don't "hand anyone" $50 to pick what you rent.

Instead, you "hand someone" $50 to do things that everyone else is getting to do free or without having to pay a fee ON TOP OF another fee to do.

Vita's amount of games has nothing to do with it. The fact of the matter is whether you mentioned it or not, one of the staples that xbox live owners use to covet as being worth the price is being made free elsewhere.

And just to inform you, the do give out day 1 games too. Case in point, the gave Stacking day 1. Virtua Figher Final Showdown day 1, Double Dragon Neon Day 1.

No, "people like me" as you say, don't even mention anything about their timed exclusives or whatever. I'm just a person that had the service before and know the reality of the situation.

On the side note, with all that "giving" Microsoft is doing, why is it Sony that's giving out masses of games with their service on a regular basis?

To end all arguments right now, ask yourself this:

Which system can FULLY function without the subscription to their paid service? See because for all this "giving" you said Microsoft did, they "Took" away a simple freedom (the right to play online) from you by making you pay a cover charge for it.

Like I said before, you can make excuses for it till the end of time. But as PS+ grows and Nintendo starts their own online services which will also be free with a pay option similar to plus, you better think about what you're actually paying for.

Look, like I said, I used to have xbox live. But when you start to look at the reality of it, all you're paying for are x game chat, access to apps, and online play.

Online play being paid for is right off the back a rip off so I won't even go there.

X game chat you'll have a hard time justifying being worth the price considering the Vita does it free, the PS4 will more than likely have it, and Nintendo will have it.

I would give you the apps part of the argument, IF you didn't have to pay for most of those individually ( This is what I meant about having to pay a cover charge about using what you already pay for)

Ah well, that's enough long winded explanations for me. Like I said before, keep making all the excuses you want, it'll get worse for xbox live subscribers if they dont' stop that though. Just look at how they raised the price $5.

Sure, people with common sense know how to find deals. But there aren't that many with that kind of sense in the world honestly lol.

[TekoIie]

*Sighs*

Let me just list some points of what make XBL worth paying for.

1. X game chat. Great for chatting with friends, also works as 100% guaranteed to work mute button which many multiplat games lack which annoyed me TONS with AC: brotherhood on ps3.

2. I dont rent what I buy at a discount. You want to play that game you got from PS+ for half price about 2-3 months ago? Pay up buddy! XBL buy the game with the discount for keeps.

3. Fluidity and evolution of the service. PS3 xmb vs 360 dashboard. There is no competition between the two if we go on a fact based analysis. You can have a preference but the 360 is quicker and better laid out.

4. The competition. Mics add to competitive talk and also Teebagging is much more frequent on XBL which is always funny. Oh and if you dont like those racist/sexist people then please go back to point 1 ;)

5. Its not $60/£40... Sort of. Go to Amazon or shop round instead of listing the highest price its available for to support your argument. Also the MS points currency works out cheaper than the standard money for PSN (Im not sure how to word it but i hope you see what im getting at).

6. Well time to make a weaksauce reason for why its better lol. All DLC is now cheaper on XBL. Yeh you see that 1/2% discount we get for achievements? YUP everythings cheaper! (I hope you sensed the sarcasm there) :3

7. Dare I suggest the unthinkable? Have you ever... Thought of.... The possibility... That.... People MAY.... Actually like Gears of war and Halo more than any of the PS3 exclusives? Yup IMO Gears 3 is the ultimate shooter its got lots of variety: A SP/Co-op campaign, Horde (wave based mode), Beast which lets you play as the locust and of course the MP.

When you talk about free vs paid we each see a different amount of value. I am used to playing with friends and that competitive atmosphere combined with more convenient/better software. You on the other hand prefer a slightly inferior service for a great price: FREE! Which is awesome but to each his own :D

EDIT: Now that I look at it that is the biggest Wall 'O text i have ever written on here XD

[lodossrage]

@jetlian

Yeah but with Xbox Live, you're paying for what everyone else is getting either free OR without having to pay a "cover charge"

What you don't realize about PS Plus is that those games add up, And the discounts aren't simply $1 or $2 like what you claim. There are some even now with 50-80% off RIGHT NOW as we speak on the PS Plus store discounts.

I'm sorry but there is no contest, what makes more sense to you? Paying for what everyone is getting either free or without having to pay a cover charge? Or, paying to access games, free themes, free avatars, etc?

I don't see how people try to justify this. Microsoft literally took half of the system's function away from you and put it behind a pay wall and you people take it. And yes, I say take it (online play) because they didn't always make you pay for that.

If X game chat is what you feel is worth the price then you have to wonder why the PS Vita can do it FREE? And when the PS4 comes out, you can bet your bottom dollar it will have it free as well.

And with Nintendo's service being free with an optional pay method, I hope those of you that are Xbox Live subscribers put your foot down about that. Because the longer you all sit here and make excuses for it and say "it's ok", the worse it's going to get for you down the road.

[lodossrage]

1- Once again, X game chat is going to be very hard to justify considering the next systems (PS4 and Wii U) will have it and the Vita already has it WITHOUT having to pay for it. It'll be hard to say that makes the price of admission worth it once the new systems come in and with a handheld currently doing it without making you pay for it (vita).

2- sure you "rent PS Plus games. But what you fail to realize (probably because you never had it before) is the fact that PS Plus ALSO sells games at a discount. And guess what? you KEEP THOSE GAMES whether your plus subscription runs out our not. It's ONLY the 100% free games you "lose". But you get them right back once you resub anyway. And let me tell you, those free games end up becoming a GIANT backlog that you can download and play ANYTIME you want as long as you're a member. Like I said before, the "rent" is just a big bonus on top of other things. This one makes me realize just how misinformed you (and maybe the general public) are about PS Plus

3- Everyone has their opinion. But I personally can't see myself paying for a cosmetic look over content. All the more reason why I don't have Live anymore in the first place

4- You act like the PS3 doesn't have mics lol. Just like with Xbox Live (when I had it) I ONLY used it with people I knew

5- Bringing up Amazon only enforces what I said earlier about having to find deals to get Live cheaper now. He may have brought up the highest denominator sure, but that highest denominator is ALSO the same price Microsoft mandated once they decided to raise the price.

6- lol truth be told, if you didn't say the sarcasm thing I might have thought you were out of your mind

I have to say, when I look at the "reason" for difference in value as being able to play with friends or "better software" (opinion based), it just goes to show just how badly people got duped here. And it makes me even more upset I once bought into Live. Because all I'm seeing here is "it's better because it looks better and I have a mic" as the general argument

[baodeus]

Now I can see why this stupid topic hasn't been resolve yet, cause every one just listed the perk for their prefer ser ice while ignoring everything else on the other service.

How about we laid out Everything (connection, sale, game offers, etc...) offer by both services? From my point of view, It seems no one truly understand what both services really offer.

[wastedcells]

Online features should be standard. No charge. Included with your console and game purchases.

[Acquiesc3]

MS will continue to charge for cross game voice chat (the only difference.. and not even counting ps plus) as long as people keep saying it's okay to get bent when every other company offers it for free. Wake up, people.

[MasterD919]

We're nearing the end of the cycle...They need to just go Free2Play. They wont, and it's a hell of a dream if they did, but it's so unnecessary to pay for online service when we already know that this console generation is nearing complete.

I love the idea of supporting the consoles through 2014-2015, but they need to seriously open the flood gates for their online service by going free. That MIGHT improve sales all around for games + hardware too...

[attilayavuzer]

If you don't want to pay for online, use a Playstation, it's that simple

[CRASHBASHUK]

i am sorry but i got to say you get more for your money with ps+ since the relaunch of ps+ at E3 2012 been offering full blu ray games for free i saved about £200 on the 10 free games
so what ps3 doesant have cross game voice chat ( it should be with ps4) but there is cross text chat rooms which is free for any psn member