PlayStation 4 should have a subscription based pricing model

It has recently been revealed that Microsoft is widening its offer with retailers to allow customers to buy an Xbox 360 with a two-year service contract. The contract consists of users paying a reduced upfront cost for the 360, $99 and they must subscribe to two years of Xbox live service for $14.99 a month. While many people may be against the subscription based pricing model, it is done all the time in the phone industry. Most people don’t buy new iPhone until their contract is up. If people had to pay the upfront cost on their iPhone like they did with the PS3 at launch, than the iPhone might not be the runaway success it is today. I really think the subscription based pricing model could benefit Sony moving forward, in particular, with the launch of the PlayStation 4.

[Godmars290]

For game discounts and movie rentals, separate Gamefly and Netflix-like subscriptions - one more for music? - which could be combined for one-umbrella discount, but not internet services and game related features. At this point MS should back away from that for XBL since they're targeting non-gamers as they push their gaming/media system.

Or is that media/gaming system?

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

Sony has already mentioned that they are somewhat interested and they're waiting to see how it does for MS before doing anything like this. And this article is practically agreeing with my sentiments from the article linked here... http://n4g.com/news/1106998...

[CraigandDayDay]

I would much rather buy the PS4 outright and not have to pay some sort of cell phone-esque monthly payment for it. However, I can see at least some people who would be interested in this. Could be a cool way to draw in more gamers. Offer the system for "free" or for $99 and make small payments each month for a couple years to pay the rest of it off. Makes sense for some people. I'll be buying it outright, though.

BTW, that is a pretty cool looking PS4 mock-up. Can't wait to see what the PS4 looks like and what it can do (visuals and features).

[Knight_Crawler]

But what if you could not afford $600 all at once and you really want to play Killzone 4 or Uncharted 4?

[CraigandDayDay]

Then I suppose you could do this deal, but I for one would rather wait and buy it straight out.

[ForRealz17]

Get a job.

[Bobertt]

You can already do that just depends where you buy it. If you have a best buy card you can pay something off over 6 months. For $600 system thats $100 a month.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ Knight_Crawler

PS4 will not be $600, you can be sure of that.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

I have enough money to buy a console outright. I plan on buying the PS4 outright and the 720 outright.

However, not everyone who is a fan of gaming can afford that. Aside from kids who have to depend on their parents to buy them consoles or have to pay half, even some adults just don't make a lot of money are cautious on what they purchase.

These types of offers are a great thing. Simply because it offers another option. Options are good for everyone, even the companies that are offering them.

Sure in the long run the consumer is paying more...but they are playing sooner rather then later.

I know that if I was tight on money and I wanted to be father of the year for my kid/kids, I would greatly consider these types of deals. Initial cost for the console is only $99 instead of $300-$400 and then I only have to pay around $15 a month for 2 years? That is a cost which is very feasible.

I like that corporations offer choices and options, would consumers really NOT want options?

[ABizzel1]

A subscription model for the PS4 would allow the console to be sold for $600+ if that's the amount of tech they put into it, over 2 years.

$300 + 24 month subscription to PS+ to cover the price of the PS4.

[Aceman18]

i'll just buy my console outright.

[PirateThom]

Let me refute this by saying "no, it shouldn't". It's a ridiculous idea when Microsoft do it and it's a ridiculous idea if Sony do it. Fact is, it's just another way to limit what you can do with the hardware, by tying you to it for x amount of time.

[FXGAMESKILLEEN]

While I agree that gamers may be tied to their system longer its just an option and the old pricing model could still be used in conjunction for those that want to sell second hand

[GribbleGrunger]

While I agree with you, PirateThom, something tells me this is on the cards for Sony. Gaikai is almost certainly going to be used in this way. I don't think it will be ONLY subscription based though. They'll sell the console as normal too, if you want.

[Ducky]

A future where you don't own your games nor your console.

Moneysuits must be creaming themselves at the mere though.

[Anon1974]

I've got no issue with this at all. As the article mentioned, people do it all the time with cell phone contracts (I know I do). Offering subscription based programs for new consoles is just offering more consumer choice and I have no problem with that.

The issue I have is how much extra is charged over what it would cost if you bought the system outright and paid regular subscription fees. I have no issue with companies charging a premium for this option, but there's no reason they should be making over $100 over two years for this in my opinion. That's a bit much.

[Hicken]

It shouldn't, and I hope it doesn't.

[Heavenly King]

what happens if you dont pay? The console will stop working or something??

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

Another idea about to s#!t on one of my favorite hobbies!

[GraveLord]

As long as I'm still able to buy and pay for the PS4 upfront.
As long as subscription fees don't become mandatory.
As long as we aren't required to renew our contract to keep using the PS4.

[victoryscreeeeeech]

wasn't the xbox subscription based thing heavily criticized on n4g?

[hkgamer]

the subscription thing was heavily criticised on n4g and probably everywhere else too.
there was hardly any benefits apart from paying it in small chunks and spending alot more money.

if sony were to go for this approach i think they should give more things away, psplus, cloud gaming and free movie game rental. its obviously going to be hard to offer a subscription model at launch but maybe when the first price drop comes then they could offer it.

i also believe that ms will learn to give more features away with their subscription plan.

[InTheLab]

It should have a tiered pricing model and that is all.

MS can probably get away with it because you NEED Live and they were planning to rape you with it anyway, but PSN+ is largely unnecessary.

Sony has no fine print to dupe consumers with.

[SAE]

I hate this word (subscription)
A lots of things do this , it makes us waste money / time and even feel bad doing it , this word to me only means limiting things , sometimes they make us pay for something already was free , if they continue to do this then we will pay to use the toilets outside our houses in the future , subscription = taxs

[hkgamer]

for people that want to pay outright, tha option is definitely available and most gamers will go for this option.

what sony needs to do is not mimic microsofts rip-off ways but provide a subscription model which us gamers will want.
maybe a $/£99 model with a $/£15 per month subscription model. this will allow gamers to have psplus, have cloud gaming and a few movie/game digital rentals a monrh.
sony needs to pack in as many services as possible so that they can give gamers a good deal at the same time as maximising the anount they can get from them. kinda like a win win situation.
i do actually believe that if sony does provide a service similar to what i explained above i would choose that option. i mean i hardly use the psn store and havent even considered renting or buying a movie from them.

[shivvy24]

WTF ill just rather pay outright and forget about knowing i have to pay later

[DeadlyFire]

I am not for the my console is an MMO treatment, but it could work out to more sales in the long run for gamers that don't make any cash from part time jobs.

[jjb1981]

I'd rather pay it all at once with no strings attached

[SilentNegotiator]

The way DRM and monetization is going, we may as well stop kidding ourselves and RENT everything, from games to the system to services.

[BioDead]

14.99$ x 24 = 359.76$
359.76$ + 99$ = 458.76$
NO THANK YOU!

[sdplisken]

no just no

[ajax17]

No way! This would suck!

[DivineAssault]

that would really suck... i dont want bills & would rather save up & just pay for it.. It would make it more affordable to ppl who want it right away & dont have enough tho..

I cant wait for PS4 to show itself.. Im almost certain it will upsacle to 4k resolution (at least for movies) & have sexy graphics.. In another 4 years or so i will buy a new tv just for it.. They should be somewhat affordable by then since there is already a great 4kx2k tv thats glasses free 3D for 8000 euros.. Considering murphys law, it will be affordable in due time.

http://hothardware.com/News...

[SanMarco]

Disagree %100