Robert Fisser, head of PlayStation for the Middle East and Africa, explains why PlayStation Plus has gotten more expensive in developing countries, and how PlayStation TV will be presented on the market.
It would be worthwhile to note that the increase is in South Africa alone. The headline makes it seem as though it was an increase across all markets, which it is not.
yea - horrible title. I stopped to look at the story because I thought price increase was for everyone. don't know how this gets approved with a misleading title.
Clearly, the people in charge of approving articles are not very good at their jobs. This site's a joke anyway... literally. I come to watch fanboys fight. It's the blind leading the blind around here.
seeing as the question was half asked and answered, I'd be more concerned in the why and hoping this doesn't come to other markets. Just because it isn't your market doesn't mean you should brush it off and not care.
I love it that literally every comment so far has the attitude of:
What?
Oh, it's only in South Africa, i don't care anymore.
Probably because South Africa is big enough to get lots of money but still small enough to avoid a significant backlash. Relying on the selfishness of other countries is step 2.
Not the selfishness of the company, the selfishness of the unaffected consumer, look at the comments, it's a WTF article until they realise it's not their country then they leave and don't utter another word.. It's a price hike that was announced and carried out in a day practically, if that happens to any country, it's something to question.
The PS4 IS probably the only thing that Sony have that is successful, those Spider-Man rumours were probably true, like a plan if Robert Downey JR says "no" to Iron Man 4 or something.
Sony's films are flopping a lot, Amazing Spider-Man 2 didn't but that's all really for the blockbusters (Total recall ETC)
The Tech isn't doing so well either, price hikes are understandable, even though Sony own a BIG BIG market share in games now.
The article title is there for clicks but they aren't lying, they just weren't specific (how much specificity can you fit in one title though?) There is a price increase for PS+
did you even watch the video he said they have brought south africa inline with the rest of europe, so they pay the same as the rest of us it is not a price rise, they priced it too low there in the first place and are just fixing the mistake
As already stated, horrible article headline, only the South Africa is affected by the price increase and not a global market...
Hopefully this doesn't mean there will be a potential increase in price plan in the future for the rest of the world. Its entirely possible however there will have to be a significant service offer to consider it.
Others have hinted at this already, but don't brush off the price increase simply because it doesn't affect your home country. If they do it there, you better believe they'll consider it for other markets as well.
They brought it in-line with other markets. It wouldnt make sense to bring south africa in-line with the rest of the world and then bump up the price even further in other markets once again leaving south africans paying less for ps plus. A friend of mine buys his ps plus sub codes from a South African site so he'll definitely be heart broken by the news.
Gotta love that generosity from these multi billion $$$ companies.
Make the less fortunate pay more, what a fantastic idea. Justifying this by saying they were paying less for the service than the 'European countries' is just a slap in the face. They chose that price point based on the economy of the country, just as they did for everyone else in the world.
PlaystationTV "being introduced to South Africa as a low cost gaming alternative". insult to injury. Because they should be grateful that in 2014 we will charge them more for a service to play games from generations ago and they should be happy for it. While we will take the same amount of money we would charge our European brothers and sisters that are in a far more lucrative economy.
Whatever reason they have it's a wrong one because there is always another example - Valve with their steam price policy, diffrent regions have diffrent prices right for them.
If Valve can do it, why sony can't?? Cause they are greedy no other reason
FUCK OFF!!! I' ve been a loyal console gamer. Now i am shifting to PC. Playing online, communicate with friends and listen my own music is FREE on PC! This is bullshit! This is it! I quit consoles!
Your choise but the reason has everything to do with inflation. Inflation is not caused by Sony. If anything blame the government of Africa. You can't just print more money (I assume this is the cause for the huge inflation over there).
PSN on PS4 is utter trash. I still have basic features that don't work for me. I have features that worked on PS3 that do not work on PS4. I pay more for less right now. They keep this up and this will be the Sony console I buy, BTW I don't own a X1 and I don't plan on buying one soon.
This is interesting. I'm not sure it is news worthy, but it is interesting to read the comemnts...
If it had been MS who did this, comments would be ablaze with "Here we go again Microsoft", "Microsoft is greedy", and "This is why I will never buy an X1".
Instead, since it is a Sony article the pre-dominate comments are "The title of the article is wrong" (which it is), "Don't blame Sony", etc.
There is a difference however, Microsoft has many years in history with outrageously high and anti consumer prices on majority of their products, windows platform just being a prime example.
You are comparing two very different companies, unjustified.
Really? What about how Sony used to charge high prices for consumer electronics like walkmans, discmans, receivers, cameras, TVs, etc.
Sony has a massive history of being the most expensive electronics brand and not delivering much features to match...
Sony had portable music all wrapped up but lost it to Apple because they milked rather than innovated...
They had TVs all wrapped up until Samsung came along because again they milked rather than innovated.
If anything people should be thanking MS for XBox. Because Sony shipped the PS3 at $600 and if it wasn't for X360 being $400 console gamers would've had no choice but to buy the PS3.
There is a difference between most Sony fans and MS fans... MS fans choose their product knowing that every company will take advantage of them if given the chance. Sony fans choose Sony products because they think Sony is the only company in the world that will not take advantage of you.
I actually had walkman and it was a great product, innovation was Sony's main strength in those days and prices were justified. You said said that Sony lost to the TV business but that's not the truth.
In the last few years they overtook Samsung in both qualify and price point. Look it up.
The PS3 was pricey, however the blu ray played in 2007 was one of the best on the market. Even today, compared to the price, while the so called praise you are giving to the Xbox 360 had units upon units returned back with almost 45% failure rate.
I'm not saying that Sony doesn't have faults, but from ny experience in buying electronics for the last 20 years, I can safely say, I spend a bit more with Sony but I did received quality, something Microsoft can't vouche for in the past or especially now.
There are other examples buy lets learn to disagree and leave it at that.
It's all about the games. Every gen Sony has douzens of games that are not available on any other platform. On consoles and games they take big risks and have deserved the spot they are in with flying colours. Anyone who likes to game multiple genres know this.
As far as it goes for their other electronics I have my 2006 bravia model still going strong along with the headset I got even before I got my tv. I have however heard the horror stories about TV:s from other rather popular manufacturers malfunctioning off the bat or right out of warranty many times.
@Sokol... I think you are missing the point... Sony had the markets as almost monopolies. They behaved just like every other company does (aka MS) when they had the chance, but then competitors came in a took over the markets.
Of course Sony is adjusting and fighting back, but that's not because they are doing humanity a favor... It is for survival of their business. Just like every other business does (aka MS)...
I have bought electronics for over 25 years as well. There was a time when only Sony products were allowed in my home. But, now I see they are just like everyone else. So, what I do is decide the things I want, at the specs I want and then I go and find the company who will give it to me at the lowest cost over the period I expect to own it. If that is Sony, I am fine with that. But, I am under no illusions. MS, Sony, Samsung, Apple, Google, are all corporations that have shareholders that demand financial performance. That drives every business.
@insonium2 The only reason their games are not on other platforms is that Sony studios are not allowed to deliver to non-Sony platforms. And when Sony signs a contract with a third party to fund a game (aka Bloodbourne) they don't allow the game to go to another platform ever which is an acceptable practice in Japanese business but MS is an American company and one of the first rules of any contract by law in America is that it has a reasonable term (contract length). It is that simple.
Sony keeps making the same mistake that every company makes... They dominate and then they milk... Just like every other company on the planet...
Not just south africa.. it affects India, russia and turkey as well..I am from india and the price was changed to 4000Rs (65 USD) from 3000Rs (49 USD)
First of all the console costs 40000 Rs (650 USD)..the games cost around 4000 Rs(65 USD) and now the change in price for PS plus where earning 30000 (500 USD) per month is considered as great..
Way to kill the genuine gamers.... I can see the same guys crying over the piracy in third world countries down the line.. :(
It would be worthwhile to note that the increase is in South Africa alone. The headline makes it seem as though it was an increase across all markets, which it is not.
Click-bait at it's finest.
Playstation plus South africa price increase explained.. Fixed the title for you..
How was this article approved with only 5/10 approves?
Story = WTF Like Website = No