460°

PSN Subscription Fee Possible?

Colin McFedran at Tawkn.com writes: "Rumblings are that Sony may be considering a PSN subscription fee.

Not a subscription fee for access and online (ala Xbox Live) but a fee that gives you all you can eat access to PSN games be they for PSP or PS3. This isn't a new idea (Sony Asia polled its customers in early 2008 about such a thing) but scuttlebutt is that they are asking AGAIN. Hmmm."
Alternative Sources:
NJShadow - contributor
Published: 178 days 6 hours ago | Rumors | PlayStation 3 | Gaming
 
 

12Next »
Showing: 1 - 50 of 59 Comments
Shut this user up Let user speak
windmill145 - 178 days 7 hours ago
1 - uhhhhhh
QORE?
Shut this user up Let user speak
Stinkinmushroom - 178 days 5 hours ago
1.1 -
?? Did you read it? It's a subscription to have all the PSN games

I would pay for it! Knowing all the PSN games i already have, i know i would save money with a subscription.

PS: Though, i don't think it's possible cause ALL PSP games will be on the PSN.
Shut this user up Let user speak
SixTwoTwo - 178 days 5 hours ago
1.2 - uhhhhh NO!
If you would have read the thing you would know that this is nothing like Qore. For $10 a month Sony rents out to you 6 games. Also theres more speculation that at $20 a month you get to rent movies.
Shut this user up Let user speak
SaiyanFury - 178 days 1 hour ago
1.3 -
Quite honestly, I wouldn't pay the fee. That's a personal opinion as I don't download a lot of games from the PSN, only occasionally. But if people who download many games from it saw the fee as beneficial then good for them.
Shut this user up Let user speak
SL1M DADDY - 178 days 1 hour ago
1.4 - There goes Sony...
Thinking about the hardcore gamer again. Kudos!

If they did this, you can bet I would ante up the cash for the opportunity to play the games they offer. They have some of the best arcade titles ever.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Sitdown - 178 days ago
1.5 - @SL1M DADDY
Hahaha....are you serious? When did they stop thinking about the hardcore gamer?
Shut this user up Let user speak
SL1M DADDY - 178 days ago
1.6 - I should have made it more clear...
They never stopped thinking about the hardcore. Unlike the other two console makers, Sony keeps the hardcore at the forefront of their thinking. That's the reason for the kudos!
Shut this user up Let user speak
Sitdown - 177 days 23 hours ago
1.7 - Ohhh...okay..
my fault.
Shut this user up Let user speak
DeathroW22 - 177 days 22 hours ago
1.8 -
SL1M, i guess that is becuase sony knows that the hardcore audience is a good one, and infact the casual isn't as big as everyone makes it out to be.

Sure, they'll sell a crap load of hardware and one or two games, but with the hardcore audience, they know they'll buy a good amount of systems and will always be buying loads of games - which is where they make their money.

So yeah, sony is just using their past experience, knowing that the hardcore is a good audience for them to stick too, but at the same time, offering a casual experience for those that want to find that experience, rarely ever overlaps.
Shut this user up Let user speak
SL1M DADDY - 177 days 21 hours ago
1.9 - @ DeathroW22
Could not have said it better myself. Kudos to you as well. Bubbles.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Raz - 177 days 18 hours ago
1.10 - The thin edge of the wedge?
I'd rather pick which games I want and get 'em, rather than pay a fee and download everything that goes up @ the Store.

A $10 buffet sounds like a deal, but doesn't make a helluva lot of sense from a marketing standpoint; wouldn't developers end up losing money? And just what does 'renting' these games mean? It gets deleted after my rental period is up? Can I only play it off the PSN servers?

It all sounds a bit...well, stupid. >_>
Shut this user up Let user speak
GCNSeanFoster - 177 days 16 hours ago
1.11 - hhmmm
I doubt this will ever happen in the US (I hope not). Sony has things really good as they are right now. And Sony has always had a 1-up on Microsoft for offering free online gaming.
Shut this user up Let user speak
GarandShooter - 177 days 13 hours ago
1.12 -
@ Raz

Think about it like a DD version of Gamefly.
Shut this user up Let user speak
barom - 177 days 12 hours ago
1.13 -
Sounds like a gamefly subscription, only digital and possibly cheaper. I might jump on that.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Qui-Gon Jim - 177 days 9 hours ago
1.14 - @ 1.10
Raz, i'm actually with you on that, except i do see how it would be appealing to other people. For people who can burn through these games quickly, a $10 monthly fee to have access to anything is a really good deal. For me, though, it's better to buy the few that i want and have them forever.

If this applied in some way to the video store, that would be awesome. It would be handy to be able to keep caught up on some of the TV shows I never get to watch (and watch them in HD to boot).
Shut this user up Let user speak
IdleLeeSiuLung - 177 days 8 hours ago
1.15 -
Option 1, $7/month for 10 games out is a steal in my opinion. I still probably wouldn't sign up, since I hate recurring fees....

To put that in perspective, 2 maps for KZ2 cost you $6 and 4 maps for Halo 3 cost $10.
Shut this user up Let user speak
RememberThe357 - 178 days 7 hours ago
2 - Oh snap!
This would please the hardcore to no end. : )
Shut this user up Let user speak
NJShadow - 178 days 7 hours ago
2.1 -
I know the trophy whores would be on cloud 9! ^_^ But odds are, if they're real trophy whores, they already own all the PSN trophy titles anyway, ha ha.
Shut this user up Let user speak
NJShadow - 178 days 6 hours ago
3 -
When you think about it though, aside from the ability to rent games which might be up in the air, the ability to rent and stream movies and TV shows could prove promising. Not only would the PS3 have a streaming service like Netflix, but they'd actually profit from it whereas that isn't the case with Microsoft. Not a fanboy rant, just thinking ya know?
Shut this user up Let user speak
LinuxGuru - 178 days 6 hours ago
4 -
lol @ scuttlebutt
Shut this user up Let user speak
hatchimatchi - 178 days 3 hours ago
4.1 -
scuttlebutt in the navy is a drinking fountain. Back in the day to hear rumors and whatnot you'd most likely get them by hanging around the scuttlebutt. Kinda like the watercooler in most offices.

The more you know.

ha
Shut this user up Let user speak
Soldier one - 178 days 6 hours ago
5 - wow
I dont like paying monthly for things, but this idea is just awesome. Id pay to play all the games, and hell, if you threw in movies. OMG movies would just absolutely sell it for me...
Shut this user up Let user speak
deafphat - 178 days 6 hours ago
6 -
WTF!!!!???? this is joke!?
fact: I never bought games on PSN
i here on PSN for DLC, Teaser, and demo.
DAMMIT!!! just rumor.
Shut this user up Let user speak
LinuxGuru - 178 days 5 hours ago
6.1 -
Never bought a PSN game? What the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any idea what you're missing out on?

Wow.

*shakes head in amazement*
Shut this user up Let user speak
Sarcasm - 178 days 5 hours ago
6.2 -
Seriously? No Super Stardust HD? Wipeout HD? Flower? Tekken 5? Warhawk? Super Street Fighter II HD Remix? The list goes on.

These are amazingly budget friendly titles, and you haven't bought one? Get to downloading!
Shut this user up Let user speak
thebudgetgamer - 178 days 5 hours ago
6.3 - did you say budget friendly titles
:)

i had to do it.
Shut this user up Let user speak
deafphat - 177 days 19 hours ago
6.4 -
all PSN games is short!!! DUH!!!
I wait for FF7, MGS, RE.
Shut this user up Let user speak
gumgum99 - 177 days 12 hours ago
6.5 - @budgetgamer
*looks at username*

lol, I see what you did there
Shut this user up Let user speak
Shbzshar - 178 days 6 hours ago
7 - impossible
they get enough dough from the other 4 consoles that are in the market already.... and it'd be a really stupid move from their part

and how do they turn a profit with 10 bucks all you can access... doesnt the developer of the said psn titles have a say in this?
Shut this user up Let user speak
GiantEnemyCrab - 178 days 6 hours ago
7.1 - PSN Developers
I'm sure Sony would work with and subsidize any type of "giveaway" for their created content.

This isn't too bad of an idea but the devil is in the details.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Shbzshar - 178 days 5 hours ago
7.2 -
ya does seem likely that they would have some incentives for thier developers with this rental scheme... a mojority of the titles are either 5$ or 10$... but with a 10$ for 6 games monthly rental charge gives 2$ bucks for each game... guess the developer still earns the money... i guess they realised not everyone wants to buy the whole thing and keep it in their hard drive... not everyones a arcade fanatic.. some just wanna try it finish it and forget about it
Shut this user up Let user speak
Bathyj - 178 days 6 hours ago
8 -
I cant tell you how much attention I pay to rumblings and scuttlebutt.

That sort of Tomfoolery and Ballyhoo doesnt fly with me.
Shut this user up Let user speak
LinuxGuru - 178 days 5 hours ago
8.1 -
lol
Shut this user up Let user speak
Bubbles - 178 days 5 hours ago
8.2 - @8
uyou sound like a detective from the 40's
Shut this user up Let user speak
LeonSKennedy4Life - 178 days 4 hours ago
8.3 -
Preposterous poppycock! That's what this is!

Of course...a new form of gaining these titles would be just bully...absolutely bully!
Shut this user up Let user speak
Polluted - 178 days 6 hours ago
9 -
Wow. It's bad enough when people don't read the article before commenting, but it looks like people aren't even reading the summary this time. Let's try not to just scan the titles before we go commenting, shall we?
Shut this user up Let user speak
notpill - 178 days 5 hours ago
10 -
wtf? putting a question mark at the end of the phrase allows to write any thing?
Shut this user up Let user speak
menoyou - 178 days 4 hours ago
11 -
this would be amazing. we need Internet Service Providers to raise our speeds so stuff like this can happen. damn i hate those ISPs
Shut this user up Let user speak
NJShadow - 178 days 4 hours ago
11.1 -
Well, the PS3 does support progressive video downloads, so streaming shouldn't be that bad at all.
Shut this user up Let user speak
dorron - 178 days 4 hours ago
12 -
This would be stupid...

If they can charge you 10€ for a game...why would they give you ALL the games for that amount of money????

They would be losing money.

Just a rumour that will never happen.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Sarick - 177 days 15 hours ago
12.1 - because
The games are rented and have time limits. You don't really own them you own the rights to play them.

If you think about it most PSN games you download can be used on 5 different PS3's. A $10 game can be downloaded to 5 of "YOUR" ps3's making each copy about $2 each. As long as your PSN user account is on that system it can access the downloaded games.

With the rental system you can only have a limited number of games active per your subscription. Lets assume it's a 5 active limit. If you lend out your buddy a copy as long as that copy is on his system you can only have 4 on yours. You see it's like Netflix. you can only have x number of movies out before you can get another one (YOU HAVE TO RETURN IT). Basically you have to deactivate them to get another one.

Why it makes money sense >>

Every month you keep the game a portion of the subcription fee go's to the DEV who created it. They aren't losing anything by this deal in fact they could benefit greatly. In the long run if you keep one of the PSN games on your system 5 months the DEV could make more on the game then the 1 time purchase. As mentioned above a portion of the subscription go's to the dev in royalties every month.

Hopefully everyone reads this logic and realises the marketing isn't a bad idea.
Shut this user up Let user speak
hatchimatchi - 178 days 3 hours ago
13 -
i could see this happening and if you wanted to buy the full game you could hopefully get it at a discounted price, kinda like gamefly. That would be a great deal.
Shut this user up Let user speak
n4gn4gn4gn4g - 178 days ago
14 - I think what alot of you are missing is that
the PSN will soon hold all current and future PSP releases. The focus is more PSP than PS3.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Majors - 177 days 23 hours ago
15 - Missing the point ??
Iv noticed by some of the comments posted that a lot of you are missing the important details... If you read it through you will find that you are only RENTING the game for ONE month. The game will be playable for the allotted time only and then rendered unusable unless you Re-Rent it for the following month. The details also say for your £6 or $10 you will be able to RENT up to 5 or 6 games per month.
This could be a good move from Sony as it would open up all kinds of content that will be available to everyone, as they will be generating funds and have more to re-invest into the network
Shut this user up Let user speak
LiQuiFiedArt - 177 days 17 hours ago
15.1 - I doubt that.
I think it will be more along the lines of netflix. You can't rent more games until you delete your current rented games. Eitherway you can have a monthly maximum of X rented out at any one time.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Sarick - 177 days 15 hours ago
15.2 - Yes but.
It'll also have a time limit so that if a system breaks the game can auto-deactivate after a month unlocking the ability to get more downloads. In Netflix terms it'll send its self back after a month allowing you to renew the title without all the mailing. Even if your system breaks the limit will be restored after a month because the service assumes the titles will be disabled anyway.

Anyway, If you don't log on before the timer runs out the game would become disabled. This way the people continue paying the subscription to maintain the games they're renting. Stop the subscription and the timers run out. Keep a game on your system while paying the subscription it remains there until you deactivate it or you fail to reactivate it.

Think of it like a gas station that lets you have unlimited gas but the gas can never leave your vehicle. That means that when you refuel up to a tank of gas. If you stop the unlimited gas service you can no longer get more gas from the offer. When that runs out it's gone until you either buy more or reactivate the service.
Shut this user up Let user speak
cgoodno - 177 days 22 hours ago
16 - That's not called a PSN fee
That's called a game subscription.

Stupid titles.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Magnus - 177 days 21 hours ago
17 -
The only way i would pay the fee is if Sony braught more to the PS1 library and started a PS2 library and bring old arcade games to the line up. I rarely download games from the PSN but like i said before revamp the library and maybe I will consider it.
Shut this user up Let user speak
Smokzdaizm - 177 days 20 hours ago
18 - Bring it on
Hell I would pay a fee just so I can have some communication features that I can actually use.
Shut this user up Let user speak
jarhead906 - 177 days 17 hours ago
18.1 -
The only communication feature you're missing on the PS3 is cross game chat which is more than likely coming before the end of the year. It's grayed out when you try to make a Text Chat room.

Other than that prediction, what is preventing you from communicating with friends on PSN?
Add Comment (Gamer Zone)
Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...
 
 
You must log in to post comments.
Username:  
Password:  
 
 
About N4G
N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News