Despite requiring a PlayStation Plus subscription to play PlayStation 4 titles online, Sony won’t be locking streaming services such as Netflix behind a paywall. One of the biggest criticisms of Microsoft’s policy with the Xbox 360 – and presumably Xbox One – is that it requires users to be an active Xbox Live Gold member in order to access its additional entertainment applications. But that won’t be the case with the Japanese giant’s next generation machine.
The platform holder also clarified that free-to-play games will be playable without a subscription – unless publishers specifically request it. Currently the company’s confirmed that DC Universe Online, PlanetSide 2, Blacklight: Retribution, and Warframe will all work without a PlayStation Plus membership. This all sounds perfectly reasonable to us.
Are you comfortable with splashing out a little extra for online multiplayer, or are you still frustrated that the company’s moving towards a tiered model? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source joystiq.com]
Comments 15
another nail in micosofts coffin, way to go sony
seriously i m ok with getting ps plus for online...cos ps plus is a really great service...
@JavierYHL I agree. It sucks for people that really don't want to pay, but on a personal level, it's not like I was ever going to cancel my Plus sub anyway.
So, if you all ready have PS+ on PS3 does it just carry over or do you have to get it again for PS4?
Also will your PSN ID and trophies carry over to PS4? It's really going to suck if not.
@Splat
PS+ and trophies do carry over =p
@Splat it all carries over pretty much besides psn games right away
Good too know.
Alright Sony stop, you've done enough. Anymore and you'll kill them.
Good news about the apps.
I let my Plus membership lapse and haven't found a good reason to resubscribe yet. I'm interested to see what is behind the paywall and what isn't. Like Autolog in NFS is that behind a paywall? What about messaging friends? I don't play that much online competitive multiplayer, but I do like the asynchronous stuff, comparing online trophies and occasionally some coop. I guess I'll have to pay for all that now with PS4 unfortunately.
Free online play on free to play. Wow! You don't even have to worry about buying games if you're short on cash at launch!
@get2sammyb You poach my find from the forums yesterday!? eh? EH? EH!? lol I was quite suprised at this announcement yesterday, Especially having F2P games not being behind the paywall as it means they really are free to play. Sony was probably never going to do a Microsoft n put apps behind a pay wall so I was never too worried about that. The Netflix figures alone are proof enough to Sony that they shouldn't do it.
I topped up my PS+ yesterday and duly re-downloaded Motorstorm Apocalypse and Borderlands before moving onto LOTR : War in the north, Catherine, Malicious and Xcom. Id say my £11.99 top up has more than paid for itself already and I havent even started Uncharted 3 and LBP karting yet! The fact its moving onto Ps4 and still working across all platforms is a HUGE plus for the service and Im not gonna stop my PS+ subscription so needing it to play online is a moot point. Even my 360 loving friend who has a Ps3 as his second console has PS+ its that much of bargain. Most of us here already have PS+ and probably always will, but it will be good to hear exactly what will be behind the paywall for people who...dont...want..PS+...? lol Any news on that sammyB?
If you have a Vita (or PSP to a lesser extent) AND a PS3/4, then Plus is worth it, especially if remote play is gonna be a Plus feature only (anybody know yet?). Sometimes the updates are like "wut..." but over the course of a year you'll get stuff you'll actually play. And that's their current policy, so I'd guess they're gonna add a lot to the PS4 incarnation, based on how much they want us to like and buy their whole entire pitch. Everybody should get 6 months or something for buying a console anyways. They'd only be out $25 each system, and it'd boost initial sales.
Btw, I can have PS3 trophies on my non-BC console? Uh, okay. Why?
Great news!
Happy that I won't need Plus to watch stuff I already pay subscription for.
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