Sony considering Gold, Silver & Platinum memberships for PS4's online services

[claud3]

Sony could introduce a tier-based subscription model for PlayStation 4's range of online services, SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has teased.Speaking to The Guardian following PlayStation 4's reveal last week, Yoshida suggested that Sony could take a leaf out of Microsoft's book for its upcoming console and adopt a "gold, silver or platinum" membership similar to Xbox LIVE.

"As more and more services and contents become available digitally, we'll have more of an option to create attractive packages," said Yoshida. "So hypothetically we can look at different models – like a cable TV company.

"We could have gold, silver or platinum levels of membership, something like that. We can do subscription services when we have more content – especially now that we have the Gaikai technology available. With one subscription you have access to thousands of games – that's our dream."\

Sony unveiled PlayStation 4's range of online services alongside the console last week, including the option to share and stream content with friends over PlayStation Network, and the ability to instantly try any PlayStation 4 game from the online store.

It isn't yet known whether each online service will require a certain type of membership to access, or whether they will available to everybody.
In a separate interview with VideoGamer.com, SCE UK MD Fergal Gara also suggested that Sony's subscription-based service PlayStation Plus could be making its way to PlayStation 4 in an "evolved form".

"PlayStation Plus has been a great success this year," he said. "It's growing strongly, it's had tremendous critical acclaim for the value it offers and it has grown very sharply both in the UK and across the world. That's an exciting model about how we're bringing games to gamers at a great value price point, packaging it up neatly within a subscription.

"Where do we take that? Well, we're not able to go into the detail for what that might look like for PS4 just yet, but it's certainly an exciting development that we've gained some experience in and understand better now. We know what people like and we've got our hands around the right amount of content at the right level at the right time, so all of that work I'm sure is going to stand us in good stead at least on PS3 and maybe more in some evolved form."

http://www.videogamer.com/news/sony_..._services.html

This i hope does not happen, because it means higher charges for those that want to get great stuff

[Lefein]

No, you should hope that it is competitive in features. As long as they don't take the online gaming out of the equation like XBox Live does, what is the harm?

We all know that a silver account on XBox Live is tantamount to a slap in the face. He made no mention of limiting access to online gaming, however.

[Aquanox]

It makes sense as long as they want to make their online service profitable and not only a resource eater.

I don't think they will take online gaming out of the equation but I do see putting features like cross-game chatting (parties) on them.

[MonkeyClaw]

It makes sense as long as they want to make their online service profitable and not only a resource eater.

I don't think they will take online gaming out of the equation but I do see putting features like cross-game chatting (parties) on them.

It is just the inevitable future, but I don't see online gaming leaving free realm anytime soon either!

[Serinous]

As long as online gaming remains free, everything else can be a premium for a price.

[The Sith]

As long as online gaming remains free, everything else can be a premium for a price.

Sony is in need of new source of revenue streaming for their games division . With all those on line features they showed i will be shocked if it remain free.

[YoungMullah88]

like netflix for games? one payment and the entire library on gaikai is open to you! now thats a service i wouldnt mind subbing. like most said, as long as playing online, messaging and chatting with friends remains free, all this is just bonus

[mooninites]

As long as online gaming remains free, everything else can be a premium for a price.

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'll pay for the services I want but they shouldn't put a price on gaming. Especially since it's free on the ps3.

Would be cool if you can build your own package too. I don't really want to pay for services I don't use.

Sent from my Nexus 4

[coolguy]

if sony does it right it could work. xboxlive user's still need gold to watch netflix. on psn its free so i hope sony keeps moive apps free.

[Serinous]

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'll pay for the services I want but they shouldn't put a price on gaming. Especially since it's free on the ps3.

Would be cool if you can build your own package too. I don't really want to pay for services I don't use.

Sent from my Nexus 4

Customize your own bundle of services sounds like a awesome idea. However, I don't see them going down that path though.

[robvandam111]

Remember, the services are going to be universal from now on. Which also includes the PlayStation Plus services. So I'd imagine the idea being something like Silver members will only 3 months, Gold 6 months and Platinum a years of service. Same idea with plus just a different name.

[MonkeyClaw]

Customize your own bundle of services sounds like a awesome idea. However, I don't see them going down that path though.

I don't see why more companies do a pick your own plan on stuff like this, it would easily show them what sells and what doesn't, that way they aren't wasting their company's resources supporting something that no one uses! I wish cable companies would do this as well, then they could trim the fat (AKA, channels that suck).

[Lefein]

Exactly what I'm thinking. I'll pay for the services I want but they shouldn't put a price on gaming. Especially since it's free on every single gaming device on planet Earth except the XBox
Would be cool if you can build your own package too. I don't really want to pay for services I don't use.

Sent from my Nexus 4

Just a minor ftfy.

[Cyn]

Just for the love of god don't go down the MS route. PS+ is cool. Paying for services that should come with the console (and already paying for an internet connection) is not cool.

BBC iPlayer will still be free, it has to be. Assuming PS4 has an iPlayer client. Cross game chat has already been confirmed as free? Anything else feature or app wise, I don't care about.

If cloud gaming ever actually works properly, then paying for a Gaikai subscription and having literally any game to pick from would be amazing. Like netflix for gaming.

[mooninites]

Customize your own bundle of services sounds like a awesome idea. However, I don't see them going down that path though.

I don't either. More companies should tho.

Just a minor ftfy.

Thanks for the correction. Don't know what I was thinking.



Sent from my Nexus 4

[Serinous]

I don't see why more companies do a pick your own plan on stuff like this, it would easily show them what sells and what doesn't, that way they aren't wasting their company's resources supporting something that no one uses! I wish cable companies would do this as well, then they could trim the fat (AKA, channels that suck).

You mean like PlayStation Home? Lol.

[MonkeyClaw]

You mean like PlayStation Home? Lol.

[Sufi]

It makes sense as long as they want to make their online service profitable and not only a resource eater.

I don't think they will take online gaming out of the equation but I do see putting features like cross-game chatting (parties) on them.

Nope, X-game-chat already confirmed to be free. Like it should be.

[admartian]

Makes sense for it to be content-wise and not so much feature-wise (online gaming, X-game chat etc).

[claud3]

I still do not know if i want this... I pay enough for Xbox Live, i do not want to dip into my pocket for another SERVICE

[AaronSOLDIER]

Knew they'd do this at some point.

[ps3freak18]

If it is going to be there I like that it has a tier system. At least it's not either you have it or not.

[Lethal_NFS]

Sony has given me free service long enough, I would gladly pay for their best package.

[Syphon_Filter]

I will pay for their best package as well. For sure it will be gold.

[admartian]

Sony has given me free service long enough, I would gladly pay for their best package.

I will pay for their best package as well. For sure it will be gold.

Hmmm...too easy...