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PS Plus price hike: We'll all pay for a subscription-based future | Opinion (www.gamesindustry.biz)
submitted 1 year ago by nanoUFO@sh.itjust.works to c/games@sh.itjust.works
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[-] adriator@lemm.ee 34 points 1 year ago

We'll all pay for a subscription-based future

Not me - the moment when buying a game outright is no longer an option is the moment when I stop paying for video games. I already have a large library on Steam (1,700+), GoG (400+), and I'm not planning on buying any Playstation or Xbox products. I've never paid for Xbox game pass, or PS plus, nor do I plan to. They can scheme all day long, hike the prices every week, I already buy games only if they're on a really deep discount or in a bundle. Never paid more than 30 bucks for a game, and I could count on one of my hands how many I paid more than 20 bucks for.

I do, of course, realize that I'm in the minority, but hopefully more people will realize how big of a scam these subscription services are.

[-] woelkchen@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

the moment when buying a game outright is no longer an option is the moment when I stop paying for video games.

That moment will not come. That would mean that every single indie developer had come under the umbrella of such subscription services and not one bigger actor would want to try to differentiate from the competition.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Gamepass isn’t a scam right now in my view. I’m able to get 50 day passes for 7 bucks right now. Once gamepass starts being more expensive than buying the games I want I’ll just go back to doing that.

[-] TheChurn@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

Once game pass starts being more expensive than buying the games I want, I'll just go back to doing that

You may not have that option. The business model here is to burn cash, get consumers used to gamepass, then get games onto gamepass exclusively (likely in exchange for higher payouts from the service). Once we are at that point, which may be years away, prices will rise and there won't be another avenue to play most games.

This is the model right now for shows, and some movies, they are produced for streaming services and are only available on those services.

Most games already don't get physical releases. All that needs to happen to eliminate choice is that gamepass makes publishers a better offer than Steam - then there isn't a digital release either.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

They are playing with fire... most games don't require computer level graphics/cpu power. If they aren't careful they will lose their shirt to mobile gaming and console gaming will turn into an unpopular niche thing of the past.

[-] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I think that kind of action is what would get regulators on Microsoft’s back which is why they started selling games on third-party platforms like Steam. Could be wrong though.

[-] mr_sifl@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I don't know, I don't think the PS Plus one is a scam. I subscribed to the mid tier one when it was cheaper for a whole year than to buy a game I wanted to play that was included with it. I've played a good half dozen to dozen games in the year I've had it. I feel like I've definitely got my money's worth out of it.

[-] adriator@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

I was mostly referring to the last part of the article where the author explains the entire long-term plan behind the subscription services - first they offer a large variety of games for a low price, then they squeeze the customers for every single penny after they've cornered the market.

[-] PenguinTD@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

See how Netflix work out their hike etc? I don't think it would continue to work in their favor to meet the profit/sub count projection to make their stocker holder happy.

[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago

What is this we shit? Subscriptions for online is why I ditched consoles because I'm already paying a subscription for internet access.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works -5 points 1 year ago

It's free for online. Any access to game catalogs is a subscription tier.

[-] aubertlone@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I'm sorry, but free for online multiplayer is only a thing for consoles if the game itself is f2p

So you can play apex or ow2 multiplayer on your console for "free" but any other game that isn't explicitly f2p, you will need an online subscription like ps plus/ Xbox live etc

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 year ago

What do you mean by that? I am so confused.

My subscription expired months ago and I play all sorts of games, even some that I downloaded free before my subscription ended that arent in the store anymore. Are those all free to play? If so, what is an example of a non f2p game?

[-] aubertlone@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I'm not sure what you mean...

Can you give examples of the games you're talking about?

So free to play games are things like Fortnite, halo infinite, overwatch, etc. Usually multiplayer based games. Even on console, you can play online multiplayer for those games without an xbox live or ps plus subscription.

Most games don't follow this model. Take FIFA for example. You can buy the game and play it on console. But if you want to play online multiplayer, you will need to have an Xbox live/pls plus subscription for that.

Obviously there is nothing like this for pc games. Except for mmos or something like that, online multiplayer doesn't require a subscription.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Sure, here is a list of some games that are still playable and accessible online even though I no longer pay for any subscription:

-Master Hunter World -Wolfenstein II -Grand Theft Auto V -Watch Dogs Legion -Resident Evil VII -Last of Us -God of War

There are a few more, but some I assume fall into that category, like COD. I do get a frequent notice encouraging me to subscribe or I may not be able to access some features or games but I have yet to run into that with existing stuff.

[-] aubertlone@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I mean, that doesn't really make any sense but good for you for somehow keeping access. 👍

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Update, it still doesn't make sense but now I have no access. The moment I signed into the store and bought Baldurs Gate 3, I lost access to all my games offline or on. How I was able to previously play unsigned in is beyond me. Probably accepted some update when signing in and was previously grandfathered into really old terms would be my only guess.

[-] newthrowaway20@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah none of those give me free online access after I cancelled my subscription. You sure you aren't still enrolled through the remainder of your subscription period? If you cancel renewal, you still have access till the end date is up on your previous purchase.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

I am not sure what's going on to be honest, I guess I should count myself lucky and hope Sony doesn't catch on. I have no payment linked, so it's not auto-pay and the subscription ended like 2 months ago. I checked my wife's account and she has no subscription linked either. I can't access any new games or content needed with a subscription obviously, but current stuff mysteriously still works... I wish I had downloaded more games, I thought that they would have been inaccessible after the sub ended.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

So update! I just had to sign in to buy Balders Gate. Now none of my games work that I previously downloaded, offline or on. So weird. Wish I played through a few of those before connecting.

[-] newthrowaway20@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Damn they figured you out lol

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

So once your subscription ends, just never sign into the PSN again. That seems to be the trick...

[-] Hiccup@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 1 year ago

I'm fine with corporations/ companies earning less or even going out of business. Fuck this subscription nonsense.

[-] lowleveldata@programming.dev 14 points 1 year ago

Subscription plans don't make much sense to me unless it's dirt cheap. I don't have much time to play games so when I do, I'd like to work on games I like instead of some random games.

[-] teft@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 year ago

i reduced my plan because of the price hike. Fuck that noise. If the basic plan goes up too much more ill cancel that too. Online isn't worth too much more than what they have it set at now.

[-] PenguinTD@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

I already not going to continue my sub because it doesn't make sense anymore. I can use that money to buy full games on sale.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Not sure if this is how it's supposed to work, but someone bought me premium and I downloaded like all the good games I could fit on my drives. Now I can seemingly play them all without a membership, as it ran out months ago... so that's neat. Seems like a loophole they might close though.

[-] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

I’m not buying digital versions (although I have netflix) of the movies I love, so I’m not gonna start buying digital versions of the games I love.

I have a ps plus basic subscription, but I’ll not subscribe anymore if it gets more expensive. I haven’t received any email about a price hike for now though..

Maybe it’s only in some countries for now.

[-] XTornado@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

But how long will this last? I am not so sure that the next generation they could not get away with just digital versions not taking discs (or equivalent). The no discs versions of this generation, not just are for having a cheaper version is also a test to see how feasible could be in the future.

I mean that already is a thing on PC, although there are other reasons for it like the low adoption of bluray / DRMs / etc. Physical is non-existent except some really rare case. Even when some games are sold DRM free on GoG they aren't sold in discs or USBs or similar.

[-] NightOwl@lemmy.one 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Most I paid for a game subscription was the $1 3 month game pass. I don't see myself paying for a regular priced month subscription like $10/month. I'd rather spend that buying a month of Humble monthly or a discounted game.

[-] borth@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

This article is talking about how Sony's service is "only a year old"?? What are they talking about? I thought this was about PS plus, which I'm pretty sure I had bought many years ago, not 1 year ago.

this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2023
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