Online Services
Sony is finally jumping into the realm of subscription based online gaming for PlayStation Plus service, setting a price point of $50 PlayStation Plus (or “less than $5 dollars a month”). Publishers are the deciding factor whether games on PSN will be free-to-play, but any multiplayer experience you want on PlayStation 4 will require the PS Plus.
The new service will be $10 cheaper than Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, which you can’t do anything online without the subscription at $60. Without Xbox Live, Microsoft doesn’t allow any usage of streaming apps or demo downloading in comparison to the PlayStation Network that still allows you to use any of your favorite streaming services like Netflix, NFL Sunday Ticket, and Hulu Plus among others.
In the recent console generation, Microsoft created a blueprint to have a nearly flawless online setup for games including the Xbox live party system (cross chat game setting). Sony is still learning how to create a more than okay online service due to the fact that they’re not a software company like Microsoft.
Both services are going to increase in value (and greed) but we’re still sticking with Xbox Live being the superior service ready to go given past history. We won’t be surprised if PlayStation 4 eventually has a better online service; but out the gate at launch, it’s no competition with Microsoft and online gaming at the moment.
Winner: Xbox One