Topic: Paid Online Going Away?

Rumours say Xbox Live Gold is going away and online play will be made free for all Xbox users. If true, do you reckon Sony follows? Are the discounts and monthly PS+ games enough to convince to keep paying for PS+ if the online was made free?

I couldn't get broadband at my home until I moved two years ago. When I finally did, I was shocked that I had to get PS+ to play online with my PS4. I did eventually get it, but now six months in, I find that I rarely use it. Honestly, as long as I can download updates and DLC, that's all I really care about anymore.

Tbh if Microsoft does do away with gold I hope Sony follows suit strictly because of the constant complaining it would cause lol! Not too fussed either way personally, I'm locked in for a few more years anyways so whatever happens, happens.

My guess is that if Microsoft does this, which I think is likely that they will, then Sony will follow suit. They would most likely overhaul PS Plus to become something closer to GamePass like merging it with PS Now.

I can see a world where Sony might hold their ground with requiring PS Plus to pay for online, but the optics would eventually wear them down. They make a boat load of money from PS Plus, so they can’t afford to lose that, so they would eventually have to modify.

I could also envision something innovative like maybe online would be free on weekends only, and PS Plus members get access all the time. Or maybe a tiered subscription service where the gate keeping to online play is really cheap and the full membership has all the features. Something cool like earning credits to use in online play through other PSN purchases. Or maybe online is free for a specific game if it’s bought through the PSN store. Or maybe online is free in the game for the first 30 days.

I mean, they already have compromised with PS Plus not being required for certain games like F2P such as Fortnite and asynchronous online like Death Stranding.

How would I feel about a change to PS Plus? I’d be happy to have PS Plus expanded to include streaming, although I don’t think I’d use it very much. But I’d use it a lot more than I use online features now.

@redd214 lol that would be a good reason.

IMO online should be free, so I don't see how this is a bad thing.

@Octane never said it was a bad thing, shrugs..

@redd214 I should've put the second sentence in a different paragraph I guess, it wasn't directed at you.

@Octane ahh gotcha, no worries man!

I fear that they have learnt people are willing to pay and are therefore unlikely to make it free again.