Whoa, hey. Slow your roll, sir. We know seeing the terms "PSN" and "subscription" in the same headline might have set off a few red flags for you, but let's look at this logically. Earlier today, Sony released the presentation report from its media and investor conference, one portion of which focused on the future profitability of its gaming platform. One element of the company's strategy is turning a larger profit on PlayStation Network -- and yes, according to the report, Sony's planning to obtain a "new revenue stream from subscription."
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean the currently free online service will start charging its users at some point during this next year. It's far more likely that the line in the report was referring to new subscription-based features, such as the PSP rental service or one of SOE's upcoming MMOs.
We contacted Sony about the reference to PSN subscriptions, and a representative responded, saying, "We have not made any formal announcements on a subscription based service. We're looking into a variety of options." It sounds like the company has yet to set any subscription plans in stone -- or perhaps Sony's just now gauging the community's reaction to the concept of a pay-to-play PSN. If that's the case, the comments on this post could likely provide an adequate barometer for how this news would be received. But that's just our hunch ...
Source – "Media / Investor Conference - November 19th 2009" [PDF]
Sony 'looking into' subscription-based PSN services for new revenue stream
by Griffin McElroy 
on Nov 19th 2009 1:40PM
152
Reader Comments (152)
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 12:37PM (Unverified) said
wow i hope they dont start charging or psn i just started to enjoy it.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:55PM Rick James said
I just read on VG 24/7 that Sony will not charge to play games online.
I think this means rental services.
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I think this means rental services.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:05PM XLM said
I don't think they'll be charging for PSN, but last night I did notice that there was a hint of a subscription in Home.
I hadn't logged in since the early beta and was looking at the stuff being sold in the "mall". You can buy a Club for $5. The small print said that for now it's a one time fee, but sometime after december it would switch to a per month fee.
BTW, the Club seems like it was more of a "he-man woman haters" than Hacienda kind of club.
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I hadn't logged in since the early beta and was looking at the stuff being sold in the "mall". You can buy a Club for $5. The small print said that for now it's a one time fee, but sometime after december it would switch to a per month fee.
BTW, the Club seems like it was more of a "he-man woman haters" than Hacienda kind of club.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:10PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said
XLM that has been in the Club terms since Home went public last year...
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:18PM XLM said
Ahhh, see what happens when I don't pop in there more frequently...
Regardless, I still think that that is the kind of monetization that Sony is talking about. A tv in your homespace with a $3 month cable bill ;)
BF Heroes has some the same mechanics right? Free to play, and you can buy upgrades, but the upgrades aren't permanent? Keeps the money coming in.
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Regardless, I still think that that is the kind of monetization that Sony is talking about. A tv in your homespace with a $3 month cable bill ;)
BF Heroes has some the same mechanics right? Free to play, and you can buy upgrades, but the upgrades aren't permanent? Keeps the money coming in.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:27PM Troy Powers said
Remember, people, Sony charges the publishers who want to put their wares on PSN for the space. Similar to charging someone a rental fee to set up a booth at a bazaar. That's why they can keep their service free. Microsoft doesn't charge the publishers, they charge the patrons. I don't see Sony completely changing this around. And I think too many people would raise hell if they charged both the publishers AND the psn users.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 3:27PM jayrockslife said
I doubt that they'll charge for online play..
But in the chance they do, there is nothing stopping me from going out and buying a 360 to play with my friends since I have more friends with a 360.
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But in the chance they do, there is nothing stopping me from going out and buying a 360 to play with my friends since I have more friends with a 360.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 3:57PM laser beams said
i don't think they will- i think they are going to offer more subscription-based content like "Qore".
i'm not interested in anything they have to offer along those lines. if they want my money they need to release more games on PSN. i want Pixel Junk Shooter NOW!!!!
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i'm not interested in anything they have to offer along those lines. if they want my money they need to release more games on PSN. i want Pixel Junk Shooter NOW!!!!
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 4:04PM BigDaddyBooth said
I don't have a PS3, I have a 360; but from what I hear PSN isn't the greatest service for online gaming. If having this be paid would allow for some big improvements to the service, I would be all for it!
Xbox Live has been great, overall, and it makes it worth it to hand over that $50 every year.
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Xbox Live has been great, overall, and it makes it worth it to hand over that $50 every year.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 4:35PM ummhello said
I don't think it matters whether people think Sony will charge a fee for online play or not....those who've played FatPrincess, Warhawk, COD:MW2, Resistance, etc are going to pay regardless. Obviously most of us who own a 360 feel it's worth the $50/year.
Hell, look how many people thought Horse Armor was worth paying for....
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Hell, look how many people thought Horse Armor was worth paying for....
Posted: Feb 12th 2010 6:58AM (Unverified) said
Well if they start charging it will be the end to my online game play with sony. I already pay through the nose for their games and accessories plus my personal internet service. Charging us is pure and simple greed and I will put my foot down. They will absolutely lose a customer. if they lose enough customers they will rethink their greed.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:53PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
If it helps improve the service, I'll gladly pay $30-$50 a year for it.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:20PM (Unverified) said
@ Captain Planet
If you want the service to improve then obviously some type of revenue needs to come into play. However, paying to unlock something on a product that I already paid for in full is never the solution for this revenue stream. What people fail to understand is that the online component of video games has never been or will be a premium feature.
That is why Sony is looking for an alternative subscription type service to replace the Live model. Perhaps a music or game rental service.
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If you want the service to improve then obviously some type of revenue needs to come into play. However, paying to unlock something on a product that I already paid for in full is never the solution for this revenue stream. What people fail to understand is that the online component of video games has never been or will be a premium feature.
That is why Sony is looking for an alternative subscription type service to replace the Live model. Perhaps a music or game rental service.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:31PM Vcize said
The problem with having a separate charge service with the bonus stuff just for people who want it el serpiente, is that those things are useless if most people don't have them. What good would it be to be able to pay for a party system if there was no one to party up with, because they weren't paying for it also? It's an all or nothing kind of thing.
Personally, I wouldn't mind them starting to charge if that money was really put back into it and things improved a lot. $30-$50 a year is a teensy, tiny price to pay for the amount of enjoyment I'd get out of an improved network infrastructure.
It'd also be nice to be able to play all the big PS3 games online the first few days after they come out.
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Personally, I wouldn't mind them starting to charge if that money was really put back into it and things improved a lot. $30-$50 a year is a teensy, tiny price to pay for the amount of enjoyment I'd get out of an improved network infrastructure.
It'd also be nice to be able to play all the big PS3 games online the first few days after they come out.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:50PM mahouneko said
@el serpiente:
I don't think that Sony will charge a subscription service for PSN. I think the subscription service only applies to the MMOs that are coming out for the PS3/PC. While I'd love to see MMOs on the 360, the cost of the game + XBL + MMO subscription fee seems like a bit too much to be charging people.
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I don't think that Sony will charge a subscription service for PSN. I think the subscription service only applies to the MMOs that are coming out for the PS3/PC. While I'd love to see MMOs on the 360, the cost of the game + XBL + MMO subscription fee seems like a bit too much to be charging people.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 3:24PM Inspace2020 said
I think people are missing the point of "Premium Services"...they are talking Online Gaming...you guys are thinking too narrow! It's most likely a subscription service for PSN games/PSP Games, or Movies.
They are NOT going to charge for online gaming or online gaming features!!
Sony has recently commented on this to clarify as well...
http://ps3.kombo.com/article.php?artid=11365
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They are NOT going to charge for online gaming or online gaming features!!
Sony has recently commented on this to clarify as well...
http://ps3.kombo.com/article.php?artid=11365
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 3:30PM mahouneko said
@el serpiente:
You're not the only one with that line of reasoning. It's basically why I can't bring myself to pick up a 360. The additional 50 dollars per year for things that I consider to be basic services is unjustifiable, even if the connection might be magically "better" somehow.
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You're not the only one with that line of reasoning. It's basically why I can't bring myself to pick up a 360. The additional 50 dollars per year for things that I consider to be basic services is unjustifiable, even if the connection might be magically "better" somehow.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:43PM (Unverified) said
i think thats false, i have received a lot of PSN spam about sony crgng on the psn service... just like old email chains
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:49PM philmcfail said
Exactly, like the chain mail on PSN that said MW2 was going to be an XBOX exclusive and everyone should boycott Infinity Ward. Or the one where everyone must spread the comment around in order for Sony to get LFD2 on the PS3. Most of it is just flat out ridiculous but people still believe it.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:46PM (Unverified) said
Sony can charge for services on the PSN, as long as gaming is free.
If they charge for all the other stuff but leave gaming and voice free, they have a huge leg up over xbl IMO.
No i don't want to pay for stuff either but if they need to make money and charge for home etc then go for it. They won't make a cent off of me, but they are welcome to try :)
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If they charge for all the other stuff but leave gaming and voice free, they have a huge leg up over xbl IMO.
No i don't want to pay for stuff either but if they need to make money and charge for home etc then go for it. They won't make a cent off of me, but they are welcome to try :)
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:52PM NaeemTHM said
Yeah but Valve doesn't have their own freaking system to support. PSN must be a huge burden on Sony and I can't imagine the funds that must go into that service.
Earlier today we heard reports that Sony would only really start to show profit in 2011...that's just insane! If they start charging for some of the services on PSN then they might have a chance to increase that profit margin sometime in 2010.
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Earlier today we heard reports that Sony would only really start to show profit in 2011...that's just insane! If they start charging for some of the services on PSN then they might have a chance to increase that profit margin sometime in 2010.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:13PM Hooch said
To be honest, they should offer an optional service that brings in features such as parties and chat, etc. seen on XBL. However, they should only charge about £10 a year for it, that's more than enough to make a profit, and is price XBL should be, but isn't because of Microsoft's many dick moves.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:18PM acefondu said
Countless PC games are free to play online apart from MMO's, all Wii online games are free, and currently so are PSN games. Only MS has the balls to charge people to play online and for some sad reason people are ok with it. I'd much rather buy a new game, but hey whatever.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:39PM Ashitaka said
@ acefondu
You know why people are ok with paying $50 for playing online? Because it's chump change! Only $0.137 per day. Only $0.005 per hour. Only $0.0000016 per second! That's nothing!
Sarcasm aside, I'm amazed at how some people can spin those $50 a year around. You shouldn't pay for online, period. No party chat will ever make it worth paying for me, at least.
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You know why people are ok with paying $50 for playing online? Because it's chump change! Only $0.137 per day. Only $0.005 per hour. Only $0.0000016 per second! That's nothing!
Sarcasm aside, I'm amazed at how some people can spin those $50 a year around. You shouldn't pay for online, period. No party chat will ever make it worth paying for me, at least.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:48PM (Unverified) said
This is just a bunch of hot air...unless microsoft really runs sony, sony wouldnt charge their consumers for the network
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:48PM Xoonaka said
Don't forget it was also targeted to those companies looking to produce items for PSN. So that includes things like Netflix and the Comic Subscription service. It's just about expanding the services the network can bring, but the core gaming network is going to stay free as it's really one of the major selling points of the console.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:50PM (Unverified) said
I have always wondered when Sony would start charging because the developers themselves are the ones who pay for server costs when we download something from them
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:51PM (Unverified) said
don't worry, look here :)
http://www.vg247.com/2009/11/19/hirai-current-psn-service-to-remain-free-subs-for-premium-content-and-services/
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http://www.vg247.com/2009/11/19/hirai-current-psn-service-to-remain-free-subs-for-premium-content-and-services/
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 4:04PM (Unverified) said
If they start charging I guess I will continue to not play my PS3 except for Bluray and DVDs. Even playing PS3's exclusive titles online do not warrant paying for access to the PSN. X-Box Live is always going to miles ahead of the PSN. I can't believe you still can't have cross platform chatting, even a one on one chat.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:31PM Troy Powers said
Hey, Sharky, I think you should go beat that dead horse.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:51PM (Unverified) said
WHAT THE $@%&? That's my response to pay to play. That would be the end.
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:53PM Scuffles said
Will be interesting to see what they do don't really use the PSN as it stands so they could throw the whole thing in their corperate recycle bin and I wouldn't notice for a good four months....... but if they start charging people for playing their online enabled games online ........
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:54PM (Unverified) said
Well praise the gods for SONY, MS LIVE and ACTIVISION!! Whatever would we gamers do with all our gobs of residual income if it weren't for the steady stream of tack-on-fees, over-priced DLC, upcharges, micro-transactions and pay-for-play schemes?
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:55PM Funkmaster General said
My opinion on this differs depending on what they do decide to charge for, and I do think that they will charge for something. If, however, they charge for general PSN services (online gaming) then there had better be a huge increase in PSN update quality, because it is ridiculous as it is. The update times are sporadic, usually late with no explanation, and if a day is missed there is no explanation either.
If I have to pay, I want quality service.
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If I have to pay, I want quality service.
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:56PM Ashitaka said
"perhaps Sony's just now gauging the community's reaction to the concept of a pay-to-play PSN. If that's the case, the comments on this post could likely provide an adequate barometer for how this news would be received."
O'rly? Then, hey!, Sony, read this!
If PSN suddenly turns subscription-based, FFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
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O'rly? Then, hey!, Sony, read this!
If PSN suddenly turns subscription-based, FFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Posted: Nov 19th 2009 1:57PM (Unverified) said
...and did I forget to mention the $10 premium I already pay on each effin' game I purchase--just for the right to play on one of these fine "next gen" consoles?
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Posted: Nov 19th 2009 2:57PM (Unverified) said
If SONY actually started to charge subscription fees for PSN a la XBL, it would be a huge blow to the SONY faithful. that is one of their biggest selling points, the free-to-play online service. i would be heartbroken literally if they started to charge for PSN accounts. now i dont mind subscriptions for services, MMOs, etc.
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