Wed, Feb 03, 2010 | 16:39 GMT
Sony looking for “the best way to approach” charging for PSN
Sony’s Peter Dille has told IGN that the company’s “actively thinking” about charging customers for its PSN service.
Furthermore, he also revealed that Sony plans to offer fewer titles via download only, partly to help out retail stores.
“It’s been our philosophy not to charge for [PSN] from launch up until now, but Kaz recently went on the record as saying that’s something we’re looking at,” said Dille. “I can confirm that as well. That’s something that we’re actively thinking about.
“What’s the best way to approach that if we were to do that? You know, no announcements at this point in time, but it’s something we’re thinking about”.
On the digital distribution front, Dille said that plans to go digital only are not in the cards at this point, and it’s more to do with broadband and helping out retail partners.
“We have an advantage with PlayStation 3 from an optical media perspective because a Blu-ray disc contains 50 gigs,” he said. “Maybe [digital distribution] will come at some time, but today to download 50 gigs of data before you play a game, you could probably go buy a car, bring it home, put your family into it, drive to the store buy and bring the game home by the time you [could download it].
“I think we’re on the forefront of digital distribution [and] we’re working very hard to evangelize it. I think we’ve got a hardware platform that continues to grow with people’s appetite in digital distribution. And we’ve got multiple units with hard-drive sizes up to 50 gigs.
“We’re also working very hard to make sure we do this thoughtfully so that retail has a part to participate in the ecosystem with us. But, the notion of getting all your games digitally, I just don’t see it happening.
“There’s games you’re going to get at the store, there’s games you’re going to get on PlayStation Network and there’s some you’ll get in both places, and then there’s also opportunity to enhance the micro-transactions and add-on content, of course, but getting God of War III digitally? That’s just not something you’ll be seeing anytime soon”.
During the same interview, Dille said that Sony’s very confident that PS3 will beat 360 within a 10-year time-frame.
Full thing is over on IGN.
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Posted in: Development, Home, Hot, PS3, PSN, PSP, PlayStation Store, Sony, hardware
Tags: digital distribution, Peter Dille, psn charges, psn subscription
49 comments
#1
polygem
03/02/10, 4:52 pm
problem is there will only be a 360 to beat in a 3 year time-frame from now on…so we´ll see about that…i understand that the ps3 is meant to be a platform that is continously evolving and thats kind of cool and i respect that…but the 360 is as well…basic decisions to charge customers for online services or not should be made BEFORE you begin selling the hardware…that´s just cheap…it´s been the same (and still is) with the trophys…and imo right now there is no justification in charging for psn anyway, because there is no service at all…wtf is he talking about…i really don´t get it…
#2
NGCes26294BIV
03/02/10, 4:55 pm
Well, they finally caved in then.
#3
Redh3lix
03/02/10, 4:57 pm
He’s talking about charging for certain services that would/could be introduced to PSN, for example party chat that a large proportion of Playstation users want for instance. What services and functionality you see right now for PSN will remain free… that’s what I understand Sony to have stated themseleves, e.g. online play will always remain free…. as it should.
#4
Goliath
03/02/10, 4:58 pm
A little piggy bank envy I presume? Seeing the mountain of cash Microsoft makes from its XBox Live service must make them foam at the mouth.
#5
Robo_1
03/02/10, 5:00 pm
This has been talked about before, and if a survey that went around recently is anything to go by, everything the PSN currently offers will remain free. The new PSN subscription looks to bring things like cross game chat, game trials and even betting to the service.
#6
Quiiick
03/02/10, 5:05 pm
@ NGCes26294BIV
PSN ≠ OMP (Online Multiplay)
If they talk about charging for PSN it doesn’t necessarily mean they want you to pay for OMP.
#7
NGCes26294BIV
03/02/10, 5:07 pm
“If they talk about charging for PSN it doesn’t necessarily mean they want you to pay for OMP.”
Not necessarily, no, but I bet they will. If not now, then eventually. It’s too large a revenue stream to miss out on, and MS have proven that people are prepared to pay for it.
#8
Quiiick
03/02/10, 5:11 pm
I doubt it.
#9
Eregol
03/02/10, 5:18 pm
@8
Seconded.
#10
cookiejar
03/02/10, 5:26 pm
Good. If an extra revenue stream can be used to invest in the PSN, then that’s a good thing.
#11
MushroomStamp
03/02/10, 5:34 pm
BAHAHAHAHHAHAH!!! WOW.. Deja Vu.. I personally don’t mind paying. As i’ve said before, Sony has learned the hard knocks of business. They can’t continue to run a completely free network and be competitive. Just cant’ be done… ahhh the silence is deafening
The sound of fanboys crying in the distance…. Now what ya got 
#12
Gekidami
03/02/10, 5:39 pm
Ah, the wishful thinking on 360 fanboys. So naive.
#13
Psychotext
03/02/10, 5:48 pm
That’s cute.
#14
pha1r
03/02/10, 5:51 pm
Maybe it’s a subscription like €120 a year and every game, DLC and service can be downloaded for free.
#15
KillerDD
03/02/10, 5:56 pm
How about: NOT!
The main reason I bought my PS3 is because of the free online service. If they start charging I’m not going to do anything on my PS3 and buy myself a few months of Xbox Live Gold.
#16
Gheritt White
03/02/10, 6:00 pm
This would only affect poor people who, quite frankly, should be too busy cleaning my chimney and licking my boots to worry about playing these blasted newfangled computer games.
#17
Redh3lix
03/02/10, 6:25 pm
lol Gheritt
@ KillerDD – PSN will remain free m8, dont fret! lol
#18
reask
03/02/10, 6:31 pm
So the feelers are going out bit by bit.
Personally the 50 Euro a year I pay for live never bothered me so if Sony eventually do the same it would be neither here or there as far as I am concerned.
#19
polygem
03/02/10, 7:12 pm
they always said…hey look here – we´re the nice guys, caring for our customers, online play is free on our platform, we´re so cool blabla…if they start charging for it NOW it´ll be just embarrassing.. it´s not about if you can afford it or not…most people are willing to pay for that – no doubt. but you can´t start marketing stuff this way and then make it totally different. they should think about where they want to go first before being mouthy and then not deliver…
#20
RGW1982
03/02/10, 8:53 pm
PSN Will Always Be Free, They’re Just Gonna Offer A Premium Service Which Will Include Cross Game Chat & Some Other Nice Features.
@ 1
It’s Not The Next Ten Years From This Moment, When They Say 10 Years They’re Refereeing To The 10 Years Since The System Has Been Out, PS3 Will Beat The 360 In Total Hardware Sales By The End Of 2010 Or Sometime In 2011 Hence Beating The 360 In The PS3′s 10 Year Life Span.
SONY Needs To Be Clearer With Their Statements.
#21
Anthorne
03/02/10, 9:39 pm
@20
so on ps3 you are gonna pay $40-70 for cross game chat and some other nice features while on 360 you pay $50 for that and a very good OMP, early deamo’s, trials, deal of the week, netflix, facebook,twiter,last FM. I know you get most of that stuff for free on ps3, but if you are gonna pay for psn you are still paying like what you would on 360, but the 360 XBL is still better.
#22
RGW1982
03/02/10, 9:49 pm
Yes, But It’s Not Just The 6 Person Cross Game Party Chat.. The Premium Service Also Gives You Access To Every PSOne Game, Every PSP MiNiS Games (Which Now MiNiS Be Played On The PS3) & 1 Hour Long Trials Of Full PSN Games When They Come Out To Try Them Before You Purchase, No Demos Necessary.
Just With The PSOne Games & PSP MiNiS Games The Premium Service Pays For Itself.
#23
Anthorne
03/02/10, 10:16 pm
so than if all you want is cross-gamechat you are gonna have to pay 40 a month for that sweet.
#24
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:25 pm
Also X-Box Live Is Not Optional To Pay For Where As The PS3 Will Be.. The Fact You Think Live Is Better Then The PSN Is An Opinion.. You Talk About Twitter & Facebook But The PS3 Does All Of That As We Have An Internet Browser, No Need To Waste Spots On The XMB For Crap Like That, The PS3 Also Has Net Flicks.. You May Want To Also Note The PS3 Gets Early BETA’s And Demos Too, All The Time In Fact.
I Personally Think The PSN Is Better Especially Being Free, Although Live Has More Games But That Comes From Rushing The 360 A Year Before The PS3, So Naturally It Will Have More Games But With Microsoft Rushing Out The 360 It Also Resulted In A 54.6% Failure Rate For The 360 With The Red Ring Of Death. (The Biggest Blunder In Video Game History)
#25
Psychotext
03/02/10, 10:26 pm
Not only is that a capitalisation failure of the highest order… but it’s also a “lets pull stats out of my arse” failure of the highest order too.
#26
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:29 pm
You’d Still Get Hundreds Of Dollars In Free In PSN Content, Even If They Only Wanted The In-Game Cross Chat With All The Free Games It Will Pay For Itself.
#27
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:36 pm
Stats Are Online Dumb Ass, Google It Bitch.
#28
Anthorne
03/02/10, 10:38 pm
@24
well of course its my Opinion what else would it be? and you dont have to get all offensive about me bringing up facebook and twiter. I did say that you do get them for free on ps3. calm down
#29
Anthorne
03/02/10, 10:39 pm
o yea and xbox live is Optional to pay for.
#30
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:42 pm
I’m Not Offensive Over Twitter & Facebook, I Personally Just Think They’re Gay.. That’s All.
This Dumb Ass Saying I’m Pulling Stats Out The Air Can Go Fuck Himself Though, I Hope His Bitch Ass Gets The Red Ring Of Death.. Again.
#31
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:45 pm
You Also Can’t Play Online, That’s Not Really Optional.. The Only Option You Have If You Wanna Play Online Is What Service To Pay For.
#32
Psychotext
03/02/10, 10:47 pm
“Stats Are Online Dumb Ass, Google It Bitch.”
What a convincing and well thought out argument you make. You do realise those “stats” are from a survey right.
Edit – Oooh, and I’ve just seen your other post. Keep up the insults, with every one you paint a brighter picture of yourself.
#33
Anthorne
03/02/10, 10:48 pm
wow getting a little upset. hell i dont care about twitter and facebook, especially about it being on my xbox. And yes I hope I get the RROD that another 3 years of having a warrenty on my xbox yay.
#34
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:52 pm
No Those Stats Weren’t From A Survey Dumb Ass, But Nice Try.
360 Fan Boys Are Always In Denial About The Red Ring Of Death
Guess What Fan Boy? FACT: The 360 Has A 54.6% Failure Rate With No Signs Of Slowing Down & The 1.2 Billion Microsoft Payed Out Is About To Run Out.
Now Go Do Some Research.
#35
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:55 pm
@ 33
You Do Realise I’m Talking To Psychotext, Right?
Why’d You Buy A Warrenty On A 360?….. LOL
#36
Psychotext
03/02/10, 10:55 pm
Interesting… because you know that survey that they’re not from? Well VG247 posted about it originally…
http://www.vg247.com/2009/08/17/xbox-360s-failure-rate-at-542-game-informer-survey-finds/
As for the $1.2bn… had the 360 really had a 50%+ failure rate then it would have run out within a year of them announcing the 3 year warranty (run the maths).
#37
Retroid
03/02/10, 10:57 pm
Why yes, OF COURSE: MS see no reason to make revisions to make the console more reliable. In fact, they make a profit providing free courier pickup, shipping over to Germany, replacement motherboards / other components / consoles and lastly free courier back to your doorstep.
It’s so obvious now!
/Joeys
#38
RGW1982
03/02/10, 10:57 pm
The Numbers Are Different & That’s Not The Source.
#39
Psychotext
03/02/10, 11:00 pm
Different you say. Strange, you say 54.2%, you say 54.6%. That’s an AMAZING co-incidence, but I guess 0.4% changes everything. What’s even more amazing is that searching for 54.6% and RRoD brings back just the results of the survey.
Looks like the burden of proof is on you my good man.
(Funny thing is, if you look you can actually see where Kotaku have written 54.6% when the article they’re quoting says 54.2%)
#40
Anthorne
03/02/10, 11:01 pm
well im done dealing with RGW1982. I was not trying to start an argument just have a conversation with peoples Opinions. But i can see that is not possibly. THANKS RGW1982
#41
RGW1982
03/02/10, 11:04 pm
The Funny Part Is Even If That Was It Which It’s Not, When Microsoft Responded To That They Didn’t Even Try To Argue The Numbers, They Just Owned Up To It.
#42
Anthorne
03/02/10, 11:05 pm
@35
i dint buy a warranty it has always been in the free 3 year warranty. when it got RROD the first time, about after having it for 2 1/2 years i get thet 3 year warranty back on it for free.
#43
Psychotext
03/02/10, 11:12 pm
Yeah… they owned right up to the numbers which aren’t actually a survey but are but you can’t show otherwise.
http://kotaku.com/5343630/microsoft-responds-to-xbox-failure-rate-claim
You’re going to have to try a little harder. This isn’t GameFAQs.
#44
RGW1982
03/02/10, 11:20 pm
The 16% Wasn’t In The Article I Read, All It Said Was They Are Making The System Better.. But That 16% We All Know Is Obviously Bullshit.. At Least To Those Who Aren’t 360 Fan Boys, I’m Sure Those Retards Would Believe Them Despite Getting The Red Ring Of Death 3 Times Themselves. LOL
#45
Psychotext
03/02/10, 11:25 pm
I look forward to reading more of your insightful comments in the future.
#46
Retroid
04/02/10, 12:24 am
Of course, *THEY’RE* the fanboys
#47
RGW1982
04/02/10, 1:57 am
Put It This Way, If The Failure Rate Is So Low Why Did Microsoft Pay Out 1.2 Billion While Both It’s Competitors Also Have Low Failure Rates Yet Payed Nothing?
That’s Right The 360 Failure Rate Is So High They Had No Choice, But You Ladies Can Keep Thinking It’s As Low As You Want It To Be.
Enjoy The RROD & Waiting For Your New System In The Mail, Meanwhile That Whole Time I’ll Be Playing Games & Great Exclusives, The Likes Of Which You’ll Never See Because Your Inferior 360 Can Not Handle It.
#48
cookiejar
05/02/10, 1:37 am
@ Psychotext I am cute sunshine
#49
Psychotext
05/02/10, 1:38 am
Call me.