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[ProtoByte]

it's because off corporate ass lickers like these clowns that these fuckers keep on fucking us over
defending a 30% increase when groceries and fuel cost what they do these days and for what? FOR WHAT? AAA games are still 70 dollars and STILL full of microtransactions, unfinished buggy messes
im this close of being done with this indusrty

It's hilarious that you've answered your own question without realizing it. And please, let's relax with the bolded. You're not paying for games with this, you're paying for a service. Sperging about 70 dollar games (lol) is a seperate discussion from 3 years ago.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Oh Christ , what were they thinking.

I’d love to know how they justify it as well.

Money.

Gaming division is Sony's most important division for years. Their latest quarterly financials werent good (stock dropped 7% in one day a few weeks ago). The company's overall performance lives and dies with the gaming division.

So the best way to make quick gains is to jack up the price of sub services assuming the overall gains in revenue (net benefit comparing price increase vs people who quit subbing). They also announced their PS5 system sales were below expectations so thats why they did a $100 price drop too. The gain in subs pricing will make up and more for losing $100/unit on each hardware sold too.

 

[ProtoByte]

Oh Christ , what were they thinking.

I’d love to know how they justify it as well.

The justification is quite simple:
1. Near-hyperinflationary pressure. Not just of the last 2-3 years, by the way, but since the last time they increased the price of PSN.
2. It actually costs money to provide these services, contrary to what people think.
3. They can do it.
4. These are probably going to be the prices for a good 4-5+ years. How long was a year of PS+ (essential) priced at 60 bucks? The vast majority of last generation, if memory serves.

 

[Crayon]

The real crazy part to me is the base sub going up so much. The top two went up a lot but people pay for those because extra benefits. The base sub, people pay begrudgingly.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Selling my PS5 for the 15th time....

offer me a service for online play only for dirt cheap. otherwise fuck off you are not getting a single cent out of me. period.

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

It will be funny when Microsoft follows, and effectively we are all paying out the ass for online play and for some reason they are giving the games away.

Like, does any one look at the business and just shake their head at how stupid and fucked up they made it?

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

The gain in subs pricing will make up and more for losing $100/unit on each hardware sold too.

Assuming they don’t lose a massive number of members which is certainly possible

This is a risky, greedy move

 

[Syphon Filter]

sony fanboys damage controlling like the sheep that they are. this is why companies can keep getting away with things.

 

[Topher]

sony fanboys damage controlling like the sheep that they are. this is why companies can keep getting away with things.

Who are you referring to? Most of the responses I've read are negative.

 

[Calling 911 Melts Beams]

Im glad

 

[Banjo64]

sony fanboys damage controlling like the sheep that they are. this is why companies can keep getting away with things.

 

[ProtoByte]

PS plus isn't the only one he is talking about here if the obvious needed to be said.

That's rich, coming from Piscatella. He was one of the top industry analysts who was pushing the subscription future narrative. I could've told you that this shit wasn't going to work out years ago.

You should do all of the math. It's A 33% price hike with no justification so far.

Things tend to increase in price by way of no direct/visible "justification" to the consumer other than inflation. Inflation over the course of many years, at higher rates than whichever government is reporting them to be.

I hope Playstation gamers raise a ruckus over this, the way Xbox users did and got MS to back down.

Microsoft tried to double the price overnight. Double. The top end of this, which 90% of people here or otherwise don't and won't have has a 33% increase. This isn't the same thing by a long shot.

First they increase the price of their games, then they increased the price of the system in almost every region, now they jack up the subscription prices by 33%.

The onus shouldn't be on the consumer to fund Sony's game development! If they make these bloated budgeted games that don't sell enough that's not ON US to cover the fees/costs!

Incredible. It never ceases to astound me how much supposed gaming enthusiasts scorn the idea of actually paying for shit.

It quite literally is on the consumer side of the market to provide the funds and incentives to create more games. Wtf are you talking about?

 

[PSYGN]

Lol, kindly fuck off

 

[Rockman33]

They can raise their prices to whatever they’d like. Market will decide if it’s worth it.

 

[ZehDon]

Ryan’s PlayStation just can’t help themselves. Record profits? Jack up the prices. Fastest selling console? Jack up the hardware prices. Massive software sales? Jack up the software prices. Record PSN profits? Jack up the PSN prices. PlayStation is going to have to learn the hard way that their fans only have so much money to spend.

They priced me out early in the Gen, because I simply cannot justify AUD$125 for their games. At this rate, I won’t be buying back in anytime soon.

 

[Edgelord79]

Seems like everything is going to plan for the corporation.

 

[Aenima]

anyone know how much PSN+ you can stack??

Alot, not sure if thers a limit.

 

[Banjo64]

Incredible. It never ceases to astound me how much supposed gaming enthusiasts scorn the idea of actually paying for shit.

It quite literally is on the consumer side of the market to provide the funds and incentives to create more games. Wtf are you talking about?

not my fault sony can’t get their development pipeline reasonable in terms of cost and time. in fact they’ve encouraged this ridiculous ballooning and now they want to pass the cost on to the consumer for pish like TLoU 2 and uninspiring sequels like Horizon and GoW.

^ not something that I should have to burden myself with.

I’m happy with well written quality games that are made by 100 people with a budget of 20m over 3 years, I don’t need to see the throbbing veins on Abby’s bulging cock that 4 people spent 2 years programming.

 

[tooevil]

The money from this raise will go towards paying the servers. The streaming service for additional markets, where game streaming isn't available in the Plus Extra plan yet, will be announced in the coming months.

 

[adamsapple]

"We are constantly looking at the pricing of our products and services, whether it's in the context of competition, the context of a macro-economic situation, or the value we believe those products and services provide.

"You will be aware that we took the step to raise the price of the PS5 in everywhere outside of the US. We are prepared to take these steps when we feel they are justified and necessary, and we are constantly considering the prices of our hardware, and our games, and services, and that includes PlayStation Plus.

"We are very focused on this question of how to maximize lifetime value of our users."

Jim Ryan: We're always evaluating prices, willing to make price adjustments

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan says that the PlayStation games division is 'prepared to raise prices when they are justified and necessary'

www.tweaktown.com

 

[Edgelord79]

The money from this raise will go towards paying the servers. The streaming service for additional markets, where game streaming isn't available in the Plus Extra plan yet, will be announced in the coming months.

It’s all for us!!!!!!

 

[Topher]

Read more: https://www.tweaktown.com/news/9158...-willing-to-make-price-adjustments/index.html

Good ole Jim...

 

[alstrike]

Welp I bought one of those old 12 month PS+ cards and it only gives me 219 days of PS+ Extra…

Are they doing Game Pass conversion now or am I missing something?

 

[whyman]

It’s just bizarre at this point. I simply won’t be able to afford this anymore. Sony is totally out of touch with what the average consumer can afford, in Europe at least.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Not many have mentioned it, but this makes Nintendo Switch Online look better than whatever shit PS Plus or Xbox sub is cooking. Like, I feel like for single people at least 20$, or 35$ for family, is really a good price for at least one year, and that's with basic features. I don't know if they have any offers for family. But 35$ for Nintendo to cover up to 8 people in family playing online is a HUGE opportunity.

Of course, I don't ask people to excuse the pricing of NSO or having to need that to play games online in the first place, but I think it's not too bad all of a sudden now that the other consoles decided to increase pricing for subscriptions.

NSO is all P2P and runs horribly.

It's all just a tax on the service you already pay for.

Imagine if a company charged you a fee to use their device plugged into your wall outlet. Same thing.

 

[dotnotbot]

Welp I bought one of those old 12 month PS+ cards and it only gives me 219 days of PS+ Extra…

Are they doing Game Pass conversion now or am I missing something?

Yes, been like that since beginning of new Plus

 

[leo-j]

I expected

$69
$109
$129

Not $159 for premium tbh that’s kinda ridiculous considering the content on there vs extra.

 

[Darklor01]

There is no defending this. It is greed unless proven why the price increase is justified with straight out proof statements of why what we pay can’t afford us what we’re already getting.

On the other side of the coin, everything in life gets more expensive as time goes on. That’s how everything goes in a society.

That same brand hot water heater I bought recently for $12,000 used to be $5,000 a $6,000 not that many years ago.

 

[Sleepwalker]

The justification is quite simple:
1. Near-hyperinflationary pressure. Not just of the last 2-3 years, by the way, but since the last time they increased the price of PSN.
2. It actually costs money to provide these services, contrary to what people think.
3. They can do it.
4. These are probably going to be the prices for a good 4-5+ years. How long was a year of PS+ (essential) priced at 60 bucks? The vast majority of last generation, if memory serves.

I would be more sympathetic to these points in general but

1. They just relaunched their subscription tiers last year, extra and premium did not exist before and therefore were not subject to inflationary pressure for an extended period to warrant a 35% price increase. It wouldve been a good point if only essential went up in price. Did they initially fuck up with their pricing structure, or was this calculated?

2. Yes, yes it does but the profit margin are usually high for these type of gaming services/stores.

3. Absolutely, and they are. They are baking on having loyal customers who will pay to remain a part of the ecosystem/brand. Nothing wrong with that but it might backfire.

4. Fair enough I guess, it wouldve still been a better approach to do small periodical upgrades but then again I'm not running SIE.

 

[alstrike]

Yes, been like that since beginning of new Plus

I don’t know how I missed that, thanks for the info.

 

[fersnake]

the guy paying 30 yrs in advance not looking that crazy now

 

[Banjo64]

NSO is all P2P and runs horribly.

Ignoring the fact that Microsoft and Sony don’t have any first party games with dedicated servers… so all three are charging for exactly the same thing, peer to peer matchmaking.

I’m yet to see any difference between the online experience on Switch, Series S and PS5 having pumped hundreds of hours in to Rocket League and various other MP games across all 3 platforms.

 

[ComputerBlue]

Lol inflation is kicking our asses

Greed

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I would be more sympathetic to these points in general but

1. They just relaunched their subscription tiers last year, extra and premium did not exist before and therefore were not subject to inflationary pressure for an extended period to warrant a 35% price increase. It wouldve been a good point if only essential went up in price. Did they initially fuck up with their pricing structure, or was this calculated?

2. Yes, yes it does but the profit margin are usually high for these type of gaming services/stores.

3. Absolutely, and they are. They are baking on having loyal customers who will pay to remain a part of the ecosystem/brand. Nothing wrong with that but it might backfire.

4. Fair enough I guess, it wouldve still been a better approach to do small periodical upgrades but then again I'm not running SIE.

All Sony is doing is propping up gaming division profits so hopefully it gets back to the $3 billion they made a few years ago during covid craziness where anything tech related zoomed off the charts as everyone was at home. I think the division's profits have dropped to about $2 billion lately.

I think there are about 45 million subbers. At lets say on avg a $30 boost each (at some point of time as not everyone is resubbing next week and some have multiple years into the future pre-paying for a few years), but as a ballpark you got about $1.3 billion (45M x $30) extra revenue per year at stake ASSUMING nobody leaves.

Anyone here can do their armchair predictions what the net cash flow gain from subs will be assuming X number of subbers quitting. But the key starting point is all things being equal, the price just jumped 33%.

 

[cripterion]

So Spiderman 2 day one for Essential and Premium subs I take it?

Fuck off with those prices.

 

[Crayon]

sony fanboys damage controlling like the sheep that they are. this is why companies can keep getting away with things.

lollerskates. Not all fandoms are as hardcore as you, sorry.

 

[LordCBH]

This is the end game of all subs. Doesn’t make it any less trash though. Eventually they’ll all have substantial price increases.

 

[GladiusFrog]

There is no defending this. It is greed unless proven why the price increase is justified with straight out proof statements of why what we pay can’t afford us what we’re already getting.

On the other side of the coin, everything in life gets more expensive as time goes on. That’s how everything goes in a society.

That same brand hot water heater I bought recently for $12,000 used to be $5,000 a $6,000 not that many years ago.

A water heater that cost 12k?

I just bought and installed my electric one for $500.... What the.


I'm assuming commercial? Still sounds high lol.

 

[Dream-Knife]

Ignoring the fact that Microsoft and Sony don’t have any first party games with dedicated servers… so all three are charging for exactly the same thing, peer to peer matchmaking.

I’m yet to see any difference between the online experience on Switch, Series S and PS5 having pumped hundreds of hours in to Rocket League and various other MP games across all 3 platforms.

Every time I tried something on NSO it would go to -5 fps and would be unplayable. Plenty of examples on youtube I'm sure.

Ps4 didn't have that issue with the few online games I played on it.

 

[ReBurn]

Things tend to increase in price by way of no direct/visible "justification" to the consumer other than inflation. Inflation over the course of many years, at higher rates than whichever government is reporting them to be.

Of course. That tendency is usually companies just wanting more money, ie greedflation. Which is why people who are impacted by price hikes tend to be upset. If it's something you can't live without you tighten your belt somewhere else and make it work. If it's PS Plus you cancel your subscription, unless you just don't care that they're charging you more and giving you nothing for it. Pretty simple situation to rationalize and navigate.

 

[nordique]

Expensive in Canada. I don’t play online enough to justify the price so I’m out when it’s up for renewal

 

[Pipoqueiro]

It's strange how the regulatory body thinks the monopoly in the cloud is dangerous, but it thinks this cartel on consoles that forces 80$-60 to play online is normal

 

[Topher]

It's strange how the regulatory body thinks the monopoly in the cloud is dangerous, but it thinks this cartel on consoles that forces 80$-60 to play online is normal

 

[Banjo64]

Every time I tried something on NSO it would go to -5 fps and would be unplayable. Plenty of examples on youtube I'm sure.

Ps4 didn't have that issue with the few online games I played on it.

Only thing I noticed was when my Switch was on the 2.4ghz channel it was more susceptible to lag spikes (presumably because I wasn’t using it statically like I would a home console). Once I connected it to the 5ghz channel (and bought an actual capable router instead of my shitty ISP provided one) it’s been rock solid.

 

[Pipoqueiro]

Both wrong

 

[twinspectre]

WTF??? I'm not that stupid, at least try to release PS5 day 1 games on PSplus, improve the service, give me a reason about this price increase. Fuck you Playstation.

 

[Topher]

Both wrong

Jack shit to do with anything in this thread my man.

 

[Pipoqueiro]

Jack shit to do with anything in this thread my man.

obviously it has. it is an abusive increase that only occurs because there are clearly only 2 consoles that feel comfortable charging something free on pcs. an open platform

 

[dotnotbot]

obviously it has. it is an abusive increase that only occurs because there are clearly only 2 consoles that feel comfortable charging something free on pcs. an open platform

So there'a an alternative - PC. No one's forcing people to stay with consoles.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Only thing I noticed was when my Switch was on the 2.4ghz channel it was more susceptible to lag spikes (presumably because I wasn’t using it statically like I would a home console). Once I connected it to the 5ghz channel (and bought an actual capable router instead of my shitty ISP provided one) it’s been rock solid.

All I know is never trust stock parts given by a provider.

When I had a 4k cable box, it came with so-called 4k capable HDMI cords. What do I know. How different can any 4k HDMI be from each other. Got weird green pixelation every so often. Thought it was the 4k box, so got a new one and tried it with the 4k cables it came with too. Same issue. Then I was thinking theres something wrong with my TV and it cant handle 4k signals even though it is 4k rated. I decided to buy a twin pack of 4k HDMIs from Costco for $25 and perfection!

A gaffer a year or two ago said it likely was due to the cable provider cords being shit with no shielding and all the other cords I have bunched up in my media stand were causing interference.