Joystiq
Man that's got to sting, MS have been raking in billions from Live all this time. The good thing is that Sony's offering next gen should be much more up to scratch from launch than the PS3 was so as to ensure that the PSN is as integrated into potential buyers' minds as Live is to 360 purchasers.
Can anyone afford to run a major(aka millions of users) unified online system without some sort of service charge? I'm fully expecting Sony to go pay to play next gen. Steam doesn't count as they aren't fully unified and make money from the game sales.
Edit: I think if Sony/MS offer a service with the perks of steam and the tight unification/integration for $30 a year next generation that they've got a winner as it gives people the best of PC gaming and Xbox live for a reasonable price which Sony have proven they need as you can't run a major unified network for free and expect profit.
Joystiq said:Sony has yet to make the free-to-use PlayStation Network profitable, Sony's Kazuo Hirai told Reuters Japan. However, he expects the PSN to start making money in the following fiscal year. According to the report, PSN sales nearly doubled in the closing fiscal year, reaching 36 billion yen. Looking forward three years, Hirai expects revenue to increase nearly tenfold, to 300 billion yen.
Man that's got to sting, MS have been raking in billions from Live all this time. The good thing is that Sony's offering next gen should be much more up to scratch from launch than the PS3 was so as to ensure that the PSN is as integrated into potential buyers' minds as Live is to 360 purchasers.
Can anyone afford to run a major(aka millions of users) unified online system without some sort of service charge? I'm fully expecting Sony to go pay to play next gen. Steam doesn't count as they aren't fully unified and make money from the game sales.
Edit: I think if Sony/MS offer a service with the perks of steam and the tight unification/integration for $30 a year next generation that they've got a winner as it gives people the best of PC gaming and Xbox live for a reasonable price which Sony have proven they need as you can't run a major unified network for free and expect profit.