I don't see why there's a need to catch up, PSN gets the job done just fine and it's free. Not everyone needs party chat and paid online filled to the brim with advertisements.
That is true, but not advancing themselves trying to reach parity with the competition will make them look weak and undesirable
While MS tries to streamline their UI, make it so fucking comfortable a 5 year old can do it, Sony tries to make it very obtuse, and adds frustration for no apparent reason
When Sony does firmware update, they come through Japan (HQ), over there they have some fascination, with Picture slideshow programs, Printer support, really forcing shit most never needed, it's there cool, but when maybe 0.000001% of your gaming population asked for it or you think it warranted it, is fucking laughable
You can tell why Sony is in disarray, there is no synergy, cohesion-ness, in almost every field they are in
It's just segregated groups in a prison, with the warden being cool with one group the whole time, not even listening to the other inmates, unless they create a ruckus and the warden goes to see what it is all about, and might listen
MS, got everyone on lock down, everything mostly flows like clockwork
All stores are updated in a timely fashion, no disparity in different regions, pricing is always matched, never skewed
If Sony wants to succeed with the PS4, they have to have a good foundation from the get go, can't be bare minimum and try to add things in again
They need to come out saying we will not charge for online, we will give you all the abilities XBL offers for Free and then some
Sony has to take the risk, even in the climate they are in, if they falter and stay medium it will not look good on them, XBL will chew away more users from them
Party/Cross Game chat are worth the $60 admission price for some, hey it's their money and what access to it, but if Sony can offer it for free, they might get some to switch
You want to chip away the market-share from your competitors, not give it away
I can't talk about Nintendo, never have owned a NIN console since the NES, all I know is friends code, and online infrastructure is bare bones