Sony has always had one thing it could fall back on when questioned about the various places where the PlayStation Network felt inadequate when compared to Microsoft’s Live service, no service fees. However, this is not something that is set in stone. In a recent interview that debuted on GameTrailers.com, Eric Lempel, the Director of PlayStation Network Operations, stated that though free service is currently the PSN model, “In time anything can change.” Don’t go getting yourself worked up yet, he also added that they are “happy” with the current model at this point in time.
Would a fee based system for the PSN be the end of the world? While SDF members have often been quick to tout that their service is free, it could be argued that by charging a fee Sony could help fund a stronger team to build up the service. Even if they charged 20 USD a year it would give them revenue that they could work with. Hell, any additional income that they could help the PS3 make would be a good thing.
But on the consumer side of it one has to wonder at what level would the services of the PSN have to be in order to justify a cost. For some there is probably no level of service that would justify a monthly subscription fee. Once you give people a taste of something and tell them it’s going to be free they will, of course, act quite negatively against a change in policy. But if the PSN developed to a point where it was comparable to Live would you pay for it? Would you pay for it begrudgingly or feel that your dollars were justified? Do you feel justified in paying for Live on 360?
Sony has large ambitions for the PSN. They do not just want to connect the various PS3s around the world. They want to expand their service to include their PSP as well. More than just a service to link players of one console, Sony wants to bring together a community in a way that they hope Live can’t match. That is of course, after they match the various things, like talking across games and achievements, that Microsoft already has. All of these things do cost money, though.
So to answer my own question, about whether or not people would pay for PSN, I have to say I have mixed feelings. If Sony achieves everything and more that Live does then it would be a service that I would pay for, albeit a little sadly. However, if they could continue to offer the service for free then it would certainly make my monthly payments to the God of Live even more painful.
Consumers might not want to pay to build their community. It would feel a lot like paying a tax to build towards a dream.
Chufmoney
[via next-gen.biz]