E3 2013: Sony Outlines PlayStation 4 PS Plus Advantages

E3 2013: Sony Outlines PlayStation 4 PS Plus Advantages

58
Lee Bradley

On PlayStation 4 a PS Plus account will be required to play games in online multiplayer.

Alongside some other changes to the way PS Plus works, it wasn’t an easily made decision, says Sony.

However, the move is also intended to bring certain advantages with it, not least the relatively low price of the PS4 itself.                   

Speaking at E3 2013, Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Fergal Gara outlined these advantages.

“First of all, we wanted to introduce the console at a healthy price-point compared with PS3,” said Gara.

Other gains come in the form of introducing more network features, as well as better performance and more reliability.

Gara says that PS Plus represents “immense value” for its £39.99 annual price tag, as it “includes content across all three consoles.”

In an effort to make PS Plus attractive to new PS4 users from the beginning of the new look service, Sony will also be offering feature limited versions of full games.

“We’ve introduced a version of DriveClub right from day one in there so you could argue [your PS Plus subscription] is sort of paid back almost immediately. So we still think it’s tremendous value,” said Gara.

[via OPS]

Comments
58
  • Just signed in for a FREE trial and a year later I'm still hooked. It's like buying one brand you game on day one - and get hoards of free stuff and games for the PS3/PSVita and of course PS4 for the whole year. Can't argue with that can you?
  • I love PS Plus, I hope they continue to include all the same discounts and free games they have thus far.
  • Been a PS+ subscriber since day one, and this is just icing on the cake, to keep me subscribing :D
  • And that's why I'm a Sony fan and also cause of the greatest exclusives ever. Can't wait for the PS4.
  • I hope they will be able to implement ps3 game downloads onto ps4. So I don't have to worry which xonsole has what
  • Hmm, sounds good in theory, but i'm a little worried about what exactly they mean by "feature limited versions". Let's use DriveClub as an example, will there only be a set amount of the cars and tracks available, will trophies be unobtainable, will the online be locked? These are somethings I'd like them to make clear before the PS4 launches. Regardless though, it still sounds like a much better deal than what is offered by Microsoft, and hey if this is helping to bring the PS4's launch price down I'm all for it.
  • Feature limited versions? I don't like the sound of that. What is the point of giving us half of the game for free and then charge us to unlock the rest?
  • In an effort to make PS Plus attractive to new PS4 users from the beginning of the new look service, Sony will also be offering ***feature limited versions of full games***. And here we have the first sign of a devalued service :((
  • @6 & 7: From interviews, it seems all the features (different races, clubs, etc) will all be there, but something like the available cars will be restricted.
  • @#8, not really, if you don't like the free version of the game, then you haven't wasted your money on it. Look at them as glorified demo's. :)
  • I don't see a problem to be a ps+ member to play multiplayer online. U got free games, special discounts on games and dlc, free trials, etc. I've been plus member since 2 years ago and i will renew the suscription again on september. PS4 just become better with PS+ on day one.
  • @8 I'm going to give them benefit of the doubt for the first year. They already outlined the indie games we're getting on PS+ at launch, which look cool. Also, how could they launch the PS4 and give away a full PS4 title every month for £40 a year? It'll be a while before they have enough back catalogue to give us. I wonder if we'll still get full games for PS3?
  • @11 the problem I see with everyone having plus is that there will be no 'special' discounts or plus exclusive content because everyone will have the same subscription unless they introduce several tiers of PS+.
  • @10: Well, I rather have a full game I don't like than a game I like and have to pay additional money for. It's a bit of wait-and-see now, but worst case is a base game only playable with your subscription while you pay to unlock the left out features - which is lost money if you decide to cnacel your subscription. @12: They didn't need to give away games right from the start. Many didn't expected that. For the starting titles: Most indies are also on PC, so I'm not too fuzzed about them. Especially not Don't Starve. I would laugh so hard at the rage here if "feature limited" means "no trophies" :D
  • @12: "includes content across all three consoles" So yeah, we still get PS3 and Vita games. If PS+ is worth it now, then it should still be worth it if they give us even limited versions of PS4 retail games. They're also giving away the indie games, and really, that's what I like the most anyway. Those are the games I'm most likely to skip at first. In any case, I think 12's got it right. They probably need to build a back catalog before they can just start giving away $60 games. In the meantime, it couldn't hurt to have a bit of a superdemo of a game I'm interested in anyway.
  • As an Xbox Live gold subscriber of almost 6 years, the PS+ membership on the PS3 is an amazing value for the money. I have no problem with it being required for the PS4 to play online games, as I'm already accustomed to doing so. My only hitch is the "limited" versions of full games. I understand they don't want to immediately give away brand new games on the PS4 version of PS+, but the limited version almost comes off like an extended demo. Also, Sony needs to do its best to emulate the communication channels that Xbox has set-up. Party chat is a necessity.
  • @16 Party chat is confirmed and yeah is necessity.
  • The fact that you actually get DriveClub is brilliant. I know it's a slightly scaled down version with less cars and tracks, but come on. There's no need to immediately go out and buy a game with the PS4, and if you had planned on getting DriveClub anyway, you could save quite a bit of money there alone. They could have just done it without giving away DriveClub, but so it goes. Plus is a fantastic service, and you save SO MUCH MONEY that it's sick. I've played so many games that I originally had planned on buying, for the price of less than one full game. Nobodoy can come tell me that ain't worth it, as I've saved several hundred dollars on Plus by trying and playing games I'd normally buy.
  • As long as plus will continue to give away the standard of ps3 games it currently does, for a couple of years whilst the ps4 catalogue builds, then I'm happy.
  • I was skeptical at first, but man once I got PS+ I was hooked and never looked back. One years worth gets you easily $500 in free games and tons more in savings.
  • PS+ has proved that its a worthwhile service to subscribe too, people dont like that its needed to play online? get over it as its no different than xbox, i always expected the ps+ for the next gen to be mandatory so its good of sony to keep it only mandatory for online.......im subscribed til april next year but wont hesitate to renew
  • When i saw feature limited versions of full games i just envisioned it being akin to the "full game trial" service that you get on PS3?
  • Be nice if there were different prices for people that have no interest in the Vita.
  • If psn+ uses what it is now plus adds more functions I'll be happy... If not then aww crap...I wont buy a xbone but I'd wait for a price drop on the ps4!
  • What it is people except everything for free for some odd reason, paying for the Playstation+ gives use a lot better network, "Other gains come in the form of introducing more network features, as well as better performance and more reliability". Plus games into to that deal, people most think it's free to run a network the size of the PSN. DriveClub you'll not get access to some of the cars & tracks, which thay'll probably sell as DLC. But seeing this game is only on Playstation i don't blame them for not giving access to a full game, thay would not make no money off the game at all if thay did that. I also have Playstation+ and it's well worth the money.
  • I too was skeptical like @20, but just like @1 I got a 1-year Free trial, and WOW, I too am hooked. and will definitly renew next year. 3 months since I have it, and I have dowloaded alreay 3 games that are around $20 to $30 on amazon, I even platted 1 of those, and also the other PSN free games, that usually cost like $10. PS plus indeed is worth it, and 1-year give you games that easly would cost you more than what a year susbscription cost.
  • PS4 doesn't have the library of games PS3 has, so it obviously can't churn out $20 budget titles every month. Also, you are only paying $50USD for the service, why would they outright give you a game that costs $60? Yeah, it sucks that we are getting "limited" versions, but you can tell Sony plans on improving the service once the PS4 builds a library to support it. "...more network features, as well as better performance and more reliability" are all things we should expect, though. Sounds like they will be putting that money towards buying more and better servers, which of course they would need to do since they plan on rolling out Gaikai in 2014. Overall, it's good to hear Sony explain things where Microsoft requires pulling teeth for details.
  • I wanna know if they will put the PS4 Plus in Brazil because we still don't have the PS3 plus. How I'm going to play online if Brazil don't have a plus server?
  • I have no problem with this.
  • Conflicted
  • Wo wo wo 'offering feature limited versions of full games' that's not good.
  • @31 I dont mind it, I knew they couldnt be giving us Driveclub free and have a full retail version. But the "PS PLUS Edition" lets me see if irs actually worth $60
  • Just curious to those not so much worried, but sceptical that this will be a bad trend, did you really think we would see full game releases right away? They need to at least attempt selling the system and games before throwing PS4 games out for free. Let's jot forget that this service began as nothing more than a discount program with the occasional ps1 game thrown in. Now we are seeing a game per week, with a mix of indie andAAA titles, and before long, PS4 games will be making their appearance as well. Not wanting to give us a bunch of PS4 games for free when the console hasn't even come out is a rediculous thing to worry about.
  • @28 - that's a very good question. And limited versions sounds like "demos" - but I love my subscription and I don't mind waiting for more details.
  • I feel great that people didnt went apeshit with this note, unlike mexicans...
  • I agree with post #27, as much as we may not like the sound of ''limited'' versions, they can't afford to give you a full version of a 1st party title on day one as part of the IGC, and completely miss out on possible sales. We're getting the next best thing, which is a very decent portion of the game for free, if you like it you go ahead and get more tracks/cars, if you dont, no loss...right? I don't see how this is a bad thing, or a 'glorified demo' as some people are claiming. It's not a 1 hour free trial with limited features, it is a game with certain content locked. I feel bad for the social managers at the PS Blog who take so much crap because people want to see free games on plus every week, they obviously lack any sense of business knowledge and just complain for the heck of it.
  • I got a free PS+ trial in my e-mail 2 years ago.I didn't want want it because it required credit card info.So I gave it to a friend.Since then he's been a PS+ member and has been renewing it since.
  • See when I hear Feature Limited, I think of the games like SingStar that they have been putting out for free recently without any songs included. I imagine Drive Club will be fully featured, but most of the cars and tracks will be sold separately as DLC.
  • Just want to say, I'm a massive Xbox 360 fanboy. Own both, prefer 360 by far. PS+ is so superior to XBL. Bought a year for £20 when it was on sale on Game.co.uk and it is amazing. Have about 300 quid of free content and discounts. Sony have taken the driving seat again and the PS4 will be major. Making the switch back due to MS's horrible treatment, which is sad considering I'm about to his 80k GS. Trophies aren't the same (Yet) :( This is Microsofts Dreamcast.
  • But $399 is £255 so go fuck youself!
  • I read that the American price doesn't include tax but uk price does! It works out about 30-40 pounds cheaper to buy state side.
  • Why should I trust Gara? He's a f*cking jinchuriki!
  • am i the only one who gets the impression that ps plus is not going to be the same on ps4? like as he says its only a 'version' of driveclub available. for all we know this could just be like a 5 hour demo or something. i hope it stays the same :( i like all my free games
  • @43 they've stated you can buy the full version at a discounted price, so we'll just need to see what ps plus version is like
  • somewhat related auto-updates will no longer be a feature exclusive to psn+ http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/18/ps4-auto-update-social-features-free-to-all-users/
  • People kind of need to be realistic here, first off I doubt many people out of the choice of the games coming out at launch many would of purchased drive club - so even if it is limited it's the chance to play and considering it was 'free' you've lost nothing if you didn't like it. Remember PS plus games have to have a metacritic score of 70% plus so over time I think we will see the same service. I imagine they will carry on backing the PS3 the same way so you can play that and with the gaikai(sic) service in 2014 we may find we get PS3 games for free to stream/download. I think we should be rather thankful of what we get from plus rather than bite of the hand that feeds us, I think some people seem to have been spoiled too much by plus.
  • Basically they are telling you to pay less than 5$ a month to have free games, discounts, early BETAs, and exclusive content to Plus members. That's a DEAL
  • lol sony "feature limited versions of games" Ummm news flash Sony.... we call those demos, and normal people usually get those for FREE.
  • i thought playstation online supossed be free, some people is not rich, people buy games and ps plus, dlc, avitars.it look like x-box buy online with ps plus,i preoder ps4 well fuck it im getting my money back fuck the next gen,how much sony soacking us $50 a month, and i don't care people give me minus. it's the truth there killing us with these prices,give us a brake. and if you don't have money for ps plus and expires while your playing online and expired and can't play online
  • There charging you to play online and all the Ps+ games offered will have the online feature disabled. Ironic?
  • I don't own a PS4 yet, and I have 2-3 FREE games waiting for me when I do! :)
  • PS+ right now offers pretty much any game, a free 1 hour of full game play, call it a demo, or 1 hour rental or whatever... It's great. I assume Driveclub tho is fully featured available at launch on PS+. I don't have plus, but I saw Demons Souls was on it a couple months back.. sucks tho its gone now.. Do they do that alot.. rotate in and out titles? I wished it was still there but its gone now. @50 All games on PS+ don't have online disabled.. theres diff categories for games on PS+.. theres full games...SP and MP.. and theres 1 hour demos of full games.. those ones have mp shut off i believe... someone with PS+ correct me if i'm wrong there. Or are you just M$ trollin? I only say that because I don't have PS+ and even I know that...
  • @52 that's how it is now. on ps4 its completely different. Like Microsoft now offers free games and gold covers every person on your console.
  • He really need to explain what he means by "feature limited versions" I wonder if it means with Driver Club it will limited the car amount or tracks. You know some trophies will end up having you to buy retail versions of games.
  • @23: As the price was that before Vita was included (it was basically a free add-on to your Plus), "different price" doesn't really make sense. Of course, offering such a thing later could happen, though they're trying to make Vita more important with PS4 remote play.
  • once I subscribe to ps plus... absolutely no regrets... happy to renew!!
  • PS4 is going to be my first playstation, im not bowing down to microsoft DRM restrictins, seen the worldwide pre-orders expect a mass of xbox gamers to jump ship...........
  • the site at sony says "One membership works across PS4™, PS3™ and PS Vita systems." so the more systems you own the better it is so i already own PSP (ps1 classics and limited PSP games) i got megaman maverick hunter for the vita and (also the PSP sence its a PSP game) PS Vita PS3 and now the PS4 is looking more attractive because of this. i am incredably turned off about the no backwards compatability. that will happen to my collection when the PS3 goes out of production (i still own my PS2 for that collection)
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