Competition is the best thing ever. It's only good for consumers

The only thing that annoys me for the PSN is that all game servers are hosted either privately or by the companies themselves, whilst it is my understanding that Microsoft hosts most of the servers for most games on Xbox Live, hence the fee (could someone confirm this for me? I have never used this service).

This means we have games like Metal Gear Online, where the developer has shut down its servers and there is no way of having a private or LAN match.

If Sony made a deal with games companies to add additional capacity for games servers, and continue support even for games that the developer no longer wishes to support providing the player is a Playstation Plus member, then the PSN would be perfect.

I let mine go in say around 2008?

There was a 360 in my house and it was the only console capable of online to an entertaining degree (in my house at that time... The PS3 arrived later here) so paying for live didn't seem that bad...

As my PS3 collection grew I began to not need Live. PS+ is here, my PS can access online and netflix etc for free and I personally love PS+... plus I have a gaming a PC... I just don't feel the need for Live any more.

My friends say they pay because it's better than PS online, but I don't see it. Who am I to bash them on their opinion, though? It's their money and they're happy with the service.

See, there are other options, and you aren't forced to buy an Xbox or Xbox Live. Yet we still see people complain about it, even though the service has continually grown and is now at 46 million users, up 15% which is huge.

It's not for everyone though, if you are a budget gamer I'd highly recommend going another route. As a Live subscriber for 8 years, I couldn't be happier with the service, but then again I'm constantly using it.

I went farther than that.

When Microsoft unleashed the Kinect i said good bye 360 and hello PS3.

In the beginning i didnt have plus but then i thought what the heck i payed for gold so i might as well pay for plus. Ever since the first day of my Plus subscription i was convinced that XBOXlive gold is a scam.

EDIT: BTW now that i think about it i never had an issue with multiplayer on PSN but on Xboxlive i had ton of issues especially with the voice chat and this was before i upgraded my internet connection to 100MBs.

I have to say next-gen I have my eye on PS4 for this reason. I've been talking to all my faithful Xbox buddies and the only thing we are waiting for is whatever announcement M$ is going to state. If in this illumiroom gimmick laden dog and pony show they don't mention things like "$50 bucks for a year and free games with your subscription"

We've all decided to go with WiiU (which some of use already have) and PS4.

We just need more bang for our buck and we want new experiences. With these two well be covered. M$ hasn't proven itself to know or understand gamer needs. Just how to suck the money our of your wallet.

Finally, another one not blinded and has seen the light. Even if im an xbox hardcore gamer, I will complain some point in time if I see a subscription that makes me pay things that are free on other devices. Don't give me Xbox live is faster and more stable. Some 360 users says otherwise. They say its the "Same" with stability and speed. So i don't see any point to pay for something that should be "Free"

Good for those who chose the Option or Choice to not renew their Xbl membership good for them.
As for me I will continue to pay as is my Option, Choice, besides been doing so for 6-7 years and have no Quarrels with doing so besides it's pretty much chump change when you do the math.
Due to the fact am pleased with what is offered to me.

I myself had an Xbox for awhile. I gave it to my girlfriend because she found more use of it. She enjoyed the kinect, until I got her a 3ds lol. But I honestly prefer Ps+ once I got it, I honestly have not looked back at my Xbox. My Vita is happy it's getting use and I'm in dire need of a new hdd for my ps3 because of all the games on ps+. I hope Microsoft gets on the ball this upcoming gen. What they show might make or break them IMO.

I feel like sometimes I pay an annual fee just to play Halo, Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the service

Here we go yet again. Please can someone with a mental age of more than 7 on this site explain to me why it's so upsetting for them that other people choose to pay for Xbox live. If you don't want to, fine, off you go to another console, but stop coming on crying over what other people choose to spend their money on. If its not xbox live, it's COD or Fifa getting stick. You have a choice, buy or move along, but remember other people also have a choice, please try & get over it.

Truth be told, I like most 360 users only bought Gold to play online and to chat with friends. These better be free additions to the next MS console. They could still make money off subscriptions by doing something similar to PSN+

It's upto whoever is writing the check to decide how there money is best spent. While I would never in a million years pay for live because I feel it is a ripoff. Someone else may feel they are getting a deal for their money with their Live subscription.

So who is right?

We both are, because it's our money and noone elses.

Hopefully competition will foster an environment that MS tries to compete with next generation. As an owner of both, I don't mind paying and understand those that do and don't, but it is clear, without prejudice, that PS+ offers much more value for the dollar. Yes, MS does offer a few games from time to time for free, but the quality and quantity do not match what PS gives away.

I pay every year. As the saying goes 'you gotta pay to play'. As long as XBOX LIVE is the only quality gaming service available then I just have to pay.

Trust me... I will happily take a free service once a proven option is available.

have to be honest iv always been a pc gamer ever since c64 came out.

good someone with sense
with sony everything is free and with + u get tons of stuffs for nothing

everything gold offers u have it on sony network standard not even with +, cant believe naps still paying this gold crap for nothing.

Cry me a river, $3-$4 a month for a Xbox live is definitely worth it for me. I have both Xbox and PS3, and the latter online community is like a minor league baseball setup compare to the major league set up of Live. If you feel like it is not worth it, just keep it to yourself and stop beating a dead horse as many xbox live subscribers are happy with the service for over a decade now. These articles keep popping up on N4G to feed the trolls and adds nothing new to gaming news, yawn..it is getting old.

I did last December too after 5 years of paying for Live like an idiot. Don't regret it at all, although my 360 feels worthless now.

Bought a game instead, smartest gaming choice I've made all gen.

The Comment's from Sony Funny Fan Boy's...... are Funny! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!
Xbox Live Kill's PS +....!
But haters will hate and fanboys will hate.... Kids!!!!!!????

Here we go again with the same shit.I can;t even muster any words.

I had the same thing happening a while ago that I didn't paid for my xbl gold, and now I'm so eager to get ps4 :l

*yawn* so over this debate. Blame ur friends for having xbox and 'forcing' u to subscribe

anyone that pays to play a game that they own on their own internet connection is a fu***** idiot IMO

It has always amazed me that M$ get away with charging for a service they don't even own, people pay their internet provider for internet access and online but on the xbox M$ block it and demand money to get it back, such an obvious scam and why so many people accept it I have no idea.

M$ dont own the internet so people shouldn't put up with them restricting access.

Oh PS+ really is amazing value all with free online as it should be

this is why i said if there were no google or apple are sony microsoft would be worst than the german nazi think about it they would charge you for shit you wouldn't even dream about charging for microsoft would let you pay for air if they can getaway with it and i see a lot of microsoft followers want these other company to go away think carefully guys

I have boycotted the Xbox brand until they rid themselves of Xbox Live Gold. It isn't right to be charging your customers for online play and then have ads plastered all over their dashboard while PS3 offers a free online service and then gives plenty of games to its customers for around the same price with PS+ which is completely optional.

This, plus, Microsoft's focus on Entertainment apps rather than games led me to trading my Xbox 360 for a Wii U.

i used to own a 360 till i sold it. honestly I am nit a big multiplayer fan so paying for live is pointless to me and I find it pathetic that you have to pay to play as it is. I sold my 360 about 3 months ago and I have not regretted it since. There are just not that many exclusives that I enjoy, (did not like helo, forze or fable) the games I did enjoy were Kameo, Alan Wake, Gears & Condemned)

I am a Playstation & PC gamer & thats where I will stay. I will not be picking up the new Xbox Fusion at all. I wish all the best to xbox gamers but as it is xbox gamers dont see the big rip off they get with M$

only idiots pay for something every other company is giving away free

Now that Jim Ryan is gone just need to remove Herman Hulst from his position! And maybe give Shuhei the position he deserved.

This gen hasn't been the best for games, last gen consoles are still out there and now there's been talk of the PS6 and Xbox Two for a year or so. Many games this gen will be ported to next gen and the cycle will continue. The re-release of the Neo Geo AES+, games on cartridge for £70 ($95), gaming is going back in time. Gaming has gone pricing mad with the high cost of games, consoles and controllers. The men and women at the top are clueless.

It’s always interesting to hear behind-the-scenes stories like this, especially involving veterans like Shuhei Yoshida and leadership figures like Jim Ryan. That said, there are usually multiple sides to decisions at that level. It could be less about not “listening” and more about differences in long-term vision for PlayStation. Yoshida played a huge role in shaping the brand, so whatever the reason, his impact is undeniable.

If true, and I'm inclined to believe it is, it goes to show that Sony lost their way when they became more western/didn't respect the PlayStation origin story. Andrew House and Jack Tretton did great work, but they also didn't try to fundamentally change the PlayStation DNA. Ryan oversaw the death of Japan Studio and a live service direction.

I already figured this, good lord imagine if Shuhei took over instead, would've been a platinum era 😩

I miss the first three generations of PlayStation. The way they turned PS3 around, we knew they meant business. We were all worried for a bit there around launch. Eventually from 2008 they started shifting slowly. But since Yoshida was fired, it's never been the same. Still enjoy my PS5 daily. I got a backlog dating back to PS2 lol So I'm fine but new games aren't as appealing anymore.

It seems like we were thrown on to the worst timeline possible where everything is too expensive and the wrong people were put in positions that makes the world a shitty place. We could have had Shu as the head of PS but we got the shitty alternative. Same goes for everyone in power around the world. Doesn’t matter the company or country the majority of us got the shitty picks and the world is declining like never before. I do think PS can come out of this because of their studios, talent and IP but they need someone more in touch with gamers leading things like Shu was. They’re still the best place for console gaming imo but it could be much better than it is especially without the massive live service failures. The rest of the world I have a lot less hope for right now. Hopefully the pendulum swings back towards the good ole days but I’m preparing for the worst.

There goes illuminati distraction story

So now there's certifiable proof that Ryan was in fact "fired", as opposed to when it was first announced that he "retired", in order to save face.

There's another guy who recently "retired" as CEO of another large gaming company, after doing a dismantling job as lead for well over a decade.

seems legit, the business man, fires the one who has ideas to move the business forward.

Jim Ryan is the reason why we are entering year 6 since the PS5 launch and many of us don't feel like the PS5 has gotten started as yet.

I hope going forward, we will see a return to form.