Whenever a new platform or service is announced, the focus is inevitably on what is missing and not on what is already there. Sony’s new PS Plus subscription offers have multi-player internet access, hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games, streaming, retro titles and game testing. But what it does not include, unlike its main competitor, are new first-person toys released in the service at the same time as their retail release. “We feel like we’re in a good virtuous circle with the studios,” explains PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, “where investing offers success, which allows for even more investment, which offers even greater success. we believe that our players like this circle “. He continues: “[In terms of] putting our own games on this service, or any of our services, after they are released … as you well know, this is not a path we have taken in the past. And this is not the path we are going to take with this new service. We believe that if we did this with the games we make at PlayStation Studios, this virtuous circle will be broken. The level of investment we have to make in our studios would not be possible and we believe that the negative impact on the quality of the games we play would not be something that the players want “. PlayStaton CEO Jim Ryan Ryan’s view on this is not unique to Sony. Most AAA publishers are reluctant to put their latest games into subscription services. The counter-argument is that by placing your latest titles on the PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass, you are potentially expanding your audience. Overnight, your new release could have tens of millions of players, and if your game has other forms of monetization, then the revenue potential is significant. And even if your game has no small trades, Xbox believes that subscriptions – combined with streaming – are the key to finding new console players. Ryan’s vision is realistic and the PlayStation’s current position on it is subject to change. “The way people are changing so fast right now is nothing forever,” he tells us. Who would have thought that even four years ago you would see AAA PlayStation IP being released to a computer? We started last year with Horizon Zero Dawn, then Days Gone and now God of War – an extremely sleek and complete version of his computer that game. [We’ve had] great critical success and great commercial success, and everyone has come to terms with it and are absolutely happy with it. I look back four years and think no one would have seen it coming. “The way our publishing model works right now [putting new games straight into PS Plus] does not make sense. But things can change very quickly in this industry. ” “So I do not want to throw anything at this stage. The only thing I’m talking about today is the approach we are taking in the short term. The way our publishing model works at the moment does nothing. But things can change very quickly. in this industry, as we all know “. Aside from what the PlayStation does not do with the new PS Plus subscription options, it’s worth talking about what it does. At a basic level, it brings together PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now subscription services, which total 50 million subscribers. 75% of PS Now subscribers are also PS Plus subscribers, so it makes sense to merge the two services together. And for this 75%, they will find that their total cost is reduced.
Looking at pricing in general, there are three levels to the PS Plus. PS Plus Essentials is identical to PS Plus today and has the same price ($ 10 per month), PS Plus Extra adds to a PS4 and PS5 game library ($ 15 per month), and PS Plus Premium includes all of them plus game tests, streaming game and a collection of PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP games ($ 18). Compared to Xbox offers, the PS Plus Premium range has a high monthly cost. However, where Sony was competitive was the annual pricing. “It’s a fact – for our services at least – that the vast majority of people sign up through a 12-month subscription,” explains Ryan. “It’s more than two-thirds who sign up this way. This is a value proposition area that we have looked at very carefully. What we offer is that, for a 12 month subscriber, and this is the vast majority of people, the monthly rate subscription for PlayStation Plus Extra will be $ 8.33 and for PlayStation Plus Premium will be $ 9.99 We think this is a great value proposition for people “It would be possible if we were to put our studio games into service after they were released.” Sony may not be releasing its latest releases, but there are still some popular PS5 titles on PS Plus Extra and Premium, including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Returnal. However, with the exception of premium gaming, Sony says “every major publisher” is in the service and the conversations continue to go well.
“Whether it’s India, big games, or things that celebrate our heritage … all kinds of toys,” says Ryan. “We will have it all, and we hope a composition that will stand out from all kinds of frames.” Spider-Man Miles Morales is one of the big games that unites PS Plus Extra and Premium The Premium option is more special. And one of its great vines is the collection of retro toys. “Obviously, it’s not for everyone, which is why it is in the Premium category,” says Ryan. “But there are people like me who exist forever, who played these games and liked them 20 years ago. Or maybe they are people whose parents are excited about these games and want to try them for themselves. Once we can Share it composition with the world, we believe that there will be great interest in it “. The flow is also within the Premium stage. Again, like retro, it’s not for everyone, though Ryan expects it to become a more substantial part of Sony’s business over time. Sony believes it has done a good job with the PS5 so far. In addition to the construction challenges, it has a console that has been well received, especially the controller. Its exclusive games, despite some delays, are performing well, including the latest releases of Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7. The only thing that is undoubtedly missing is its services and that is what is designed to deal with this new PS offer Plus. However, even if it does not immediately attract new customers, there is an existing audience of 48 million PS Plus subscribers who need to be persuaded to upgrade, including those in countries where PS Now has never been an option. “This is a rounding off of our offer,” explains Ryan. “With platforms, rarely does one thing make a platform really attractive. It’s a combination of many things. And having a really strong service proposition definitely helps. “Clearly, within our existing audience base we have the opportunity to attract PlayStation owners who are not currently PlayStation Plus subscribers. The additional opportunity is the 48 million PlayStation Plus subscribers and make them exchange for Extra or Premium. And Work it ‘s probably made easier there by the fact that they are existing PlayStation Plus subscribers, so we have an extremely close relationship with them on many levels. “ “I do not think we will see [games subscriptions] go to the levels we see with Spotify and Netflix ” The subscription business model in video games is evolving. The Xbox announced in January that it had more than 25 million subscribers to the Game Pass, and that number continues to grow. What is not so clear is the absolute potential of all this … could it possibly become the dominant model in games like this with music and television? Ryan is not convinced. “The subscription has definitely increased significantly in recent years,” he concludes. “The number of our PlayStation Plus subscribers has grown from zero in 2010 to 48 million now. And we expect, for our services, that we will see a further increase in the number of subscribers. “But the medium of the game is so different from music and linear entertainment that I do not think we will see it reach the levels we see with Spotify and Netflix. “Some of the live service [games] which are proving to be very successful these days, and I’m not limiting this comment to the console, are essentially subscription services in themselves. And they are very tailored to the needs of the player who loves any game with which they spend hours and hours, month to month to month. This phenomenon of live gaming … which, to a very large extent, fueled the huge growth in the gaming industry that we have seen over the last ten years. I think this trend towards live services will continue and if you look for a model in our entertainment category that supports long-term commitment, live service games will undoubtedly fit better on this account than a subscription service. “But it’s all a matter of choice. There are obviously many millions of people who are happy to sign up for PlayStation Plus. “Fornite or Call of Duty or FIFA, and to be constantly engaged in this way, is okay, too. No one has to do anything.”