Sony's new ps+ membership service has now officially launched in the Asian market (except Japan). The Hong Kong service we are most concerned about has announced the specific subscription price and upgrade scheme Sony, which has been hesitant for many years, has finally embraced the game subscription business.
(source: Sony official website)
It is reasonable to say that Sony has released a richer subscription scheme, giving users new choices, especially for those Suo Fen who envy Microsoft's XGP service, which is even a benefit.
However, when the new ps+ membership scheme was really put in front of the stage, it received overwhelming criticism, mainly because of a "small detail" in the scheme.
Lao Suo Fen was stabbed in the back by madness
Let's take a look at the specific scheme. Ps+ members are divided into three grades, namely "basic", "upgrade" and "advanced". The basic version is roughly the same as the old ps+ scheme. The main benefits are that you can get twoorthree free games every month, and the subscription price for a year is HK $308; The upgraded version can play 400 PS4 and ps5 games on the basis of the basic version, with a one-year subscription price of HK $515; On the basis of the rights and interests of the first two versions, the advanced version can play a large number of classic PS1, PS2 and PS3 games, with a one-year subscription price of HK $599.
(Figure source Sony official website)
It can be said that the price and rights of the new ps+ membership scheme are more in line with everyone's expectations. Although some people may think that it is not as cost-effective as the Microsoft camp. However, considering the exclusive game and other factors, new ps+ members may still have many audiences.
Then, when many Suofen were ready to happily buy new ps+ members, they suffered a blow. Specifically, the old ps+ users can upgrade to the new ps+ upgraded version or advanced version by adding money. In theory, this method will be recognized by players. After all, it is OK to make up the price difference.
But in actual operation, players found that Sony's upgrade plan was very confused. If the old ps+ members previously purchased by players enjoy a discount, the difference of the previous discount needs to be made up when upgrading to the new scheme. Moreover, the opening time of the upgraded new scheme members should be the same as that of the old members.
For example, if someone opened a three-year-old version of membership at a discount of HK $200 per year, there are still two years left. If he wants to upgrade to the new ps+ upgrade, he needs to add (515-200) *2+ (515-308) *2=1044 Hong Kong dollars. The new scheme is still two years, so there is no other choice. In extreme cases, some netizens have purchased ps+ members for 20 years before, and the 20-year discount will be supplemented for upgrading new members.
(source) Twitter@i31665960 ) The
After seeing this, you can probably understand the anger of Sony. Sony's attitude towards players who want to upgrade their members is simply to return all the previous discounts. I can write down every discount in my notebook.
After the comparison between the three imperial families, Suo Fen was even more injured
Sony's stingy operation this time deeply hurt Suo fan's heart. Compared with the Microsoft camp, Suo fan's mentality exploded. As we all know, XGP created by Microsoft should be regarded as the most thorough game subscription system among the three royal families. After paying, players can play a large number of 3A masterpieces, and Microsoft's first-party games will enter the XGP library as soon as they are released.
(source xbox Official website)
More importantly, Microsoft is crazy about throwing money on XGP, and even acquiesces in the players' wool collecting behavior. When a player purchases XGP, if there are any remaining Gold members in the account, Microsoft will directly convert them into XGP for free.
Under normal circumstances, the annual subscription price of XGP Hong Kong service is 949 Hong Kong dollars, but the annual subscription price of gold members is about 556 Hong Kong dollars. If the user buys an annuity member first and then XGP for one month (HK $10 in the first month), he can get 13 months of XGP members at the price of HK $566. Many wool cliques even go to overseas regions with low prices to buy gold members for several years, then transfer to other regions to buy XGP for one month, and finally get XGP members for several years at a very low price.
Normally, Microsoft certainly knows this vulnerability, but it still exists for a long time. That means it doesn't mind being poached, at least at this stage. In the face of Microsoft's wealth and generosity, Sony's haggling seems very small hearted.
It should be noted that Nintendo, one of the three royal families, has a special membership program. Compared with Microsoft's full adoption of subscription system and Sony's gradual move towards subscription system, Nintendo switch has not yet launched a substantive membership scheme. Simply put, for players, the main role of switch members is actually to go online and buy any loss certificates.
However, the price of switch members is also much cheaper than the other two. If it is a family year member, each person will share only 30 yuan. So, even if it doesn't have any rights, players won't have any complaints.
Is Sony's new membership worth opening
After complaining and roast, we still need to return to the rational decision - is the new ps+ worth opening or upgrading? As we have briefly introduced, the ps+ basic model is basically the same as the old model, and the main consideration is the upgraded version and advanced version. Compared with the basic version, the upgraded version has added many masterpieces, but they have been released for a period of time. For example, the big escort 2, duima, etc.
It is undeniable that these games are highly playable masterpieces. However, it should be noted that Sony is unlikely to put the newly released first-party masterpiece into the member game library like Microsoft.
Therefore, for loyal PS fans or old players, the new ps+ solution may not be so popular, mainly because they have played many new games. Opening new members now may just be the process of reliving old games.
On the contrary, ps+ members are more attractive to new players. For Xiaolei, he had never bought a Sony game console before the ps5. When he bought the ps5, he opened a one-year membership. The games presented by the new ps5 plus the monthly free meeting are basically enough for Xiaolei to play for a long time.
(Figure source Sony official website)
So, for a long time, Xiao Lei didn't buy any extra games. Now, if Xiaolei opens an upgraded or advanced version of a new ps+ member, he can experience a large number of classic games, and the cost is much lower than buying Games directly.
Therefore, from a more rational point of view, whether to open a new ps+ member or not depends on the needs of the players, which is closely related to the players' game experience, game preferences and other factors.
Of course, as soon as Sony's new ps+ solution was launched on the Asiatic service, it has attracted an avalanche of criticism. People can't imagine its feedback after it was launched on the Japanese service, European and North American markets. In this case, the possibility of Sony's subsequent policy adjustment under the pressure of player criticism is not ruled out. If you are not in a hurry, it is recommended to wait and see for a while.
Game console manufacturers should put down their arrogance
Game console has always been a very special industry. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have formed a relatively stable market pattern, basically blocking the possibility of outsiders' entry. At the same time, Nintendo's playing method is obviously different from the other two, and it is not in a competitive track. The competition between Sony and Microsoft is more tit for tat and more protracted.
In the competition between Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PS console, Sony has more exclusive advantages and stronger fans' stickiness. At present, the ps5 has sold more than 17 million units, about 5million units ahead of the new Microsoft Xbox Console. If the epidemic did not limit the production capacity, Sony would probably be able to produce a more beautiful report card.
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However, after Microsoft turned to subscription system in an all-round way, it is already changing its playing method. XGP is not limited to Xbox consoles, but also applicable to other windows PC. Even, Microsoft has made the game appear on the PC synchronously on the first day of listing, and monopoly will gradually become a strange word. Compared with the host sales, Microsoft should pay more attention to the number of subscribers to XGP.
Therefore, Microsoft will release water on XGP to allow players to collect wool to increase the number of subscribers. Sony has not yet firmly moved towards the subscription system, and still has profit expectations on the buyout system. The new ps+ scheme is more like a water test.
As an ordinary player, Xiao Lei can understand Sony's hesitation in market strategy and even accept its attitude of "I just want to make money". But the problem is that the new ps+ members require the old players to make up the difference for the previous discount, which is naked arrogance, overdrawing the trust of the loyal players, and does not conform to the normal business logic.
In fact, this arrogance is not the first time. The previous ban machine incident of the ps5 generation leading game and the increase of money for the next generation version of horizon upgrade all exposed the shortsightedness and arrogance of the business strategy.
However, no matter how loyal the user group is, it will also have a day when patience is exhausted. If players continue to be dissatisfied, they will vote with their feet. This ps+ upgrade storm has made a large number of cable fans ready to get out of the pit and jump