The primary difference between the two is business related. Microsoft is using their familiar system where only people with Xbox Live Gold can access online gaming and online services like Netflix, etc. Whereas Sony announced that you don’t need PlayStation Plus to play all games online. The PlayStation Network also allows anyone to use online services like streaming applications for free. Although, Sony has taken a page from Microsoft and is now requiring you be a PlayStation Plus subscriber to access online multiplayer for most games.
For a very long time, Microsoft’s Xbox Live business strategy has worked. You can’t argue with success. If this wasn’t true, Sony would have stuck with a completely free PlayStation Network and never have introduced the PlayStation Plus subscription model. You could also argue that the Xbox Live business model next-gen is getting better because it offers more content such as the option to integrate television, a more reliable network, smart match technology, and a reputation system to keep gamers in check. However, PS Plus fans would argue that it’s not free, and without paying a subscription fee, you’re left with a barebones service. So here we see a definitive split between fans and a line drawn between personal preferences. Xbox Live seems to be aimed towards people who are planning on using their console as an entertainment hub. Not as many of the extra features are actually as game-based as we would have liked.
As for price, Xbox Live is $60 for one year, and PlayStation Plus is $50. This is only a $10 a year difference, but if you think about how long you’ll be using your console… it could be up to 7-10 years. So PlayStation Plus obviously wins on this front. But then we come to value-for-money. Is the extra $10 worth it for Xbox Live?
PlayStation Plus is about gaming
Everyone who buys a games console wants to play games… it’s a games console. Not everyone who buys a games console wants to talk to their friends, watch sports, etc. So Microsoft is busy targeting what could be considered a minority with their approach (customers who will be a $500 games console to just watch TV). Whereas PlayStation Plus is much more likely to appeal to everyone who owns a PS4. This doesn’t give Sony the advantage in sales though, because lots of people will still be able to enjoy games without PS Plus. Remember, you can still play Free-to-Play games online, access streaming services like Netflix and enjoy most of the popular functionality of the PlayStation Network. That’s very appealing to a lot of people. It’s also a statement to gamers that Sony values your investment in the PlayStation 4 and wants you to be able to enjoy most of what the console has to offer. PlayStation Plus is just added value on top of established value. This isn’t the case with Xbox Live though. Follow this link and you can get PlayStation Plus as low as $17.99.
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