I subscribe to PSN+ for the discounts, cloud storage, and automatic updates. The games are a bonus.

That's only true for the PS. On the Xbox you get to keep the games regardless of whether you keep the sub.

As for the subject itself, I don't see game subs as different from Netflix, book libraries, etc. Some people (especially those who are the biggest content consumers) can save a lot of money by going with subs. For games, unlike other media, there are cases where a game can be played for a very very long time (due to multiplayer or mods), and in those cases a sub doesn't make sense.

In any case, subs don't signal the end of purchased games any more than other rental services spell the end of sales for those kind of products. Sure rentals can have an effect on sales, but it's not that marked.

I didn't mean consoles as they are. Physical media is still the best way to go, but it's obvious what the console companies want to do, at least Sony and Microsoft. Microsoft obviously wanted to be steam when they rolled out the Xbox One with all its asinine policies. Sony's playstation now is their way of banking big time on streaming games, which is what those companies would love to have as the main form of game distribution. They are pushing everybody to the "cloud" too, like giving people a 500 gb harddrive and requiring game installation, when the games are easily around 50 gb a piece on the new consoles. I've always been a console guy, I'm not knocking them and I'm definitely not knocking physical media, but I think it's obvious where those companies want to go.

My mistake, I don't own anything but the original Xbox (in the Xbox line of products) so I was going with what I saw on wikipedia. Are you sure this isn't only for either the 360 or the Xbox One? It appears that they differ slightly in how they're handling this.

Either way, the selection of games on PS Plus is vastly superior to what Xbox throws out there.

Hmm.. I can only speak for Ps Plus. I had a month offered with my copy of Soul Sacrifice, so I've well read and learned the principle. Wow.. Every month new games to add to one's library, just a minute to start a download and cancel it, making them all available as the subscription is running.. I think nothing can actually beat that, in terms of actual library renting system.

Still, for myself, I like a definitive access to my purchases, but tempted sometimes to take the jump and get a 32 / 64 gb memory card for my Vita and live with that.. Just tempted, still getting PSN offers and retails now and then. I guess it's a question of generation too, as I'm 30+ minding my eventual wife / kid(s) and actual family members to benefit my good old library too, all sound reasons preventing me to embrace that all digital era considered as a renting.

The coming Playstation Now may change many things, Ps1/2/3 streamed for Ps3/4 and Vita if I get it right..

As an idea, I'm not against a subscription based game rental services. In fact I'd prefer that, instead of the current DRM-models where the service providers like to pretend as if you "buy" a game from them, but in reality you may lose access to it just because the service provider decides so, or ceases the service. Take for example how many Steam users still seem to believe that Gabe will personally turn all Steam games fully DRM-free, in case Steam would ever stop working ("Gabe promised so! Yes he did! My friend told me!"). It seems they consider it an impossibility that they'd ever lose access to the content they've bought from a DRM-service.

With a "rental service", there is no such double-faced business. It is clear to the service users from the very beginning that they have only limited-time access to the content that can and will be revoked at some point by the service provider/publisher. None of this "surely they'll make the content fully available if they ever shut the doors" BS and wishful thinking like in e.g. Steam et al. Netflix users don't live in a fantasy land thinking they are buying movies from the service to keep, and will have an unlimited access to them also afterwards. Netflix is not pretending that either.


I personally probably wouldn't use a subscription based service, as I tend to play my games slowly and for a long time. It may be a better deal to someone who likes to jump between games all the time and loses interest to them fast, never replaying them either.

That's also the reason I'm not buying e.g. a Spotify subscription, I just don't think I'd listen to enough music to make it worth it. Same actually goes to Netflix, I don't even think I'd have enough time to watch that many TV series and movies through it. They are better services to those who consume TV series and music much more and much wider than me.

Also please keep in mind that the only reason any of these new business models come is because the publishers feel they will make more money that way, ie. people on the average are more willing to use more money on their gaming habit. They are not providing new service models because they'd feel it is a better deal to their customers, and that their customers can play more for less money. Quite on the contrary.

While paying to play online is borderline extortion, that was not the reason that I paid for Xbox Live Gold originally. I used to pay for Xbox Live Gold in order to use their apps such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and Xfinity. Fortunately, they recently made it so that you don't have to have Gold in order to use apps that you are also paying to have access to (what a genius concept, no?). Now, I just snag a discounted 30-day code every once in a while when the freebie offerings through Games with Gold are worth the investment. Since the freebies on the 360 are mine to keep, I find it to be worth the occasional effort.

PS+ does offer discounts on most of your PS store purchases, but I don't really buy as much on PS3 since the 360 is my main console of choice. While the free games on PS+ are usually better (or, at the least, newer) than what Xbox offers, the fact that they are tied to your subscription makes it much less attractive to me.

That's only true for the Xbox 360. On the Xbox One you don't keep your games if you decide to cancel your subscription.

Thanks for the correction. Another reason not to upgrade.