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Sony says it’s not worried about a recent dip in PS Plus and active users

Game Filter

Neo Member
I own several consoles. Never have I or will I pay to be able to play multiplayer. It's a scam and if everyone boycotted it, these companies would change their tune. Remember - we vote with our wallets.
 

Great Hair

Banned
104m is not a strong number,
The Rock What GIF
yosemite sam what GIF by Looney Tunes
Dragon Ball What GIF by TOEI Animation UK
 

Concern

Member
I don't quite get how you can sell so many consoles and see such a drop in subs and software sales. Also a huge drop in active users. So people are buying the ps5 not subbing or buying games and also not playing the console?

Like wtf?

Scalpers would be my guess
 

Umbasaborne

Banned
Scalpers would be my guess
Hopefully sony might then do something about it.


i also think that part of the problem is a lack of exciting upcoming releases this year. With horizon, god of war, and gt7 all pushed to next year. There just frankly isnt a ton of upcoming stuff to get adopters playing a lot again, especially if they own multiple systems or a pc. For me personally, if i had horizon 2 this year my ps5 would get alot more use than it would with two slightly enhanced ports it has coming.
 
I don't quite get how you can sell so many consoles and see such a drop in subs and software sales. Also a huge drop in active users. So people are buying the ps5 not subbing or buying games and also not playing the console?

Like wtf?

People going back to work can have an influence in those numbers. If I was stuck in isolation for a month I would have a ton of extra time to play games. Once I go back to work my gaming time would take a pretty big hit.
 

Sleepwalker

Gold Member
That’s a fucking ridiculous way to gauge player engagement with a console. I’m guessing that close to 25% of PS5 owners haven’t played the game, at least played enough to gain a trophy.

Had mine on launch day, never launched astrobot. deleted it a while back, just no interest in it.



As for PS plus, mine expired like 3 months ago I think, there's currently nothing for me to play online until after FIFA is out so no point in subbing back right away, Ill sub back in october.
 
Rumours point to them pushing multiplayer games, this is why, but if these multiplayer games are not any good, it will be wasted money, thats why they should focus on what they are good at, single player exclusives, which will bring in new players to playstation, leave the multiplayer stuff to third party.
 

A.Romero

Member
Well honestly, when was the last big game out that needed it?

This is a good approach.

I don't think it has that much to do with COVID restrictions and everything to do with what it is for.

Other than FFVIIR I can't remember other games that wanted me to run and fire up my console (PS4). Game releases have been kind of slow even more so games with a heavy MP component.

I've had a plus active sub since it exists but I don't really play online on my PS, I do it mostly because of the "free" games which I seldom play. I have thought about not renewing it this year.

Still, I wouldn't say it's concerning. Sony is still with the classic model: the more consoles the better. Microsoft is the one putting all their money on subs.
 

Concern

Member
Hopefully sony might then do something about it.


i also think that part of the problem is a lack of exciting upcoming releases this year. With horizon, god of war, and gt7 all pushed to next year. There just frankly isnt a ton of upcoming stuff to get adopters playing a lot again, especially if they own multiple systems or a pc. For me personally, if i had horizon 2 this year my ps5 would get alot more use than it would with two slightly enhanced ports it has coming.


Its probably both. I got my invite through the ps app to buy a Ps5 but no longer have fomo witho gow 2 confirmed on ps4. I can easily wait on a slim or pro for now.... unless I get a good deal or something before.

Scalpers definitely ain't buying memberships for all their consoles, so i think its a possible reason too.
 

ZehDon

Member
When you're outselling your direct competition 2:1, why should you worry? :messenger_sunglasses:

Because Sony makes a pittance on the hardware. PS Plus and MAU is where they make their profits and offset the miniscule hardware margins. If PS Plus or MAU numbers drop, regardless of how many consoles they've sold, PlayStation profits drop. If you're a shareholder for Sony, you want those MAU numbers the same or increasing - going down is a bad result... hence why this is a specific question and a specific article.
 
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Javthusiast

Banned
Mine expired in june. Too busy playing game pass and the plethora of ps4 games I have bought on sales. Plus recent ps plus games line up not being interesting enough to drop another yearly sub on it.
 
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Bryank75

Banned
I cancelled all 4 of my household PS subscriptions a few weeks back........ mostly because of the PC ports, price hikes and to a lesser extent the fact that they have no reinvested much in PlayStation or acquired many studios with strong IP's.

I also have no bought Returnal and I am avoiding buying any new games. I bought Guilty Gear physical, so as little went to Sony as possible.

I will be like this until things turn around.

I would advise anyone that is unhappy with the PC ports to cancel any PS subs and not buy new games on the store too.
 

Ezekiel_

Banned
I own several consoles. Never have I or will I pay to be able to play multiplayer. It's a scam and if everyone boycotted it, these companies would change their tune. Remember - we vote with our wallets.

PlayStation Plus is much more than a subscription to just be able to play online.

It additionally gives you :
  • Monthly games (2 PS4 and 1 PS5)
  • Exclusive discounts
  • Exclusive game content
  • 100GB cloud storage
  • Share Play
  • The PlayStation Plus Collection (PS5)
  • Game Help (PS5)
I very rarely play online and still think it's a great value proposition (I have a PS5 and never had a PS4 though).
 

Ezekiel_

Banned
I cancelled all 4 of my household PS subscriptions a few weeks back........ mostly because of the PC ports, price hikes and to a lesser extent the fact that they have no reinvested much in PlayStation or acquired many studios with strong IP's.

I also have no bought Returnal and I am avoiding buying any new games. I bought Guilty Gear physical, so as little went to Sony as possible.

I will be like this until things turn around.

I would advise anyone that is unhappy with the PC ports to cancel any PS subs and not buy new games on the store too.

I really don't get why someone would be mad that they are porting games to PC.

What does it do to you ?

Currently, they're looking at porting PS4 games that have been out for a while. What impact does that have for you ?
 

Topher

Gold Member
I cancelled all 4 of my household PS subscriptions a few weeks back........ mostly because of the PC ports, price hikes and to a lesser extent the fact that they have no reinvested much in PlayStation or acquired many studios with strong IP's.

I also have no bought Returnal and I am avoiding buying any new games. I bought Guilty Gear physical, so as little went to Sony as possible.

I will be like this until things turn around.

I would advise anyone that is unhappy with the PC ports to cancel any PS subs and not buy new games on the store too.

A port to PC hurts you that bad?
 
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MrS

Banned
PlayStation Plus is much more than a subscription to just be able to play online.

It additionally gives you :
  • Monthly games (2 PS4 and 1 PS5)
  • Exclusive discounts
  • Exclusive game content
  • 100GB cloud storage
  • Share Play
  • The PlayStation Plus Collection (PS5)
  • Game Help (PS5)
I very rarely play online and still think it's a great value proposition (I have a PS5 and never had a PS4 though).
Terrible justification for a bad service that has long outlived its use. The games are trash.
 

Tschumi

Member
reminds me i keep forgetting to deactivate my sub to that

why?

because i don't give a shit about free games and haven't played multiplayer since i got the thing... and i already bought all the games i wanted with + sales, or just on sale
 

Kagey K

Banned
I don't quite get how you can sell so many consoles and see such a drop in subs and software sales. Also a huge drop in active users. So people are buying the ps5 not subbing or buying games and also not playing the console?

Like wtf?
People buying the PS5 right now are likely to be the more active PS4 players, so subs just carry over, meanwhile casual PS4 players are dropping off.
 

Bryank75

Banned
A port to PC hurts you that bad?

Ezekiel_ Ezekiel_ It hurts the potential of the platform.

PlayStations biggest strength is their exclusive content and the fact that it is only on PS consoles creates a type of scarcity..... and in economics scarcity increases value.

By putting their games in more places, it lowers the value and makes them less special. Nintendo understands this concept thoroughly and after decades everyone has been conditioned to KNOW that you HAVE to buy a Nintendo console to play Mario or Zelda or Smash Bros or Metroid etc....... they have been rewarded for conditioning their customers with massive sales of their exclusive software...exceeding 40 million in many cases.

Now Sony have NO CHANCE to hit those types of numbers. They have no patience, no understanding and no real ambition for the brand. Just a scurry for short term pennies.

I bought a Switch when I wanted to play BOTW, why can't people accept that they should buy a PlayStation to experience their exclusives?
 
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Ezekiel_

Banned
Terrible justification for a bad service that has long outlived its use. The games are trash.
For the price of 1 full priced PS4 game (yearly sub), you got this year :
  • Maneater
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  • Greedfall
  • Destruction AllStars
  • Control: Ultimate Edition
  • Concrete Genie
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Maquette
  • Remnant: From the Ashes
  • Farpoint
  • Days Gone
  • Oddworld: Soulstorm
  • Zombie Army 4: Dead War
  • Wreckfest
  • Stranded Deep
  • Battlefield 5
  • Operation: Tango
  • Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
  • Star Wars: Squadrons
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  • WWE 2K Battlegrounds
  • Hunter's Arena: Legends
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
  • Tennis World Tour 2
With 4 other months to go...

If there's not even 2-3 games that interest you in that list, then sure I guess PS+ isn't for you.
 

Shmunter

Member
Ezekiel_ Ezekiel_ It hurts the potential of the platform.

PlayStations biggest strength is their exclusive content and the fact that it is only on PS consoles creates a type of scarcity..... and in economics scarcity increases value.

By putting their games in more places, it lowers the value and makes them less special. Nintendo understands this concept thoroughly and after decades everyone has been conditioned to KNOW that you HAVE to buy a Nintendo console to play Mario or Zelda or Smash Bros or Metroid etc....... they have been rewarded for conditioning their customers with massive sales of their exclusive software...exceeding 40 million in many cases.

Now Sony have NO CHANCE to hit those types of numbers. They have no patience, no understanding and no real ambition for the brand. Just a scurry for short term pennies.

I bought a Switch when I wanted to play BOTW, why can't people accept that they should buy a PlayStation to experience their exclusives?
It’s true, even though I couldn’t give a crap personally. We will all give a crap however if ps starts faltering due to poor direction.
 

kingfey

Banned
Q1 usually shows a dip, no?
Lockdown is done, and people are going outside. Games should expect to sell lower this year.

A whole bunch of those Switch owners apparently needed a relaxing island getaway -- Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 31 million copies last year.Feb 1, 2021

Nintendo sold 10.6 million copies of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe last year. Look out! Mario has a feather! Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an unstoppable sales juggernaut.May 6, 2021

That is what the lockdown contributed to.

As people getting their jobs open, and other activates opening up, expect to see less spending on gaming. Both Xbox and PlayStation suffered losses from it already. Not only gaming, even movies entertainment are getting hit too.
 

kingfey

Banned
For the price of 1 full priced PS4 game (yearly sub), you got this year :
  • Maneater
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  • Greedfall
  • Destruction AllStars
  • Control: Ultimate Edition
  • Concrete Genie
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Maquette
  • Remnant: From the Ashes
  • Farpoint
  • Days Gone
  • Oddworld: Soulstorm
  • Zombie Army 4: Dead War
  • Wreckfest
  • Stranded Deep
  • Battlefield 5
  • Operation: Tango
  • Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
  • Star Wars: Squadrons
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  • WWE 2K Battlegrounds
  • Hunter's Arena: Legends
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
  • Tennis World Tour 2
With 4 other months to go...

If there's not even 2-3 games that interest you in that list, then sure I guess PS+ isn't for you.
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Maquette
  • Remnant: From the Ashes
  • Farpoint
  • Days Gone
  • Oddworld: Soulstorm
  • Zombie Army 4: Dead War
  • Wreckfest
  • Stranded Deep
  • Battlefield 5
  • Operation: Tango
  • Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
  • Star Wars: Squadrons
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  • WWE 2K Battlegrounds
  • Hunter's Arena: Legends
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
  • Tennis World Tour 2
These are my current Ps+ games. I came to the party late.
 

MrS

Banned
For the price of 1 full priced PS4 game (yearly sub), you got this year :
  • Maneater TRASH
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider TRASH
  • Greedfall TRASH
  • Destruction AllStars FUCKING DOGSHIT
  • Control: Ultimate Edition GOOD BUT ALREADY PLAYED
  • Concrete Genie TRASH
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake BETRAYAL
  • Maquette TRASH
  • Remnant: From the Ashes GOOD BUT ALREADY PLAYED
  • Farpoint DONT HAVE VR HEADSET
  • Days Gone GOOD BUT ALREADY PLAYED
  • Oddworld: Soulstorm TRASH
  • Zombie Army 4: Dead War GOOD BUT ALREADY PLAYED AND TRADED IN
  • Wreckfest GOOD BUT ALREADY OWNED
  • Stranded Deep TRASH
  • Battlefield 5 OLD ALREADY OWNED
  • Operation: Tango TRASH
  • Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown TRASH
  • Star Wars: Squadrons EA TRASH
  • A Plague Tale: Innocence ALREADY PLAYED
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 OLD, ALREADY PLAYED
  • WWE 2K Battlegrounds TRASH
  • Hunter's Arena: Legends TRASH
  • Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville TRASH
  • Tennis World Tour 2 TRASH
With 4 other months to go...

If there's not even 2-3 games that interest you in that list, then sure I guess PS+ isn't for you.
It's a shit service. If you removed its requirement for playing online games, 50% fewer people would sub.

Gamepass gets Hades this month. PS+ needs something of that calibre or it can get fucked.
 
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Ezekiel_

Banned
Ezekiel_ Ezekiel_ It hurts the potential of the platform.

PlayStations biggest strength is their exclusive content and the fact that it is only on PS consoles creates a type of scarcity..... and in economics scarcity increases value.

By putting their games in more places, it lowers the value and makes them less special. Nintendo understands this concept thoroughly and after decades everyone has been conditioned to KNOW that you HAVE to buy a Nintendo console to play Mario or Zelda or Smash Bros or Metroid etc....... they have been rewarded for conditioning their customers with massive sales of their exclusive software...exceeding 40 million in many cases.

Now Sony have NO CHANCE to hit those types of numbers. They have no patience, no understanding and no real ambition for the brand. Just a scurry for short term pennies.

I bought a Switch when I wanted to play BOTW, why can't people accept that they should buy a PlayStation to experience their exclusives?

As long as they don't release day and date, I don't think it will affect their console ecosystem. They are basically selling their games to die hard PC gamers who wouldn't get a PS console just for the exclusives.

Once an exclusive game as been on the PS Store for a while and sells are diminishing, it just makes sense to bring it to another market, like PCs.

I only play on one console (PS5). I will never get an Xbox or build a gaming PC to play Microsoft's games, but you can be damn sure that if Gears of war 5 released on PS5, I would give it a go. I see it the same way.

As for the comparison with the Switch, we are comparing apples to oranges. Switch is a handheld, which targets a different market than the PS5 or Xbox. Furthermore, Nintendo's games target younger players. If you have a 10 year old, and they want a gaming device, you are much more likely to get them a Switch than a PS console or Xbox. The games on that system are much more "kid" oriented. The massive sales that we are seeing for the Switch are driven in part, in my opinion, by parents buying a gaming console for their kids, nieces, etc. The same applies for their software. « Little Timmy wants the new Mario game, will get it for his birthday », etc. The fact that few games release on the Switch is also a factor. You are much more likely to get the 3-4 exclusive full-priced Nintendo games for that system because of the lack of a vast library to choose from. It's quite different when you compare it to the PC space, PlayStation and Microsoft. They have to compete for their consumers money with a lot more games on their stores.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Edit : Another fundamental difference is that Nintendo makes money out of selling their console (cheap hardware with a big price tag), versus Sony and Microsoft make their bulk of profit out of software sales and services (hardware sold at BOM or slightly less). It makes sense for them to want to sell games on PC. If Nintendo sold games on PC or elsewhere, it would be the end of their business model, although I could see them releasing really old Nintendo games to other platforms. I guess they can always just remaster them and resell them on Nintendo consoles though lol.
 
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kingfey

Banned
It's a shit service. If you removed its requirement for playing online games, 50% fewer people would sub.

Gamepass gets Hades this month. PS+ needs something of that calibre or it can get fucked.
different is gamepass is 1 year. And these games are forever on your ps+, if you claim them. While I like gamepass, i like PS+ way of giving out games. Epic store is the best in this case though. GTA5 PC, Most Arkham games, And all good Ubisoft games for free without a sub.
 

Fake

Member
A port to PC hurts you that bad?

I hate to admit, but he got a point. People used to pay PS Plus for playing multiplat games while playing exclusives on Playstation.

Some exclusives are going to PC, and PC have both free online and PS/Xbox games. Not saying everybody will run from Playstation, but maybe this explain the drop on Playstation Plus.
PC are becoming affordables. I watched Days Gone PC port and don't require so much of the machine to play. Death Stranding is another great PC port.
Dualsense works on both PC and PS5, but not on PS4. You don't even need a Dualshock 4/Dualsense to play Playstation games on PC.

I don't remember the last time I get PS Plus.
 
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Kerotan

Member
They should merge PS+ and PS Now asap
Why. I love ps plus but want nothing to do with ps now. If anything they'll require FTP games to need ps plus. Other alternatives are offering bigger games with the service or releasing more Multiplayer titles that require plus.
 

Kerotan

Member
I hate to admit, but he got a point. People used to pay PS Plus for playing multiplat games while playing exclusives on Playstation.

Some exclusives are going to PC, and PC have both free online and PS/Xbox games. Not saying everybody will run from Playstation, but maybe this explain the drop on Playstation Plus.
PC are becoming affordables. I watched Days Gone PC port and don't require so much of the machine to play. Death Stranding is another great PC port.
Dualsense works on both PC and PS5, but not on PS4. You don't even need a Dualshock 4/Dualsense to play Playstation games on PC.

I don't remember the last time I get PS Plus.
The only reason for this decline is covid restrictions easing. The only news here is plus is insanely high in sub count and will probably hit 50M within the next year.
 

Fake

Member
The only reason for this decline is covid restrictions easing. The only news here is plus is insanely high in sub count and will probably hit 50M within the next year.

How can covid restrictions affecting PS Plus? Don't even make sense.
 

lh032

I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
tbh, i personally think that the dip of PsPlus users is nothing to dow ith gamepass, due to gamepass is available outside of the xbox ecosystem, so logically gamepass has bigger market to capture, while PsPlus is constraint within its own ecosystem.
I mean, the PSPlus has been a bit stagnant around the 45 mil mark, i guess thats why Sony is going for PC market now.
 
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kingfey

Banned
How can covid restrictions affecting PS Plus? Don't even make sense.
People buy ps4. Sign up for 1 year ps+. Covid ends. They shelf of their ps4, and go with their lives. Switch sold 31m copies of animal crossing in 1 year alone, since it come out.

Nintendo wont see a sale like that, after the lockdown is done.
 
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tusharngf

Member
PlayStation Plus is much more than a subscription to just be able to play online.

It additionally gives you :
  • Monthly games (2 PS4 and 1 PS5)
  • Exclusive discounts
  • Exclusive game content
  • 100GB cloud storage
  • Share Play
  • The PlayStation Plus Collection (PS5)
  • Game Help (PS5)
I very rarely play online and still think it's a great value proposition (I have a PS5 and never had a PS4 though).
nice try JIM RYAN !!
 

Fake

Member
People buy ps4. Sign up for 1 year ps+. Covid ends. They shelf of their ps4, and go with their lives.

Are you nuts or something? This would affect active users, but not PS+ counts. Some of you act like Covid is over or rain/snow/holiday don't exist anymore. Are people now sleep outside their house?
 
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kingfey

Banned
Are you nuts or something? This would affect active users, but not PS+ counts. Some of you act like Covid is over or rain/snow/holiday don't exist anymore. Are people now sleep outside their house?
Do you keep your Netlfix sub all time? Or do you cancel when you are not watching it at all. Depending on your answer, You will understand why the PS+ is getting affected.
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
Maybe for the people who aren't aware of what you get from both already, and don't know that ps+ with ps now is 5$/month cheaper than game pass ultimate. They also need better marketing for ps now.
If you pay for plus and now for a full year up front, right? Because monthly aren't they $10 per month each? That would make them $5 more per month than game pass ultimate when actually paying monthly.
 

Dabaus

Banned
The decline in ps plus correlates to the pick up in ps now. I’m not saying that all of these new ps now subscribers, I believe 3.2 million up from 2 million something are all relapsed ps plus gamers, but I’m sure there’s cross over.
 
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kingfey

Banned
If you pay for plus and now for a full year up front, right? Because monthly aren't they $10 per month each? That would make them $5 more per month than game pass ultimate when actually paying monthly.
I use key sellers. I got both of them for 30$ each for 1 year, 60$ total. That is like 1 ps4 launch game.
 

//DEVIL//

Member
People buying ps5 + ps4 and still lower than expected sales for the online subs.

lol the fact that Sony made a statement like this means they are actually worried allot lol
 
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