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PSN to Offer Retail Games Cheaper on Day One

Sony and several publishers heading into uncharted territory with digital sales.

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When a game is published at retail, there’s manufacturing and distribution costs that have resulted in the now-standard $59.99 price point. How come we’re still paying full price for those games in digital forms, then? The biggest reason is that nobody wants to cross retail partners, who are still important to the industry ecosystem.

Don't want to pay full price for Dishonored? Sony's got an offer you might want to consider.
Don't want to pay full price for Dishonored? Sony's got an offer you might want to consider.

Sony, alongside several major third-party publishers, are about to cross that line with the new “PSN Day 1 Digital” program. The new service will offer games like NBA 2K13 and Dishonored, alongside several others, for $53.99 on the same day they’re available at retail shops like Best Buy and GameStop for $59.99.

There are some catches, though.

One, you have to be a PlayStation Plus subscriber ($50 per year), and you have to pre-order the game. Within those two caveats, however, those games and more will be available cheaper via PSN.

The full list, as announced by Sony today, is below, including details on games that aren’t cheaper:

  • Resident Evil 6 (Available for download on October 2 - $59.99)
  • NBA 2K13 (Available for download on October 2 - $59.99/$53.99 for PLUS members, with pre-order)*
  • Dishonored (Available for download on October 9 - $59.99/$53.99 for PLUS members, with pre-order)*
  • DOOM 3: BFG Edition (Available for download on October 16 - $39.99/$35.99 for PLUS members, with pre-order)*
  • 007: Legends (Available for download on October 16 - $59.99)+
  • Medal Of Honor: Warfighter (Available for download on October 23 - $59.99)
  • Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Available for download on October 30 - $59.99/$53.99 for PLUS members, with pre-order)*
  • Assassin’s Creed III (Available for download on October 30 - $59.99)*

The asterisk means those games are available for pre-order. Resident Evil 6, for example, is not. The + means the 10% discount (in this case, 007: Legends for PS Plus members) is available for a week after launch.

Basically, there are a bunch of options for publishers who want to opt-in to this program.

This is a big moment for the relationship between platform holders, publishers, and retail. I’m curious to see how (if) retail responds. And it’s one more reason Sony’s making Xbox Live seem like a joke.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

195 Comments

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metalmoog

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Edited By metalmoog

@FoolishChaos said:

Good for sony. But as someone who mostly plays PC games now, 10% off a day 1 purchase seems like a pittance.

I agree. While it's definitely a step in the right direction, I feel the 10% off doesn't warrant a large enough savings and by Grabthar's Hammer I'll head to a retail store for a boxed version instead.

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cornbredx

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Edited By cornbredx

Doesn't seem all that worthwhile at the moment. Not that I don't already get digital versions at 60$ (which is even becoming a trend now with PC games unfortunately) but the "discount" seems pointless and is only on select games.

Eh, good start but we'll see where this goes.

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HeroicDrinkingSong

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@RuthLoose said:

I, for one, can't wait for Amazon's anti-Day 1 Digital counter-measure task force to assemble.

The thing is Amazon already sells games and codes for games digitally. They could easily hop on board this program. The ones who have to worry are brick and mortars like gamestop and best buy.

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NinjaTard

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Edited By NinjaTard

This is a bullshit step in the correct direction. $54 means I'm only saving $6 by not pre-ordering at Best Buy or Game Stop. Some games maybe that's OK but usually there are map packs, collectibles, etc. that are incentive to pre-order and $6 just isn't enough savings for me to go against the brick and mortar stores.

Plus I'm old school in that I still have a good time going to the retailer, looking around, interacting with others who share the passion for gaming....it's fun to go shopping!

I think the sweet spot for me would be $15-20 or more in savings. I'd give the finger to retailers if I was able to get Dishonored or Resident Evil for $40

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HadesTimes

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Edited By HadesTimes

This is great, I was just talking to my friends about how Sony is pushing the all digital future. And here they are doing even more. Perhaps a day one purchase of the Orbius(PS4) is not as crazy as I originally thought. Love ya Sony.

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herocide

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Edited By herocide

@boocreepyfootdoctor said:

Wow, instead of paying $28 at Walmart on Black Friday for every single one of those games, you can get a $54, never trade-able, non refundable glorified torrented copy!

Some of us don't live in the United States.

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fiberpay

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Edited By fiberpay

Not interested, I don't like the idea of digital downloads. When I buy something I want a physical copy, I'll stick with Amazon.

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Petiew

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Edited By Petiew
@SoyBob said:

This sounds neat and exciting; until they start charging £50 in the UK because that's what the RRP is over here. If you're paying £50 for a game, you're doing it wrong.

They're already doing that for the big releases. Borderlands, Fifa, Mass effect are all £49.99. I feel like i've seen ones that were even higher than that a month or two back.
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Vexxan

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Edited By Vexxan

At least PSN is evolving in a good way, Xbox Live is just ads and $100 Halo games(fuck yeah Sweden).

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phantomzxro

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Edited By phantomzxro

@washingmachine said:

Keep in mind the advantages Live has over PSN - party chat, a guide system which isn't always dog slow, and a fair amount of exclusive content. Just playing games with friends is way easier, too. From my experience these things are more important to people than paying standard retail price for digital games (something Live suffers from too of course).

I think you are overstretching the advantages of live. Party chat i will give you, it is a pretty cool feature and xbox own that perk (since no one else does this currently) . The guide system i would not really count as a perk because its really the only thing countering the slow standard interface that Xbox has now. Yes sure it is easier to play online with friends on xbox but not by much. You pay for an easier experience but many can have a comparable experience on PSN free of charge so it really down to taste and budget.

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deactivated-6510b42705eab

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I've already downloaded Borderlands 2 as an impulse buy so this sounds great.

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Ninja_Welshman

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Edited By Ninja_Welshman

Not sure what going in at Sony these days but since E3 they have been knocking it out the park!! Not sure if this is going to affect sale in any way but it's another feather in there cap. I've been a + subscriber for about a year and a half and am really happy with the service. Hope they can keep the momentum going into the next gen.

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Aeneas

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Edited By Aeneas

I don't know why you seem to be on a personal crusade against XBL. The negativity is dismaying.

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Sin4profit

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Edited By Sin4profit

@wafflestomp: what's worse is you're only saving about $2 since the annual $50 subscription is required and that's assuming you buy up to 12 games at launch within a year.

The illusion of a good deal is probably more a marketing strategy to get people on PS+

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EpicSteve

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Edited By EpicSteve

This just makes me more excited to see Sony's online plan for their next console.

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ExplodeMode

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Edited By ExplodeMode

Maybe I'm way off but, shouldn't they be at least that without plus? No cost for plastic cases, printing inserts and manuals, loading up trucks with gas and drivers, no middle-man retailer needing a cut to stay afloat. There is no way you are costing $10-20+ in bandwidth for your download to make up that difference.

I'm glad they are going in the right direction, but that space on consoles needs way more competition, because those prices seem like they can get a lot lower. They might be doing better than Nintendo and Microsoft in that space, but is that saying a lot?

You have to take baby steps I guess - the precedent is kind of exciting - I just think the price isn't at all.

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TheHBK

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Edited By TheHBK

This is the issue you run into now. This might be how they move forward into the next gen with digital distribution and pre orders. I for one would be very hesitant to do an online preorder because if real issues come up and a game disappoints you can't return that shit or cancel it when the game is released because we know some games have embargoes and this just increases the reason for companies to put those in place.

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washingmachine

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Edited By washingmachine

@phantomzxro said:

@washingmachine said:

Keep in mind the advantages Live has over PSN - party chat, a guide system which isn't always dog slow, and a fair amount of exclusive content. Just playing games with friends is way easier, too. From my experience these things are more important to people than paying standard retail price for digital games (something Live suffers from too of course).

I think you are overstretching the advantages of live. Party chat i will give you, it is a pretty cool feature and xbox own that perk (since no one else does this currently) . The guide system i would not really count as a perk because its really the only thing countering the slow standard interface that Xbox has now. Yes sure it is easier to play online with friends on xbox but not by much. You pay for an easier experience but many can have a comparable experience on PSN free of charge so it really down to taste and budget.

The guide stuff has its issues too but it's lightyears ahead of the XMB. Try comparing trophies and achievements and see what I mean. Though I do admit the pay-wall of Live is feeling less justified all the time. There's no doubt that PS+ is really great, too.

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Alphazero

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Edited By Alphazero

$6. With no resale upside. Woo?

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aleryn

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Edited By aleryn

GOOD! This could be the first step towards Consoles having sales at least similar to how Steam "clears out" digital back catalog. THIS is the sort of competition that Microsoft needs targeted at them. Combined with the free games of Playstation Plus this is pretty great.

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Etnos

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Edited By Etnos

Meanwhile MS is in Charted territory, charging you for services that are free everywhere else.

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Cusseta

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Edited By Cusseta

@fiberpay said:

Not interested, I don't like the idea of digital downloads. When I buy something I want a physical copy, I'll stick with Amazon.

This reminds me of those old geezers who still pay their bills by mail. They're not interested in the future cuz it's not the past.

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Thatoneguy64

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Edited By Thatoneguy64

@Etnos said:

Meanwhile MS is in Charted territory, charging you for services that are free everywhere else.

Kind of like how you have to be in PSN+ ($50/year) to get $6 off preorders of select games, when those kinds of deals can be found at retail and on PC digital distribution services quite frequently?

I mean, you could get a Borderlands 2 preorder for something like $36 on Green Man Gaming.

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Grillbar

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Edited By Grillbar

thank fucking god. im so sick and tired of looking at the psn store and seeing retail games for download cost 10% more then the physical disk. (yep that right i have complained so many times that i have to pay according to the current exchange rate $78 and $87 via psn, but at least im not paying $96 anymore)

@Krataur said:

Preordering a digital download? What madness is this?

nothing new. especially considering mmo's and more. though its really only a good thing IMO if you can download it right away but not play it until release. when talking about consoles it would be something like the full game as a demo and then the on release day download the 8k unlock key. you know that kind of setup

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shades846

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Edited By shades846

the only issue is that you can get most of the these games cheaper from Amazon on pre order on the day of release. It like with Nintendo and there download of new games on the 3ds with pricing them at £40 even though i can get them for 10 pounds or more less at Amazon.

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PatchMaster

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Edited By PatchMaster

Maybe we'll talk when it's $10 less with no pre-order or PSN+ needed. For now, meh.

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ExplodeMode

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Edited By ExplodeMode

@Thatoneguy64 said:

@Etnos said:

Meanwhile MS is in Charted territory, charging you for services that are free everywhere else.

Kind of like how you have to be in PSN+ ($50/year) to get $6 off preorders of select games, when those kinds of deals can be found at retail and on Steam quite frequently?

To be fair to plus, you get way more than that. And everything they add has a tangible monetary value. With live, the things they add are often just perceived values like access to a web browser or the ability to pay netflix money. Things that are actually restrictions painted as bonuses.

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Char12

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Edited By Char12

@Sin4profit: Except you are forgetting the dozens of free games they give out annually.

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C0V3RT

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Edited By C0V3RT

It seems like a step in the right direction, but not quite what I'm looking for when it comes to digital games. Encouraging to see Sony give this a go though.

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devilzrule27

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Edited By devilzrule27

Great first step, well second step if you include the discounts they do on Vita. Nice to see 3rd party publishers jump on board too.

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xpgamer7

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Edited By xpgamer7

I don't own, can not afford and will not pay for live. I probably can't afford Day one, but I like it.

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tourgen

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Edited By tourgen

I value digital-only games at around 25%-45% of the boxed copy, depending on the game. I know it's different for everyone but that's where I'm at. The same for a boxed copy that requires an online activation - Steam, etc.

I realize the time is coming when I won't be playing new games anymore. On the other hand I can get DRM-free games like FTL and Torchlight now. So the digital revolution is bringing some good along with the bad.

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glyn

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Edited By glyn

Anyone can reduce the price of something that is a rip-off and still remains too expensive

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Sin4profit

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Edited By Sin4profit

@Char12 said:

@Sin4profit: Except you are forgetting the dozens of free games they give out annually.

I'm not saying PS+ isn't a good deal for console gamers i'm just sayin this discounted system isn't a real reason to invest in PS+

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jayjonesjunior

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Edited By jayjonesjunior

i need a bigger harddrive

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artgarcrunkle

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Edited By artgarcrunkle

Lol.

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firecracker22

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Edited By firecracker22

I'm interested.

I think a bigger shave off the price, getting it to 49.99 for example, would make me take the jump on something like Dishonored. A game I'm very interested in, but from a team I'm unfamiliar with.

It's an interesting approach. I mean, it's nice to see something like this being attempted when I can look on XBL games on demand and find titles that are at a higher price for it brand new in retail stores.

And I think it makes sense to tie this into PS Plus. it's how they, and Microsoft, tie all of their discounts to the premium service they offer.

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tim_the_corsair

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Edited By tim_the_corsair

Interesting time for Sony to try this.

On the one hand it's the end of the generation, so why not dip a toe in and see what happens.

On the other hand, dipping your toe in and potentially pissing off the people you expect to stock and promote your upcoming console and games seems somewhat foolhardy.

I think the stuff they are doing with PS+ and PSN has been fantastic and I truly admire that they have evolved what was a frankly terrible service into something that has made me seriously consider buying a PS3 and possibly the next console as well...I just hope they aren't shooting themselves in the foot with this strategy.

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warrenEBB

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Edited By warrenEBB

if it was $30 for Dishonored I would be signing up for PS+ right now. As it is, I'll wait for slightly more savings (is Dishonored coming to Steam? Is it wrong to assume so, and that it will have better graphics? and be cheaper than $50).

Wish there was some other way to show I support Sony's move here and want them to keep going with it.

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KaneRobot

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Edited By KaneRobot

This is curious, but hardly the best deal for gamers, and hardly a knock against XBox Live. There are other reasons Sony's pay service is outshining XBL right now, but this isn't one of them.

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xyzygy

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Edited By xyzygy

I still would rather pay the full price for a hard copy.

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fiberpay

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Edited By fiberpay

@Cusseta said:

@fiberpay said:

Not interested, I don't like the idea of digital downloads. When I buy something I want a physical copy, I'll stick with Amazon.

This reminds me of those old geezers who still pay their bills by mail. They're not interested in the future cuz it's not the past.

Not at all. The past has nothing to do with it. It's that I don't want something I purchased on something that could get removed(company goes under), have problems when I want to download it(internet is not always the most reliable), or be hard to find if I need to re-download it. It's just easier and less potential hassle with the game sitting on my rack.

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Wacomole

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Edited By Wacomole

I really like PS+ and am glad I finally subscribed, but I'm not really seeing the plus side as a UK consumer.

A small discount on a (harddrive-hogging) digital download that also removes the "have-it-now Impulse buy convenience" by making you pre-order it is maybe not so tempting when you realise that you can pre-order an item on Amazon a couple of days before launch at a reduced price and still get the postman to drop it through your door on the day of release.

That being said, at least it might see an end to those ridiculous near-£60 ($95) digital versions of games that they've had on PSN... Right? Right? Yeah, right!

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Nation764

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Edited By Nation764

@Aeneas said:

I don't know why you seem to be on a personal crusade against XBL. The negativity is dismaying.

I agree with this totally. If he doesn't like it, don't use it. To call XBL a joke is one of the stupidest and most biased statements I've ever seen on this website, from a staff member. I think he's just butt-hurt that his new favorite game Mark of the Ninja didn't get all the hype he thought it deserved on day one of its release. Also his hipster indie games do not get the love he wants them to. Sorry Patrick, but Microsoft wants to make as much money as possible, and could give two shits about your opinion of their service. The guy is on an anti Microsoft soapbox right now, and its really apparent and pathetic.

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captain_clayman

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Edited By captain_clayman

Wow, Sony, I'm impressed! Keep this up through ps4! Some cheap launch titles would be a huge incentive.

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Slaegar

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Edited By Slaegar

I don't have a PS3 and I'm not likely going to get one, but if Sony keeps this up, its pretty obvious what console I'll pick up next gen. I think Microsoft understands this. They know most people would rather deal with the Xbox crap than fork out $250 for another system this late.

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RoyCampbell

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Edited By RoyCampbell

My god, you spoil me Sony. 
 
Wait, nah. I think I can shill the $7 extra; I'm pretty serious about my game cases. That and think about downloading a retail game.

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mrpandaman

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Edited By mrpandaman

@Nation764 said:

@Aeneas said:

I don't know why you seem to be on a personal crusade against XBL. The negativity is dismaying.

I agree with this totally. If he doesn't like it, don't use it. To call XBL a joke is one of the stupidest and most biased statements I've ever seen on this website, from a staff member. I think he's just butt-hurt that his new favorite game Mark of the Ninja didn't get all the hype he thought it deserved on day one of its release. Also his hipster indie games do not get the love he wants them to. Sorry Patrick, but Microsoft wants to make as much money as possible, and could give two shits about your opinion of their service. The guy is on an anti Microsoft soapbox right now, and its really apparent and pathetic.

uh... not at all.

He also said it's making it seem like a joke and it's not only Patrick who has said this. They, most of the GB crew, have voiced their opinion on the deteriorating value of XBL when compared to what PSN+ is now offering. You cannot deny that Sony is has been taking better steps into increasing the value of PSN+ and making membership worthwhile, while MS has been adding features that you can ostensibly get better or not hidden behind another paywall to access elsewhere.

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Boopie

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Edited By Boopie

Not sure how much if any value this has to me when I get $10 to $20 credit for pre-ordering the new games I actually want to get from Newegg or Amazon plus I never buy multiplatform on PS3 because of that joke called Xbox Live where my friends and I play and actually communicate...

I also don't see any value in PS+ otherwise I might have used something like this for the odd game like Sly 4.

PS: Everyone in the planet thinks exactly like me so it's important what I think

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RuthLoose

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Edited By RuthLoose

@HeroicDrinkingSong said:

@RuthLoose said:

I, for one, can't wait for Amazon's anti-Day 1 Digital counter-measure task force to assemble.

The thing is Amazon already sells games and codes for games digitally. They could easily hop on board this program. The ones who have to worry are brick and mortars like gamestop and best buy.

That may be true of their PC Digital Offerings, but I have yet to see Amazon selling PS Vita or PSN Downloads. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but for the time this looks like it will still affect Amazon's retail bottom line. I can't wait to see them offer lots of credit and gift cards in retaliation. The customer sometimes wins during the growing pains of an evolving industry.