Rumor has it that Microsoft plans to eliminate the requirement to pay to access online multiplayer with its upcoming Xbox hardware.
If this is indeed the case, Sony’s PS6 may be the only next-gen console that continues to charge for the privilege.
Of course, we won’t know for sure if this will happen until it happens, but it begs the question: will PlayStation fans be bothered? Will it make a difference?
Paying for online multiplayer games has long been a part of console gaming, and funnily enough, Xbox has been a leader in this regard.
When the Xbox 360 launched, gamers had to subscribe to Xbox Live to enjoy online gaming with friends. Meanwhile, on PS3, the burgeoning PlayStation Network and all of its online services were free – just as they were (and, of course, still are) on PC.
Of course, in the early days of PSN it felt glued together; After all, the PS3 was Sony’s first properly connected console, and it took some time for the technology to catch up to the expectations of contemporary gamers.
However, it was free, and despite being the victim of one of the most infamous security breaches of all time, Sony mostly got away with it.
However, Xbox Live premium wasn’t perfect – there were some crashes, not to mention the Xbox 360 hardware, which was notoriously unreliable, at least in earlier versions.
Either way, Sony hasn’t disappointed on PS4, adding online multiplayer to the benefits of its PS Plus subscription service.
It was a kick in the teeth for PlayStation users at the time, but it was a “like it” or “I’ll like it” situation. The competition was charging money to play online, so that seemed to be the way the industry was doing.
Eventually, Nintendo took an interest in this as well, and that’s where we are: all major console platforms now require consumers to pay for online multiplayer.
If this is true, it looks like Xbox plans to abandon this whole approach when a more open console/PC hybrid arrives in a few years or so.
This makes sense for a box that combines the Xbox and PC libraries. If your console has access to Steam, why the hell would you bother paying for an online game on the Xbox side when it’s available for free?
Our guess is that Microsoft may be making up for this loss of revenue by charging more for the hardware itself. Clearly, the PS6 could be a relative bargain when you compare the sticker prices of the consoles themselves.
However, according to Sony, restoring the online game to a free service makes slightly less sense. We can’t imagine how much money platform holders have made from people wanting to play Call of Duty online with their friends – why stop that revenue stream if PS6 will continue to be a walled-off platform compared to Xbox?
The only reason to follow Microsoft’s lead in this regard is to keep consumers elated. Of course, it won’t look great if the PS6 charges for online play while the competition doesn’t, regardless of the reason.
But again, if PS6 becomes a cheaper next-gen machine and remains a closed platform, Sony may see no reason to abandon online multiplayer with PS Plus Essential.
Things get more complicated when you consider that many of the most popular online games today are completely free to play. You don’t need a PS Plus subscription to play Fortnite, Apex Legends, Genshin Impact, Roblox, Marvel Rivals, Rocket League and so on.
So for many, the PS6 still charging for internet connection may not even be a problem.
Another thing to think about is what Other the benefits you will get by subscribing to PS Plus Essential online as you may find it worthwhile.
In addition to online multiplayer, PS Plus Essential provides access to:
- Cloud storage for game saves
- Exclusive content packs on certain games
- Exclusive discounts in the PS Store
- The often forgotten Share Play feature
- Several PS5/PS4 games per month
For some people, this last point is crucial, and although it is completely subjective, sentiment towards 2025 offers seems to be quite high. Key titles include Dragon Age: The Veilguard, RoboCop: Rogue City, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, Balatro, Diablo 4, Lies of P and Alan Wake 2.
When you take full advantage of PS Plus Essential, online multiplayer becomes easier.
Still, if Xbox drops this requirement, some people will want the same thing on PS6, plain and plain.
Online gaming on PC has always been free to play, and Xbox waiving the cost could put pressure on Sony to follow suit. Whether it fastens is another matter.
Nintendo will continue to take it straightforward, partly because Nintendo Switch Online is relatively economical, and partly because the company is famed for being impenetrable and following its own path. With PlayStation, everything is more up in the air.
But we want to know what you think. If Xbox abolishes its internet usage fee, how about Sony keeping it on PS6? Would this put you off the platform? Would you mind or even notice?
Take our survey and tell us what you think in the comments section below.
