Sony Online Entertainment Introduces Universal Subscription Fee

[Gahars]

From WoW to ESO and the DnDs, subscription fees are anything but the bees knees. SOE is no stranger to these, but they're putting the traditional model on freeze.

Oh jeez.

Dear SOE Gamers,

Thank you for your feedback regarding our membership benefits. The result has led to a brand-new offering that we’re excited to bring to our valued players.

On or about April 29th, we will be rolling out a simple, new All Access membership plan full of value. In the new All Access plan, members will be able to:
·Claim 500 Station Cash monthly from within the game marketplaces.
·Receive a 10% discount on marketplace purchases.
·Gain access to exclusive promotions and offers throughout the year.

And we’ve gone a step further…

We will be upgrading all existing individual game memberships to the new All Access plan, which will include the top-tier membership level in all eligible SOE games (EverQuest, EverQuest II, DC Universe Online PC, PlanetSide 2 PC, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, and the upcoming EverQuest Next, Landmark and H1Z1) for one, low monthly rate of $14.99 (with extra savings for 3, 6 and 12 month plans). We’re also finalizing membership benefits to Dragon’s Prophet and will share these new updates as available.

SOE Forums
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To summarize: $14.99 gets you access to all of the games above. You do not have to pay individually. An EverQuester could hop right in to DC Universe Online, and vice versa, without any extra charge.

I'm pretty against subscription fees for individual games, but this is actually a pretty cool move. Whereas I might not want to pay monthly for a single game, I could see myself maybe paying for a service that offers a wide variety of games. Plus, this encourages people to branch out and try their other titles.

Say what you will about SOE's past, they know how to please.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Huh, this is pretty cool. I like it.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

You know what would be neat, for people who have PlayStation Plus, if that also went for their music unlimited and/or movie thing. It'd be a neat way to cash in on the market that Amazon/Hulu/Netflix has, plus it would have games.

 

[FAST6191]

For a second there the capital Universal tricked me into thinking they had a film studio subscription.

More generally I had not seen anything on how multiple subscription games might have been pulling focus before. Also if this is that start of rolling release for big boy games then I am going to have to keep an eye on this.

 

[Ashtonx]

Huh ? They've already had it, for years, it was called station pass.. then again their games were subscription based back then.

 

[GameWinner]

You know what would be neat, for people who have PlayStation Plus, if that also went for their music unlimited and/or movie thing. It'd be a neat way to cash in on the market that Amazon/Hulu/Netflix has, plus it would have games.

Yes please. A year of Plus should grant me music unlimited too.

 

[Hells Malice]

Very nice. They were going to jack the price up to $20 for this idea but due to fan backlash, the price is now more reasonable (in fact I think it stayed the same as it currently is per game?). I might even grab a membership since I do play a couple SoE games from time to time.
I didn't know they were the ones hosting Dragon's Prophet...not an AMAZING MMO by any means, but dragons. A membership might make it bearable to play a F2P.

 

[Bladexdsl]

meanwhile everything is FREE on the PC

 

[Gahars]

meanwhile everything is FREE on the PC

You do realize that all of these games are on PC, right?

 

[BORTZ]

You do realize that all of these games are on PC, right?

Shhhh let him have his moment

What about PSNow? Is that included? If i get PS+, Music/Movies, and PSNow im all in. Heck i would pay 20.

 

[rdurbin]

they have always had this but it was always more than the single game price. originally this was $30 a month, but didnt have the 500 sc benfiit, they later lowered it to 20 dollar. now its 15 and basically replaces the single sub, since its now the same as a single game price. but the value of this has gone down quite a bit as soe has been canceling games lately.

 

[chartube12]

If only it included FF11, I would give that game a try...

EDIT: just realized it only includes the pc version of DC online. Hmmm maybe they'll up the price to ps plus per month to 20 and then included console games online all exe in plus.

EDIT2: Did you read the faq? EU or UK players are not included in this. North America only it seems.

EDIT3: Hmm Sony confirms if you have a lifetime membership to DC Online then you have "lifetime" All exe until they cancel DC online

 

[The_Hulkster]

Reboot Star Wars Galaxies, preferably vanilla, and you got yourself a deal, Sony!

 

[DaggerV]

Reboot Star Wars Galaxies, preferably vanilla, and you got yourself a deal, Sony!

Will you be my lover? I wasted so much time on SWG.

 

[SS4]

They are also 'sunseting' a whole bunch of games

 

[Ericthegreat]

No WoW + no FFXIV = poop, only possibly everquest next can save them.