Playstation Plus vs. Xbox Live: A Personal Opinion
By Jon McSwain
Something that has been debated numerous times is whether the Playstation Network or Xbox Live was a better online experience. I had always been on the Xbox Live side and until recently never thought the Playstation could catch up. Could I have been more wrong?
Xbox has always had the best network, the best social experience and the most members. If you had written this article a year ago, you would have been correct. However, Microsoft has missed the mark. Its fixation on social experience and the living room media center has clouded its judgement on the gaming community. In fact, each day the disparity between the two companies widens — just look at the console sales numbers if you don’t believe me.
When I purchased the Xbox One, I couldn’t have been more excited. I love the Xbox 360 and couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into Microsoft’s newest gaming console. Things began to change as I started comparing the two new systems. I am not upset about the specs on each system. I know they are different, and that many people have weighed in on the pros and cons of each. My gripe is with the paid subscriptions with each console. Paying for the Xbox Live and Playstation Plus is not a concern; I understand that it is necessary to help keep them updated and functional. However, that is where the similarities end and the troublesome facts begin.
Both Sony and Microsoft offer multiple apps, social experiences, Avatars and much more, but a glaring absence from Microsoft is the free games for the Xbox One. Why are “Games with Gold” only good with the 360? If you are marketing a new product, wouldn’t logic lend you some thoughts into supporting the new console? Since none of the 360 games work on the Xbox One, I don’t play the old console nearly as often and quite frankly, I want to play the new one. Sony, I applaud you. I wasn’t pleased with what you did with the PS3, but just let me tell you, I couldn’t be more impressed with the experiences I have had with the PS4. Let me go a step further; not only have I had the pleasure of enjoying the simplicity of the Playstation, but by offering the free games it has broadened the value of the PS4. Not to be taken from Xbox Live; its reliability and unsurpassed party and chat system is still much ahead of the PSN, but even still, for me, the value really is left with how much I can play games on my system.
Xbox, HELLO, are you paying attention? Think about that — multiple games to enjoy on the PS4, and I haven’t spent a penny. By doing this, it has given me such a great opportunity to enjoy so many games, and for that, I am thankful. Xbox, stop concerning yourself with other things at the expense of your target audience.
Lest you remember, we gamers are the reason you ever had a system that was relevant or competitive. We bought the consoles, we bought the games, we loved Xbox Live, and it is starting to feel like you aren’t interested in us anymore. It is as if you have outgrown us. Let me remind you, if you lose the gamers that made you what you are, no amount of pleading will bring us back.
I implore you to remember where you came from. Remember the days when you cared about the gamers and desired to give them the best content. I haven’t lost all faith, but it is wavering. Do the right thing Microsoft, and bring back your beloved gamers.
The views expressed in this article explicitly belong to the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of, nor should be attributed to, GameSided as an organization.