EA has stirred up a storm with its recent EA Access announcement. While there was some initial debate, the subscription service is now definitely exclusive to Microsoft after Sony confirmed rejecting the proposal. Whether this was the best move for the gamers is still unclear, though some are already expressing their dismay with the company.
Speaking to Gameinformer via email, a Sony representative stated that it doesn’t represent good value for the customer, instead citing that subscription numbers for PS+ are up 200% since the PlayStation 4’s launch. According to the source, these numbers show that PlayStation owners are looking for a multitude of services under one banner, for one price.
“We don’t think asking our fans to pay an additional $5 a month for this EA-specific program represents good value to the PlayStation gamer,” they concluded.
The decision has effectively divided the PlayStation camp, with many fans expressing their hate towards EA in general, and others scolding Sony for making decisions for them. While they vary in aggression and content, a lot do come back to the gist that Sony should have let the consumer decide – pro-choice is all what Sony was about with the PlayStation Camera, after all.
From Game Informer:
“Well that’s funny, last I checked, the PS Now prices weren’t very good values either…”
“Sony why don’t you let the consumer decide if it’s good value?”
“I should think they are avoiding any potential competition for their Playstation Now program, no? There has been much ballyhoo about the PS Now pricing structure, and EA coming in with a flat-rate service like this would just make that pricing look that much worse.”“I don’t know it just seems lame of Sony to not want more options for their customers even if for some reason they are not enough value. The customers should decided that.”
“I am happy about this, as I don’t trust this EA subscription service at all. Let’s not forget that EA basically invented the “online pass” with madden by telling us “It’s just for online play, it won’t affect single player” and within a couple of years we were getting entire story arcs gated by online passes (e.g. Kingdoms of Amalur). I could see this service evolving in much the same way.”
(In response) “Why would you be happy they made the choice for you. You could just not pay the $30 if it didn’t appeal to you.”“This is the sound of desperation from Sony. They’re going to have a hard time convincing shareholders that the Gaikai purchase was a solid investment, when it is now obvious that they could have had publishers pick up all the costs for a similar service on a case-by-case basis.”
“In a strange twist, they bring this program to ps2.”
“They’re about to launch PS Now, and they already require PS+ for multiplayer. There’s no way they’re letting a third subscription service onto their platform. It would be suicide.”
“In other words, they don’t need competition for PS+. Which I have no problem with, but that’s what it boils down to.”
From N4G
“Really disappointed in Sony about this. The new slogan should be “For the players, when it suits us”.”
“What about giving people the option to decide for themselves?”
“Thank you Sony :) This Access thing is bullsh*t”
“If it’s successful then this could really get stupid, we’ll end up with subscription services from Ubisoft, Activision etc. I can live with a platform specific subscription, but developer specific subscriptions is going too far.”
“Worst damage control ever”“Ironically this may knock EA out of #1 publisher status because there won’t be a need to buy their games.”
“Yes. Because value to the PlayStation gamer means $5 for 4 hours as opposed to $5 for 30 days.”
From Twitter
“And yet again Sony says fu** you customers we can’t afford the EA Access program so fu**in play those indies”
“Hahahaha. Why couldn’t Sony just let ppl choose”
“Wow, Sony, you screwed up on EA Access. It isn’t a “good value to the PlayStation gamer”?!? YES IT IS. Did you hit your head or something?”
“Apparently the Xbox fanboys didn’t read what EA Access is trying to sell you, then again I’d be grasping at straws to if I was them”
“So Sony made the decision not to give gamers the choice to decide if EA Access was a good value. Dumb”
“@PlaystationEU ea access is good value!You’ve annoyed a lot of customers about this. How stupid can you be?”
“don’t get how people think EA Access isn’t good value. Sounds good to me…not quite gaming netflix but a nice start”
“@PlayStation its a shame that you guys turned down the ea access subscription. I find that it is worth the money and would’ve totally bought”
What do you think about Sony’s bold move to turn down EA Access for the PlayStation 4? Is it a welcome stand against paid services, or an ill-conceived rejection of a great gaming deal? Let us know in the comments below.