Over half of PlayStation 4 owners subscribe to PlayStation Plus

Over half of the world that picked up a PlayStation 4 in 2013 have signed up for PlayStation Plus.


From Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai in a fiscal year conference call transcript by Seeking Alpha (via Polygon):

"All the 4.2 million PS4s that have already moved into the hands of consumers, more than half of the people that have now gotten their hands [on] the PS4 have actually signed up for PS Plus service, which bodes very well for us," said Hirai in a conference call to discuss the earnings for the third quarter of Sony's 2014 fiscal year, according to a transcript from Seeking Alpha.

This could be misleading. Polygon brings up a good point that nothing confirms whether these subscribers just signed up for the 30-day free trial or have spent money on a month, 3-month, or 1-year subscription.

The good thing for Sony is like similar free trials, the subscription won't just go away. If the subscriber doesn't cancel the free trial before the 30 day are up, it will roll over to a $17.99 3-month sub. More than likely, lots of these subs will roll over.

Still, this is a good sign for the service. The $50 per year rate nearly pays itself in a month (nearly doubles it worth this month alone in free games). Every PS owner should have the subscription, and a higher attachment rate will give subs even more benefits.

Image credit: Flickr

Sony CEO: PlayStation 4 "Appeals to Video Gamers"

Microsoft can showcase their new console as an all-in-one entertainment box, but that's not where Sony is modeling the PlayStation 4.

Kazuo Hirai, the company's CEO, said during the D11 conference on Thursday that the PlayStation 4 is made for the gamers first.

"The most important thing we need to make sure we do at least initially is that we all agree and understand that the PS4 is a great video game console that appeals to video gamers," Hirai said at the D11 conference Thursday, according to AllThingsD's Ina Fried. "If we miss that part than I don't think we get the initial establishment of the console."

The PS4, set to come out this fall, will have non-game applications, Hirai added. But the company won't highlight those at launch, Hirai said.

Needless to say, don't expect too many more apps that what the PlayStation 3 is already doing right now. Obviously, the standard video-on-demand services like Netflix and Hulu will be there along with sports subscription services like MLB.TV and NFL Sunday Ticket. But the whole aspect of watching cable or satellite TV through the PlayStation 4 will not be happening.

It's an approach that Sony will need to take and bet with as the next generation of consoles are released. The PS3 has been a niche and despite some great exclusive content on the system, it's not grabbing the attention of gamers that are connected to their Call of Duty or sports buddies on the Xbox 360.

Perhaps Sony can attract those that are opposed to the direction that Microsoft is taking. This is a good first step in doing so.

[Source: CNET]

[Photo source: Flickr/Colony of Gamers]