Soul Calibur V Review – A new beginning for some new souls
 
 
Star Wars: The Old Republic – Hitting level cap for the first time in an MMO
 
 
AMY Review: Herp meets mega Derp in this survival horror
 
 

Chat it up cross-game on the PS3, but it’ll cost you

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

PlaystationNetworkHeader

Rumors have been blazing around the Internet today regarding whether the Sony PlayStation 3 will get cross-game chat features in 2010. The main detraction from PSN’s potential jump to cross-game chat is the idea that it may require a premium service, which adds a monthly fee.

MMOMFG contributing editor Bo Shubinsky covered this news today at his site PS3Node, a quality site for PS3 news and reviews. Shubinsky stated, “Sony has confirmed that cross-game chat support will be coming soon to a PS3 near you but hasn’t set a date yet. The problem is that it seems the option will only be available to people who pay for the upcoming service in 2010. According to an excerpt from the Official Playstation Magazine: “Aside from the 3D goodness, cross-game party chat is the obvious “next big feature,” even though it might be restricted to paid [PSN] subscribers.”

How do you feel regarding paying for a feature that has been around for years on Xbox Live? The fact that users have been paying for services like cross-game chat through their XBL memberships, do you feel premium PSN services with a cost are justified? Obviously developing this technology for the PS3 required time and money, but is adding a premium service so late in the game the way to go or is this a feature that should have been instituted years ago? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

While you’re at it, give PS3Node and Bo a visit if you’re in the need for PlayStation 3 information, as he has a B.S. in PS.

submit to reddit

Got a news tip? Send it to press@mmomfg.com and we'll shower you with love!

Click name for more posts from the author

  • Ggg

    Should've been done a year ago at least! Should be free!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/DustinBlackwell DustinMMOMFG

    I agree that it should be free, since it is one of the PS3's selling points. Pretty certain if it took this long to make, just give it away to the fans.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ScarrKillsPoseurs Steve Mitchell

    If it's gonna cost money to do anything online at all, Sony's gonna lose a lot of potential customers as well as people who already own a PS3, I know I'll get rid of mine. Because if Sony starts pulling the same greedy crap micro$oft does, they'll be no better than $hitbox. It would be the worst mistake Sony could make (besides letting so many games go to the world's worst console ever, like Metal Gear Rising & DMC4). But I guess this is what happens when the majority of people aren't smart enough (READ: 360 owners) to know what they should get for free and then are even more stupid for praising the company that rips them off on a daily basis.

    • The Ps3 Guy

      okay firts of to pay online will still be free…the premium content service is to get discounts on the ps store as well as an aray of freebies….just wait, psn premium service will blow yur minds with all the content your going to receive

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/DustinBlackwell DustinMMOMFG

        I'd just like to see some of the premium content. If it is worth the money, then I'd bite and pay the fee; however, if it is just similar to what the 360 has, I won't be that impressed. I find it less fun to play online with friends on the PS3 right now, so I typically get my multiplayer titles on the 360. I hate to say I favor it for multiplayer games, but I do.

  • dave

    lol. who gives a toss about cross game chat…if its free ill use it…if its not then i wont. no big deal. and to people who say they would sell the ps3 if it was a premium service – wtf?? surely its the games that are important not an addon.

    it costs money to run servers and provide all this online stuff so ive got no problem with sony charging for premium content. they need to make money same as anyone else. just aslong as they keep the basic psn theyre providing now free. ie demo's, addons etc.

  • Alex

    Well….. as long as I dont have to pay to play games online as needed for XBL, I wouldn't care…. I can just use skype. I wouln't pay a fee for XGC? One of the main selling points for a ps3 is it's free online gaming network?!?!?

  • Hiryosuke

    If sony"s gonna charge for services I dont care as long as its not for the online. If they start charging for online they'd be shootin therself in the foot because( and I am a ps3 fan I hatte 360 no console should have a 30% failure rate EVER) their online just honestly doesnt stack up. The major thing 360 has over ps3 is the ability to log into and track achievements(trophies on ps3) on MULTIPLE accounts. Thats my only issue. I love multiplayer and I'd like to be able to play with my bro and earn my own trophies and he earn his alongside me. The fans have screamed for that forever but to no avail and if they decide to add that as a premium pay service they'll lose A large portion of their fanbase.

  • Steve

    I don't think cross game voice chat is all that special a feature. As has been said, if it's free I will use it, if it's chargable I won't use it, simple as that really. I really hope Sony also has a universal custom soundtracks system in mind for their subscription service. I would defiantely pay for this feature as I think it's one of the best features on the Xbox 360.

  • http://www.facebook.com/remiclement Remi Clement

    i think sony should make there ps network service the same as xbox live but without the charge for online services if they do this xbox360 live will loose as no one likes yo pay but they prefer xbox live to ps network as dashboard 3.0 on xbox live re invented the xbox360. why cant sony do the same and re invent the ps3 bar or just get rid of the media bar and start from scratch as it looks too much like the psp a big console should have better menues.