Who Pays to Play Online? You Do
- January 5th, 2011
- Posted in Articles . News
- By nineinchnailed
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Many gamers buy games as much for the multiplayer content as they do the single-player content, and adding a multiplayer mode is a great way of extending a game’s longevity well beyond the point that most single-player games get boring. Although there are new methods of generating income from multiplayer gaming (forcing buyers of second hand games to buy ‘Online Passes’ for example), most online gaming is “free” once you have purchased the game (on PS3 and PC at least).
Online gaming not really free however, as the servers used for these games have an upkeep cost of their own and ultimately this has to be paid for by someone. If gamers are willing to pay to play online (e.g. MMOs like DC Universe Online) then that resolves the problem, for as long as people are playing, people are paying. If gamers aren’t willing or able to pay then ultimately the publisher will have to fork out and eventually recover this cost as part of the price of the game. The downside to this, as EA are clearly experiencing, is that once a game’s been out long enough and monthly sales drop below a certain threshold, it will become unprofitable to keep the multiplayer active. As a result, there comes a cut-off point when the servers need to go, and that cut off point is rapidly approaching for several EA games, as seen below:
Feb 8, 2011 Online Service Shutdown
FIFA 08 for PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii
FIFA 09 for PC, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
FIFA Street 3 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
EA SPORTS™ Fight Night Round 3 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Madden 09 for PlayStation Portable (all regions), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Madden 10 for PlayStation Portable (all regions), PlayStation 2 and Wii
NBA LIVE 08 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NBA LIVE 09 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii
NCAA® Basketball 08 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NCAA® Basketball 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NCAA® Football 08 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NCAA® Football 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NCAA® Football 10 for PlayStation 2
NFL Head Coach 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NHL® 08 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
NHL® 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
UEFA EURO 2008™ for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
2010 FIFA World Cup™ for PlayStation Portable and Wii
2010 FIFA World Cup™ Demo for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
What’s the answer then? Well there are several solutions:
- Make gamers pay a premium to play online (e.g. Xbox Live) but channel a substantial amount of this revenue to game publishers/developers of online games.
- Make gamers pay to play online for each game individually, either as a one-off fee or a recurring subscription.
- Continue the existing model and just turn off servers once they become unprofitable to run.
- Keep online ‘free’ for new retail purchases but force buyers of used games to pay for an ‘Online Pass’.
- Sell ‘Offline Only’ versions of games and sell multiplayer components as DLC.
The one common thread that runs through each of these solutions is that ultimately the gamer will be paying to play online, whether as part of the initial product cost or separately later. The real question is whether gamers want publishers to keep servers online for as long as there is demand for the game. Clearly, there will be people still playing Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 but their chance of any online gaming ends on February 8th, nicely forcing any fair-weather online gamers to move up to the next Tiger Woods game in the series. Is that a better solution than asking people to pay extra if they want to play online?
Whichever way the industry turns there are clearly changes on the horizon, and gamers need to make sure their voices are heard when the big decisions are being made. Will Activision eventually start charging for multiplayer gaming? If not, is the alternative to eventually turn off the Modern Warfare 2 servers to force people to pay for the next game in the series? With the DLC re-releases of older maps, this process is already half-way through.
Although blogs, petitions and forums are great ways to voice your opinion, sadly the only way many gamers will get their voice heard is by voting with their wallets. Don’t agree with how a publisher is handling online multiplayer? Then don’t buy their games. Just as importantly, if there are developers willing to take an approach that suits you, then support them by buying their games or services. The choice is yours and in the end that’s how this matter will be decided.
What do you think? Where would you like to see the industry go with online multiplayer gaming?
Truth be told, servers die. Yes it is sad, but for sports games they come out every year. They are not going to keep servers open for every sports game to come out the console war.
I still remember when Monster Hunter’s servers where cut. That was bad, due to the fact that there was no other game to get for that one. But a sports game you just go get the newest installment.
I agree with the dude above, I’m an avid sports game player along with all the other genres but I have no sympathy for the sports game complainers. THEY COME OUT EVERY YEAR GO BUY THE NEW ONE AND QUIT YER DAGGUM CRYIN
Great article and very topical…
Where will gems like Demon’s Souls be in 3 to 5 years? It’s obvious there are going to be shifts in gaming trends..
Cheers
DJ
I’m a bit concerned about Demon’s Souls to be honest – the servers are currently scheduled to be shut down within a few months. It’s one of my favourite games but it wouldn’t be quite the same without the other players. Fingers crossed they give the servers another time extension!