• Light/Dark

Why does Fortnite require Xbox Live Gold and not PS+?

Segafreak

Segafreak

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,756
Isn't it a free to play game, and will it be locked behind the Nintendo Online paywall soon? In the recent controversy regarding crossplay I haven't seen this issue tackled, yet I think it should to be a really big issue regarding consumer rights. F2P (free to play) games should not be locked behind a paywall, but they are on Xbox Live and possibly on Nintendo as well. What's your stance on this?
 
SuikerBrood

SuikerBrood

Member
Jan 21, 2018
15,517
We've had multiple topics about this already. I think paying for multiplayer is shit in any way. But I don't see why Fortnite players should be able to play online while Battlefield players should not.
Online is online.
 
Lady Lunalesca

Lady Lunalesca

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,111
It's embarrassing that they're fighting being pro consumer while at the same time doing this. It's also a reason why FFXIV won't come to the system either.
 

Deleted member 3190

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,214
I don't understand why the fact a game is f2p has any bearing on it whatsoever. Why should you need to pay $60 for a game and also pay to play online? The distinction by Sony is completely arbitrary.
 
Knight613

Knight613

Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,234
San Francisco
It's more anti-consumer than Sony not allowing cross play and limits their potential revenue from Fortnite players to only those with a Gold subscription.

But I mean, they're main reason for keeping it like that is because they like the money.
 

Deleted member 8196

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
9,859
We had this thread and was closed.

Short version: No one cares about the requirments and people are happy to pay XBL to play Fortnite on Xbox.
 
KtSlime

KtSlime

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,910
Tokyo
Why does any game that Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo do not run the servers of require PS+/Xbox Live/Nintendo Switch Online?
 

Deleted member 2254

user requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
21,467
Lady Lunalesca said:
It's embarrassing that they're fighting being pro consumer while at the same time doing this. It's also a reason why FFXIV won't come to the system either.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Citation needed. This was never related to that issue.

Back on the topic, there have been multiple threads about this, and it's still what it's always been: f2p games shouldn't have the hidden cost of multiplayer fee. I'd rather not have to pay for multiplayer regardless, of course, but it is what it is.
 

Zappy

Banned
Nov 2, 2017
3,738
Lady Lunalesca said:
It's embarrassing that they're fighting being pro consumer while at the same time doing this. It's also a reason why FFXIV won't come to the system either.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

They're not fighting being "pro consumer". They are simply open to cross play. Phil Spencer's very mantra is to end the vitriol and competition and to work together as a whole to make gaming better.
 

zoltan

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
167
because between two shitty policies Microsofts is shittier, and Sony is as always less consistent, but also it makes sense because if you need subscription game isn't free to play
 
Sony

Sony

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
565
Lady Lunalesca said:
It's embarrassing that they're fighting being pro consumer while at the same time doing this. It's also a reason why FFXIV won't come to the system either.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

At least the policy is consistent: lock every multiplayer behind paywall or none. I forsee that due to F2P games requiring no PS+, developers separate the SP aspect from the MP aspect, offer MP for free that requires no PS+ and have it be riddled with microtransactions.
 
bane833

bane833

Banned
Nov 3, 2017
4,530
Well the money for all of Microsofts great pro consumer initiatives has to come from somewhere.
 
Synth

Synth

Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,278
KtSlime said:
Why does any game that Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo do not run the servers of require PS+/Xbox Live/Nintendo Switch Online?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

This, basically. The f2p vs full-priced (or even budget priced) title makes little sense as a distinction for what amounts to the same service. It would make far more sense if games with dedicated servers host on XBL or PSN required an online subscription, as that's actually a part of the service that would require a cost to keep running.
 
Shmunter

Shmunter

Banned
May 28, 2018
377
Sony has taken free to play to mean exactly that. Microsoft charges for free to play multiplayer....err, yes it's counterintuitive.
 

Zappy

Banned
Nov 2, 2017
3,738
The issue is simple for me. You pay Xbox to play online. IF you accept that (and many don't) then I'm not convinced that one game should waive that fee over another. If I'm paying as a regular battlefield player to play the game online then why should a regular fortnite player not pay for the same service I am?

I get the whole F2P - hidden charge thing.

I think the bigger issue is ending the need to pay to play online and turning the XBL/PSN subs into something else. I mean, for example, paying to use certain online services such as larger parties or party voice chat or stuff where MS are actually providing servers and coding time to create. If I play BF on my own I'm not actually using an MS service at all.....
 
Bold One

Bold One

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
18,911
If Microsoft doesn't change its attitude, will you convert to the switch for next gen ?
 

weltalldx

Member
Feb 23, 2018
242
This is an excellent point that somehow conveniently went uncovered by the media. How does a game that requires Xbox Live Gold (sold separately) on one platform get to take the high ground when Sony offer it truly free?
 
SuikerBrood

SuikerBrood

Member
Jan 21, 2018
15,517
It is food for thought tho.. so a 'free to play' game filled with microtransactions, lootboxes, etc. that is played online shouldn't require the multiplayer fee, while a $60 game should? Only for the words 'free to play'?

Apart from the fact that the whole thing is shitty. You shouldn't be paying for online play. It's stupid.
 
saiko

saiko

Keeper of the White Materia
Member
Nov 4, 2017
1,657
Paying to play online at all is the bigger question here. The fact that people bought into the notion of using your own internet behind an additional paywall is pretty disheartening. Even Nintendo wants a piece of that pie now.
 
Igorth

Igorth

Member
Nov 13, 2017
1,310
As a recent Xbox owner this concerns me more tan crossplay to be honest (which I dont really care about, especialy if that means getting destroyed by PC players or opens the door to cheaters).
 
Lady Lunalesca

Lady Lunalesca

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,111
Styles said:
Is this for all f2p games on Xbox? Kinda surprised this was swept under the rug
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yes.

Honestly this isnt really much of a problem since no one seems to care about it much like cross play. I find what nintendo is about to do even worse. Gating all their free online game right now under a paywall. I don't think we've ever seen a company do this before.
 
Acquiescence

Acquiescence

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
10,257
Lake Titicaca
Bold One said:
If Microsoft doesn't change its attitude, will you convert to the switch for next gen ?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Jokes aside, this is a valid point.

Why is the lack of crossplay on PS4 such a hot topic right now, yet the fact that you have to pay to play f2p titles on Xbox Live doesn't stir nearly the same kind of controversy. Of the two, I know which would inconvenience me more.
 
Shauni

Shauni

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
5,728
Segafreak said:
Isn't it a free to play game, and will it be locked behind the Nintendo Online paywall soon? In the recent controversy regarding crossplay I haven't seen this issue tackled, yet I think it should to be a really big issue regarding consumer rights. F2P (free to play) games should not be locked behind a paywall, but they are on Xbox Live and possibly on Nintendo as well. What's your stance on this?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

To answer that second question, since no one else did, I think it was confirmed that on the Switch you would not need the online service to play Fortnite when it launches
 
Hamster Plugin

Hamster Plugin

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,852
binarymelon said:
I don't understand why the fact a game is f2p has any bearing on it whatsoever. Why should you need to pay $60 for a game and also pay to play online? The distinction by Sony is completely arbitrary.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The original point was probably to make F2P games have the smallest possible barrier to entry so players will be more likely to pay for microtransactions in these games.

Now that we have paid games full of bullshit microtransactions (thanks Activision) the distinction is indeed much more arbitrary. But that was the policy at PS4 launch and it will probably stay this way until PS5
 
bane833

bane833

Banned
Nov 3, 2017
4,530
Acquiescence said:
Jokes aside, this is a valid point.

Why is the lack of crossplay on PS4 such a hot topic right now, yet the fact that you have to pay to play f2p titles on Xbox Live doesn't stir nearly the same kind of controversy. Of the two, I know which would inconvenience me more.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Some people are desperate to shit on Sony and considering how dominant they are this gen the're grasping for every little straw.
 
Razgriz-Specter

Razgriz-Specter

Member
Oct 25, 2017
30,234
binarymelon said:
I don't understand why the fact a game is f2p has any bearing on it whatsoever. Why should you need to pay $60 for a game and also pay to play online? The distinction by Sony is completely arbitrary.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
1. F2P is commonly early access which Sony often doesn't want to charge on.
2. F2P is extremely high in MTX Sony figures they'll make money from that.
3. F2P games often don't have a large audience so it hurts it by requiring it.
4. Sometimes F2P has BS like that Fuel system in Ace Combat Infinity that literally controlled how many matches you could play without buying fuel with actual money.

Better to just avoid it all together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.