Earlier this week, Sony announced that the upcoming PS4 racing game DriveClub would have a very terrible upgrade plan: PlayStation Plus members would be able to get a demo of the game for free, then upgrade for $US50 — $US10 cheaper than retail — but the whole game would disappear as soon as their PS Plus membership expired.
Unsurprisingly, fans reacted poorly — why would anyone want to pay $US50 for a game that only lasts as long as you keep paying a membership fee? — and took to Twitter and message boards to share their distaste for Sony’s decision.
Good news. Today, Sony’s reversed course:
UPDATE: Our priority for DRIVECLUB is to enable you to play and enjoy everything it has to offer and PlayStation recognises that the prior plan for DRIVECLUB entitlement for the upgrade to the PS Plus edition was not appropriate. As a result, we have adjusted the PlayStation Plus terms for DRIVECLUB.
Now, If you intend on downloading DRIVECLUB PlayStation Plus Edition, and upgrading to the full game experience, you will have access to the full game even if your PlayStation Plus subscription runs out.
Good work, internet. Here’s yet more proof that voicing feedback online and sending your thoughts to big corporations really does work — so don’t ever stop.
Comments
13 responses to “Sony Reverses Plans For Stupid PS4 ‘Upgrade’”
Its good that companies are starting to take feedback so seriously. Sony in particular have been doing a good job listening to their customers, now just get the media capabilities of the PS4 sorted please.
I just hope they listen to the right things.
They need to make sure they apply some good judgment when reconsidering policies. If they listen to everything fans say people will become even more entitled; like giving a spoiled child everything they want.
And really, the whole interaction with companies and developers is only in it’s infancy in the gaming community, so I use the child metaphor almost literally.
For example if they’d listen to people about the media and customisation of PS4 then that would be a great move. If they always listen to consumer opinions on pricing decisions it could end up being a very bad thing.
While we’re on the ‘companies listening to feedback’ bandwagon – I’ll throw a vote in to allow gamertag and region changes. 😉
gamertag in particular!
Not something that really effected me but it seems like a win for consumers so I’m happy for those who will taking advantage of this upgrade option.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t DriveClub an online only game? Meaning that if you don’t have an active sub to ps+ you couldn’t play it anyway? Did I remember correctly?
That’s what I thought. Maybe the change makes no difference outside of easing peoples fear rather than the other route of explaining it makes no difference and hence having negativity circulating.
No, it’s not multiplayer only.
From an interview on gamingbolt.com:
Is there some fixed structure for the single player?
Yes there is, we have a championship mode that you can playthrough. It also has a good deal of gameplay so if you choose to play offline you won’t be disappointed.
Admittedly the interview does date to E3 2013 so it’s possible plans have changed, but it seems unlikely that they would remove the mode altogether.
Ever heard of World Of Warcraft, or Elder Scrolls Online. Not my thing, but plenty of people would.
Blizzard also needs to get with the program.
Different thing really. For an online MMO you pay for access and there are lots of extras added over time.
With this you stopped owning the game if you took a few months off paying for PS+. Take a few months off playing WoW and restart and everything is still there your not dropped down to level 1.
Nothing would drop to level one unless you delete all your saves. In which case that’s not really Sony’s fault.
Apparently you can play it offline, but it’s certainly not designed to be offline. There is a developer interview on it now