Xbox users have highlighted a big issue with modern console gaming, and it’s a problem that PC gamers don’t face.
Both the Microsoft console and PlayStation have a massive userbase, but a large part of console gaming’s infrastructure is driven by subscriptions to services like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
While many people probably buy into these services for the free games that come and go every single month, the online multiplayer is also a huge part driving these new subscriptions.
If you’d like to play games such as Battlefield 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and ARC Raiders online, you need a subscription to one of these on your platform of choice, otherwise you can only play offline.
Players have taken an issue with this, with many believing that it’s an antiquated practice on the part of Microsoft and Sony. Having to pay for online multiplayer is a thing that’s existed on consoles since the 2000s, but online gaming on PC has always been free.
“On top of every game coming out being 60+ dollars, you gotta pay additional 10 dollars a month just to play online,” complains one user online. “I remember 3 years ago when Xbox game pass was 10 dollars FOR ULTIMATE And now it’s tripled? It’s actually insane to me the greed this company has gone to.
“And it jumping to 30 dollars a month for game pass ultimate because of Fortnite is the most ridiculous thing. GENUINELY WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT FORTNITE ULTIMATE? Not enough for me to be paying 30 dollars a month.
I know this is a dumb post and most of you are like join the club. But come on 10 dollars to just play online? 120 dollars a year? And for those who say ‘it comes with games’ the 10 dollars version comes with Among Us.”
It’s a fair complaint, really. If you buy Battlefield 6 for $70, you can’t really do much with it offline besides play the campaign.
But paying $10 per month to access online multiplayer means the cost of enjoying the game goes up rather exponentially. Within seven months, you’ve paid as much as the game just to access the online multiplayer.
You don’t have to pay for online multiplayer if you’re playing free games like Fortnite or Apex Legends, but it’s still a problem for gamers who like to play paid multiplayer games.
“I‘m noticing that I don’t have enough time for gaming to justify paying a monthly subscription,” reads another comment.
“I will probably not get the next Xbox because of that. I hope the Steam Machine will be a good couch+tv experience and I will switch to it.”
Indeed, it’ll be interesting to see if Steam Machine can provide a suitable alternative to console gaming. It’s still a PC experience first and foremost, but should be accessible enough to tempt gamers who have become less interested in Xbox or PlayStation in recent years.
