4 ms·

> You can have subscriptions to non-Sony services, and Sony doesn't see a dime Hmmm -- not to stretch the analogy too thin, but is this similar to Apple though

> You can have subscriptions to non-Sony services, and Sony doesn't see a dime Hmmm -- not to stretch the analogy too thin, but is this similar to Apple though, where they allow you to sign in to subscription services (e.g. Netflix) with your existing account to the service, but don't allow sign ups (which would trigger payment processing)? Or is payment processing baked in there as well? > For PlayStation you pay the Sony tax for the convenience of integrating with their payment services, not because they'll ban you for using anything else. To clarify, has any developer integrated external payment services within a Playstation game / app / etc? From all the games and apps I've played with, I never remember any other payment system built in other than Sony's. > It's also a super different situation in general; for example, Sony actually often pays developers to develop for their store ... Blackberry did the same thing near the end of it's life -- I was at a hackathon where they were giving away Blackberries and cash to anyone who developed a Blackberry app -- but does not giving back really reflect as monopolistic?

reissbaker 6y ago
> but is this similar to Apple though, where they allow you to sign in to subscription services (e.g. Netflix) with your existing account to the service, but don't allow sign ups (which would trigger payment processing)? Or is payment processing baked in there as well? Actually, looking now, I think you're right. It looks like Spotify disabled setting up subscriptions on PS4. I guess PS4 subscriptions are a small enough chunk of revenue for Spotify it didn't really matter to them. I guess the real point is that PS4 just isn't a large enough chunk of these kinds of services' market share by revenue to matter; they don't need signups, since not many people primarily use Spotify via PlayStation.
- kingosticks 6y ago
  Last time I used the PS4 Spotify app was a couple of years ago but you were stuck on the lowest quality settings. And you could tell. I think it's only available on there so they can say it is.
muststopmyths 6y ago
My information is about 6 years old, but I am pretty sure both Xbox and PS4 disallowed external payment services. Which is why I found Microsoft's bitching about the app store hilarious. They have been taking giant pieces of the action in Xbox for 20 years and tried to do the same in their sorry excuse for a Windows Store. I'd like to see them allow Stadia on the Xbox. I actually agree with not allowing external payment processors on these (and mobile) platforms, especially for games where the audience is frequently naive kids. Don't agree with the platform taking a huge cut of every transaction though. Maybe take a smaller cut and the billionaires can stop squabbling.
- JohnBooty 6y ago
  I don't love the closed nature of the Apple App Store when it comes to content. Don't agree with the platform taking a huge cut of every transaction though Is it really a "huge" cut? Putting aside the ethics of Apple's content stranglehold for the moment, the economic side of things seems like a very nice deal -- 30% is not bad compared to various distribution deals (for physical and virtual goods) of which I have some slight familiarity. Are there distribution platforms that allow you to get your app/product/etc to that many people without taking a cut? I'm kind of fed up with Apple for a variety of reasons, but this doesn't seem like one of the problems to me.
  - muststopmyths 6y ago
    I meant "every transaction", as in in-app purchases beyond the initial 30% cut on the purchase price. So distribution deals for physical goods are not analogous, right ? Like Best Buy doesn't get a cut if I pay netflix to watch it on the TV I bought from them.
    - JiNCMG 6y ago
      If BestBuy made a deal to get their customers to sign up for Netflix then yes. You are BestBuy's customer and Netflix is getting access to you. If you sign up for a Target card, they get an initial cut and then monthly percentage based on your usage. A bank is managing that card not Target.

reissbaker 6y ago

> but is this similar to Apple though, where they allow you to sign in to subscription services (e.g. Netflix) with your existing account to the service, but don't allow sign ups (which would trigger payment processing)? Or is payment processing baked in there as well? Actually, looking now, I think you're right. It looks like Spotify disabled setting up subscriptions on PS4. I guess PS4 subscriptions are a small enough chunk of revenue for Spotify it didn't really matter to them. I guess the real point is that PS4 just isn't a large enough chunk of these kinds of services' market share by revenue to matter; they don't need signups, since not many people primarily use Spotify via PlayStation.

kingosticks 6y ago
Last time I used the PS4 Spotify app was a couple of years ago but you were stuck on the lowest quality settings. And you could tell. I think it's only available on there so they can say it is.

muststopmyths 6y ago

My information is about 6 years old, but I am pretty sure both Xbox and PS4 disallowed external payment services. Which is why I found Microsoft's bitching about the app store hilarious. They have been taking giant pieces of the action in Xbox for 20 years and tried to do the same in their sorry excuse for a Windows Store. I'd like to see them allow Stadia on the Xbox. I actually agree with not allowing external payment processors on these (and mobile) platforms, especially for games where the audience is frequently naive kids. Don't agree with the platform taking a huge cut of every transaction though. Maybe take a smaller cut and the billionaires can stop squabbling.

JohnBooty 6y ago
I don't love the closed nature of the Apple App Store when it comes to content. Don't agree with the platform taking a huge cut of every transaction though Is it really a "huge" cut? Putting aside the ethics of Apple's content stranglehold for the moment, the economic side of things seems like a very nice deal -- 30% is not bad compared to various distribution deals (for physical and virtual goods) of which I have some slight familiarity. Are there distribution platforms that allow you to get your app/product/etc to that many people without taking a cut? I'm kind of fed up with Apple for a variety of reasons, but this doesn't seem like one of the problems to me.
- muststopmyths 6y ago
  I meant "every transaction", as in in-app purchases beyond the initial 30% cut on the purchase price. So distribution deals for physical goods are not analogous, right ? Like Best Buy doesn't get a cut if I pay netflix to watch it on the TV I bought from them.
  - JiNCMG 6y ago
    If BestBuy made a deal to get their customers to sign up for Netflix then yes. You are BestBuy's customer and Netflix is getting access to you. If you sign up for a Target card, they get an initial cut and then monthly percentage based on your usage. A bank is managing that card not Target.