Sony has announced that PS4 users will not need PS Plus subscriptions to play online this coming weekend.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. PT on September 26 and running through the weekend to 11:59 a.m. PT on September 29, players will be allowed to access online functionality of games at no cost.
The weekend event will work for all games that include designated multiplayer modes such as ‘Madden 15,’ ‘Fifa 15,’ ‘The Last of Us Remastered’ and even ‘Call of Duty Ghosts.’ However, this does not include titles that require subscription fees like ‘Final Fantasy XIV.’ Players will also not be able to access other PS Plus features such as the service’s instant game collection or PS Plus discounts on the PlayStation Network.
Sony’s PS Plus service normally runs for about $49.99 per year, $17.99 for three months and $9.99 for one month. Subscribers get access to online multiplayer capabilities for the PS4 as well as access to the instant game collection, a library of games that are posted monthly that players can download and play for free as long as they are subscribed.
With PS4’s online capabilities being a mandatory subscription fee for the first time in Sony’s history, it is clear that the company is trying to encourage customer interest in its PS Plus service. The announcement of the event itself also comes in time with recent big multiplayer titles like ‘Destiny’ and ‘Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition’ which both utilize heavy use of multiplayer functionality in their gameplay.
Free online weekend events like these aren’t entirely new in the console game industry. Microsoft has previously utilized similar tactics in the past as well with their online multiplayer subscription service Xbox Live Gold. Sony’s PS Plus free online event this weekend event definitely seems to be the company’s means of following through on the same set of tactics.
Source: PlayStation Blog
