Analysis – New Net Neutrality Rules Could Drive Up Game Prices

[Mr Khan]

*Sound Of Rain said:

Mr Khan said:

Say Sony signs a deal with Comcast if (when, likely) this Time Warner acquisition goes through. Now all Comcast subscribers get better access to PlayStation network. But Sony could also say that Comcast will agree to give their subscribers inferior access to Xbox LIVE or the Nintendo Network, whether or not those people even have a Playstation.

That's dumb. What if I have a PS4 & Wii U? I'd simply get bad online for the Wii U & good for PS4? 

That's theoretical. Plus nobody's sure how "bad" they would make it. Despite the area monopolies broadband providers have, they do not have so much latitude that they could screw with services in a major way with impunity. We're talking more about optimization: you'll get the *best* online on PS4 on Comcast, while Live and the Nintendo Network won't be as good.

They're not going to want to really piss off customers by playing favorites in a heavy-handed way, it'll be one of those more insidious things. "I swear DailyMotion used to buffer faster than this." That sort of thing.