What aspects of the PlayStation Ecosystem would you change or add?

[KBG29]

Azuren said:

Sony has created an amazing ecosystem between its products, capable of passing save files from system to system, remote playing some systems with others, and all of them reaping benefits from PS+. But it's not perfect. What aspects of the PlayStation Ecosystem would you change or add?

Next, I would add functions to each system:

The PlayStation 4 would be the ability to Remote Play the PS3 or the PSTV. This would make it possible to play you PS3 on your PS4, from one room to another, and would allow you to, in some way, play PS3 games on your PS4 if you own them already. This would also extend to the PSTV, allowing PS4 users to remote play Vita games and PS1 classics. Another function that would be added to the PS4 would be the ability to create folders and organize their media bar.

The PlayStation 3, as mentioned earlier, would get cross-game chat (supported only on "New PS3s"). This would allow PS3 users to communicate with PS4 users more often, bringing the two communities together. Another function would be the ability to Remote Play the PS4 or the PSTV onto the PS3. This would allow users to play their PS4 or PSTV from one room into another. A big change would be the full support of the Dualshock 4 for PS3, and they would also support Spotify.

The PlayStation Vita would gain the ability to remote play the PS3, allowing users access to both the PS3 and PS4 on their Vitas. The Vita would also gain access to PlayStation Vue, meaning TV on the go, and they would also get a Spotify app. Another big upgrade is the advent of a new YouTube app.

The PlayStation TV would get it's biggest (and most desparate) upgrade with the addition of Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, and Amazon Video. The upgrade would make the PSTV a viable contender for a Roku replacement. In addition the PSTV would gain the ability to remote player the PS3, completing the "Ecosystem" of the PlayStation Network.

And finally, we come to the services:

PlayStation Now would be one of the biggest aspects of the PlayStation Network at this point. The biggest change would be the ability to purchase games for good. Now, it costs money to maintain these servers, so it can't simply be a one time purchase forever. However, it can be if they are at least a PS+ member. PS+ members would become capable of purchasing games permanently on Now, and any games they already own DIGITALLY for the PS3 will also be added to their "owned" library.

PlayStation Vue needs a lot of work. First of all, it needs to be extended to at least the capital cities of every state and it needs to begin spreading out from those cities (large states like California and Texas would need two or three cities to spread out from in order to cover the states in a sufficient amount of time). Alá carte needs to be better supported, namely with Viacom channels. Having Viacom as a partner would allow those who don't live in major cities to still enjoy most of what they'll probably want to watch. The pricing for the bundles needs to reflect their PS+ status in a way that it becomes cheaper to become a PS+ member and get Vue than to simply have Vue. This would drive owners of other system to have a PS+ account as well, increasing the population of the "PlayStation Nation's" paid subscribers. Vue should also be supported on Vita and TV, allowing users to place PSTVs around the house for cable.

Certain Streaming Services should be available on all PlayStation platforms, namely: Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon, YouTube, Crunchyroll, and Crackle. These services being available on all PlayStation systems would mean that no matter which one you're using, you'll have the ability to watch/listen to what you want.

 

With all of these changes, I believe the competition would be mostly out of luck. I understand that releasing so many new versions of the systems would be expensive, and that procuring Data support for a theoretical PlayStation Phone would be difficult. Getting Viacom on board and releasing Vue subscriptions on so many cities would also be quite a task. The biggest thing is the sudden support of the Vita again, as well as the use of so many old and new IPs in exclusives. This isn't a thread about what is likely to hapen, it's what you would change.

I like all of this stuff. It is nice to see someone looking at the other aspects of the PlayStation business. If we want to continue to have high quality games like we have on PS4 and XBO, we have to look at these aspects of the business as well. People need to start looking at Consoles and Handhelds as the ultimate form of the convergence devices, and not as pure gaming toys. 

Not only are these devices better equiped to be your one devices to rule them all, the business model is also much better for the consumer. Consoles and Handhelds are sold at break even or a loss, instead of the $800 - $1000 dollars smartphone manufactures are charging for $200 - $300 dollar devices. They also offer huge saving via the subscription services. With PS+ and XBL consumers can get the same content for $100's of dollars less compared to competeing platforms. 

The only thing consoles make harder is conducting illegal activity/ stealing. If you are stealing content or conducting illegal activities, then the console and handhelds might not be for you.