Currently Online 
| zero129 said: Console makers have always had excuses for why online on console should be paid for compared to pc and other systems at the time where it was free. 360 days excuse was look at how you have friends all across your games and whatever else compared to ps3's free online while ignoring how pc was doing things like this for years. |
When PS3 still had free online, a lot of games added online passes for the PS3 versions.
https://www.ea.com/news/online-pass-for-ea-sports-simulation-games
https://www.reddit.com/r/PS3/comments/2oouzv/online_pass_list_wiki/
It came with a newly purchased game but you would have to buy it separately when buying the game second-hand or get it from a friend. That was the excuse in the physical days, server hosting not included for re-sales.
I don't know if it was on 360 as well but the industry found other ways to get rid of 2nd hand sales and lending games. PC already had that in place with Steam, physical died out a lot earlier on PC. Gone are the days one copy of Half-Life lets 4 PCs play together online.
But now, what are we paying for on console. Moderation? (Which is crap) Hosting patches? (Which Steam does as well)
Payed online is not going anywhere though now the focus is on GAAS. That 30% cut from games sales only becomes less with GAAS. Hence pay to keep playing :/ Same idea with Gamepass.
