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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Microsoft, Sony Compared in XBL, PSN Numbers

heruamon on 16 February 2010

It's is going to be interesting to see how Sony reports it's subs, once they institute a payment plan, as M$ threw that little curveball about concurrent users.  BTW, does anybody know if Sony considers memeber to the Station in these numbers?  I've got a carryover account from my days in Star Wars Galaxies, Planetside and other online fare...also Burning Seas.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Microsoft-Sony-PSN-XBL-Numbers,news-5830.html

Which is better, Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network?

Depending on who you ask, both Xbox Live and the PSN have their devout fans, so it's near impossible to say for sure which one is "better." But what about most popular?

Both Microsoft and Sony have released the usage numbers for their respective online networks. Microsoft announced that Xbox Live Gold memberships have topped 23 million subscribers, making it "the biggest social network connected to the TV." Additionally, Microsoft said that 2.3 million subscribers were logged in at one point during the month of January, a record for the service.

Zoom Zoom

 

However, Sony quickly posted its own numbers, contesting Microsoft's claim to have "the biggest social network connected to a TV." Jack Tretton, President & CEO of PlayStation, writes that the PSN has more than 40 million users worldwide.

Considering the numbers above, it's safe to say the PSN has more subscribers, but a factor that must be taken into account is that the PSN is free to use while an Xbox Live account requires the user to pay a monthly subscription. Most people have no problem signing up for a free service, because even if they never use it, it doesn't cost them anything just to have an account. On the other side, subscription-based services are less attractive and so, only the absolutely dedicated will pony up the cash.

One way to gauge which is truly seeing more use would be to compare the highest number of users signed into each service at its busiest period. Unfortunately, though Microsoft has said its record is 2.3 million, Sony hasn't provided that information. We've contacted the company and asked, so we'll update when we heard back.

In the mean time, which do you think offers a better service?



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Sardauk on 16 February 2010

Strictly a better service ? XBLive of course.
Better contents or not, is something different.



 

Evan Wells (Uncharted 2): I think the differences that you see between any two games has much more to do with the developer than whether it’s on the Xbox or PS3.

Severance on 16 February 2010

whats the point?



I live for the burn...and the sting of pleasure...
I live for the sword, the steel, and the gun...

- Wasteland - The Mission.

heruamon on 16 February 2010
Sardauk said:
Strictly a better service ? XBLive of course.
Better contents or not, is something different.

I've got no point of reference, but I really like my XBL, but I'm looking forward to E3 to see what new services and feature will be announce for launch this year.  Pesonally, I'd like to see M$ launch a mini-MMO on XBL...something low cost and fun, but not too demanding.



"...You can't kill ideas with a sword, and you can't sink belief structures with a broadside. You defeat them by making them change..."

- From By Schism Rent Asunder

heruamon on 16 February 2010
Severance said:
whats the point?

Point of what?



"...You can't kill ideas with a sword, and you can't sink belief structures with a broadside. You defeat them by making them change..."

- From By Schism Rent Asunder

Around the Network
Legend11 on 16 February 2010
heruamon said:

One way to gauge which is truly seeing more use would be to compare the highest number of users signed into each service at its busiest period. Unfortunately, though Microsoft has said its record is 2.3 million, Sony hasn't provided that information. We've contacted the company and asked, so we'll update when we heard back.

 


That pretty much says it all.  If Sony's network was as popular you can bet they would have released those numbers.



radiantshadow92 on 16 February 2010

i like to compare them with a ratio of cost

xboxlive 50$/yr<psn 0$/yer

its as simple as that



Garnett on 16 February 2010

Xbox Live offers more things but at a cost.

We might as well compare XBL Silver vs PSN.



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radiantshadow92 on 16 February 2010
Garnett said:
Xbox Live offers more things but at a cost.

We might as well compare XBL Silver vs PSN.

im pretty sure you cant play online with xbl silver, so yeah thats overkill as it is



radiantshadow92 on 16 February 2010
Legend11 said:
heruamon said:

One way to gauge which is truly seeing more use would be to compare the highest number of users signed into each service at its busiest period. Unfortunately, though Microsoft has said its record is 2.3 million, Sony hasn't provided that information. We've contacted the company and asked, so we'll update when we heard back.

 


That pretty much says it all.  If Sony's network was as popular you can bet they would have released those numbers.

that is very true, plus sony has that many subscribed because you gotta add on psp/go users