I'm really confused as to what some of you people are reading. Most PS fans in this thread are stating they aren't happy about this and that it sucks. It just so happens that it's not out right "Pay for online or no" like it has been for the xbox which cushions the blow. Online play is tied to a service that many of us are already paying for and literally pays off itself. For most people it pays off itself in the first month in free-games alone. 

I'm already a PS+ subscriber. Since Day 1 actually. And Sony's kept on adding to its value. First PS3 PSN titles, then retail titles, then Vita and now PS4. I'm super happy about it.

Where are you guys saying "hypocrisy"? Seriously, it's only people who have PlayStation Plus already whom are saying okay whatever. But seriously, it is a bad thing. But oh well I already have PlayStation Plus. Also, don't try to equate this with Microsoft's foolishness. But go ahead if it makes you feel justified.

I think I've been hearing more Sony fans on board over PSN+ rather than the prospect of having to subscribe to play online.

If you read the comments, at least half of them are saying they love the service, they're already subscribers, but they're not keen or against making it a requirement for online play. 

Why is it a bad thing?

Besides, if Sony fans wanted to be really petty, they could just claim "now I'm paying $50 a year for cross game chat and it's worth every penny!"

Does it matter, you still paying for something that you are against. So like I say earlier, $ony fans are sheeps like M$ fans regarding pay to play online.

Yep, Wii U looks very attractive now. I might pick a PS4 up when a nice game comes out, will probably be single player though.

No, but you're entitled to your perception of course. 

Considering I own all five Sony consoles and that the Playstation brand has been my first choice for console gaming since the 90s, I suppose that makes me a "Sony fan" but paying for a service that gives me access to different games each month and discounts on new titles doesn't make me a sheep by any definition of the word regardless of perception.

My only reasons for ever subscribing were for the discounts, free games and little extras Sony throws in with the service. Whenever those pay for the price of the subscription, I renew. That's what I pay for. And that's what I'll be paying for when I'm using the PS4, given that I rarely ever play online at all. 

Only if you're a Nintendo fan. And if so, you should already have one or should have already made the decision to buy one anyway once your favorite Nintendo franchise makes its first appearance on the platform. 

If the Wii U was your only platform, you'd be missing out on a lot of third party games and would probably be better off gaming on PC via Steam.