Well what do you think? Sony will keep improving the PSN store while Xbox Live will eventually max out its features...(its already pretty stagnant when it comes paid only features). While live does have much more content, most of that content is exclusive to members only and anyone can access it.

So something has to give...

I personally think that if by the mid 2009 if Sony doesn't start charging for PSN, xbox Live will be free...

Otherwise by the time Xbox 720 comes out for sure.

Never. I don't think Microsoft will ever make XBox Live free as long as there are people willing to pay for it. As for Sony charging for PSN, I could potentially see this happening for their next console. I hope they don't though.

Sony will not charge for PSN this generation it has always been one of their arguments and I don't think Micrososft will stop charging for Live either.

Never and Never

So has backwards compatibility.

I agree that it will be hard for them to sneak a fee in there now that its free. Microsoft has us used to it...but if sony did it, many would cry foul.

Why would Sony charge for the PSN. It pays for itself. All the PSN does .. is make money. With every new feature that Sony introduces whether it is a music or video store or home, each will earn money in their own ways.

Why would a company charge you a fee for giving you the opportunity to spend even more money?

I guess we have to ask Microsoft that one.

Although I do understand how the PSN does take money to run the servers/ content additions and so forth, but I would have to imagine that those costs are minute compared to the total revenue the PSN makes from the previously mentioned sources.

Well, I don't think either has a particularly high probability of happening this generation. Sony loves to tout its "free online" and MS is plenty happy to be raking in around a quarter billion dollars annually from Gold Members. (10 million Live members, estimated 50% with Gold Membership at 50 dollars a year.)

With that said, I think that if the 360 had not had a year head start the PSN would also have required a subscription because Sony would not have felt as pressing of a need to establish that comparative advantage.

xboxlive for free,never you hear me neveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer
psn idon't now

I saw this question already on the begin of 2007 and still it is free..I think they never will ask money for it..

All that stuff where sony and microsoft make money on is free on both xbox live and PSN. Online game experience is what you pay for with Live. Actual online play... in game chatter...MSN messenger while playing a game...that costs $$$.

Buying videos, games, movies...its free on xbox dude.