Sony Turns Down EA Access - Gamer's Source

Hello and welcome to the Gamer's Source, your destination for gaming conversation. Sony reveals why EA Access is not on PS4 and The Japanese console market is shrinking and shrinking fast. So, without further ado, the news:


NUMBER One!

Yesterday, EA announced the company's new subscription based gaming service, EA Access, which will give users access to a library of EA titles to play for $5 a month or $30 a year. This service will be coming exclusively to Xbox One. Today, Sony has clarified that the gaming giant was also approached by EA to have the service on PS4, but ultimately declined the proposition, stating that the service is not a good deal for Sony's consumers.

“PlayStation Plus memberships are up more than 200% since the launch of PlayStation 4, which shows that gamers are looking for memberships that offer a multitude of services, across various devices, for one low price," said a Sony representative responding to GameInformer. "We don’t think asking our fans to pay an additional $5 a month for this EA-specific program represents good value to the PlayStation gamer.”

NUMBER Two!!

Speaking of subscription based models, Sony's Jack Buser spoke with IGN in a recent interview about PlayStation Now. Buser, the Senior Director of the service, told IGN that "we're working diligently to bring a subscription option to gamers to compliment our rental offering for PlayStation Now." Buser goes on to say "we believe that offering both of these options would provide gamers the freedom to discover and play games in ways that weren't before possible."

No further details have been released, other than the lowest game rental will cost $1.99, which is $1 less than the lowest price of a game rental during the closed beta of the service. Tomorrow kicks off the open beta of the service for all PS4 members. 

This is where Sony will gain the most money and where I am the most interested. If there is a reasonable price point to this service (or possibly a way to bundle together the PS Plus and PS Now services under one discounted price) I will be in and be able to finally pack away my PS3. Look for more impressions soon as I play with the beta myself.

Number THREE!!!

The Japanese console market is shrinking, according to a new report from the Japanese Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association. According to the CESA's game numbers, total money spent on console games in Japan has fallen from $4.8 billion dollars last in 2012 to $4 billion in 2013. Overall it's a 16 percent drop in console revenue, with 46.7 percent of game sales coming from 3DS hardware and software and 21.8 percent coming from PS3 hardware and software sales. 

It's interesting to see numbers like these in the homeland of Sony and Nintendo, especially with the PS4 having stronger initial sales than almost any console ever. Sony and Nintendo will not stop producing their own content, but watching the shift over to the mobile market in their home country will probably jump start their desire to work more on mobile gaming.

Here's a list of smaller, self explanatory stories of the day: 

• 4.6 Million players participated in the Destiny Beta.
• PS Plus details for August have been revealed. 
• Deep Silver has taken over development of Homefront: The Revolution.
• Xbox One releases in China September 23rd for $599.
• Last Gen Assassin's Creed title listed by retailer.

And that is all. Please don't forget to share this blog with your friends and family who enjoy gaming. What do you think about Sony turning down EA Access? Are you excited for PlayStation Now? Sound off below in the comments. Follow me on twitter @Jesterhead0302 and, as always, keep the conversation going.