Sony Charging Publishers for PS3 DLC
MTV Multiplayer reports that Sony has instituted a “PlayStation Network Bandwidth Fee” that requires publishers to pay for each gigabyte used in downloading content for the PS3 through the PlayStation Store.
So far, publishers have been able to release DLC without themselves incurring any bandwidth fees. MTV notes that Microsoft does not charge bandwidth fees for Xbox 360 DLC.
The new policy went into effect on October 1, 2008 and charges publishers 16 cents for each gigabyte used. Bandwidth charges for free content is billed only for the first 60 days, while premium content is charged until it’s removed from the store.
Publishers surely aren’t happy with the deal. "It’s a new thing we have to budget," one anonymous source told the site. "It’s not cool. It sucks."
March 21st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Even for free content they have to pay Sony for bandwidth usage? That’s lame.
Although, I guess some could argue that this makes sense considering the PS3’s online capabilities are free unlike Microsoft’s Xbox Live.
March 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
It also explains why some DLC is region exclusive. There’s no incentive for publishers to make their DLC available as widely as possible if it’s going to cost them.
Hence demos and such that are Japan or European only.
But this is just what I’ve been saying for years now… there’s no such thing as free online. Someone, somewhere is always paying.