Hey everyone,
I’m currently looking for an official answer on whether a PS+ or Xbox Live subscription is required for single-player gaming on consoles. Although Diablo IV is a fully online game, suggesting that a subscription is required to play it, an article from Blizzard seems to indicate otherwise ( Help Us Gear Up for Launch During the Diablo IV Server Slam — Diablo IV — Blizzard News ):
Note: An Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus subscription will not be required to play Diablo IV during Server Slam in most regions. In Germany, a PlayStation Plus subscription will be required due to rating requirements. Once Diablo IV launches, an Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus subscription will be required to access some of the game’s multiplayer features.
Considering that:
- The note above suggests that the game will be playable without a single player subscription
- Some games like Division 2 or Destiny are only playable online but without subscription (they have the same game sheet as Diablo IV on the PlayStation / Xbox website)
- I don’t see how millions of people could be required to pay a subscription to play solo only
With less than a month until the game’s release, could we get an official answer from Blizzard?
Thanks.
The game itself does not have a subscription, but if you play on console, you must have an XBOX Live / PS+ account to play the game when it officially releases in June. The upcoming server slam weekend does not require XBOX Live or PS+ to play.
There is no single player option available. The game logs into their servers to play, so if you don’t have online access, you can’t get in.
They have posted this on their social media mutiple times and many of the content developers on youtube have covered it.
The wording stating that “some” features are accessed through the Xbox Live and PS+ is poorly written.
Edit:
It turns out you don’t need an Xbox Live / PS+ subscription to play after all. You just won’t be able to chat, party, or do PVP if you don’t have one.
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There is no single player option available. The game logs into their servers to play, so if you don’t have online access, you can’t get in.
That’s why I’m asking for an official answer, there are many games where an internet connection is mandatory to play and that don’t require a subscription.
They have posted this on their social media mutiple times and many of the content developers on youtube have covered it.
Do you have any links? Because I have watched absolutely everything and there is no response to this.
I checked with the support (EU and US), they have contradictory answers, in EU they say it is necessary, the US support tells me it is not.
When asked if it was required the community director stated
"Yes
Once Diablo IV launches, an Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus subscription will be required to access some of the game’s multiplayer features."
As in, the reason you need it is because of the multiplayer features. Not that you can access part of the game without the features.
Badly worded imo though.
You’re at the wrong place for an official answer sadly. You are better off trying on twitter. I would say that because the game is always online and no singleplayer, that the subscription would be obviously required.
If you go to the page on Xbox/PS store they both say that a subscription is required for online play and since there is no offline play, you are going to need it.
2 Likes
Guys keep repeating yourselves.
Division 2 and Destiny work on the same principle, they are games that require an internet connection and where you can meet players but a PS+ / Xbox Live subscription is not required.
by having an active subscription, multiplayer options are added (raids, cooperative missions or death matches etc.)
They are repeating the same answer to you because there is only 1 answer to your question.
I can’t speak for PlayStation, as I do not own one, but I have had Xbox for many years, and I can tell you that any game that is “online only” requires an Xbox Live subscription in order to play it.
I have played both the Division 2 and Destiny 2 on my Xbox and both required me to sign in to my Xbox live account in order to play.
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Yes, you have to be logged in to your Xbox Live account, but you don’t have to have an active subscription to play.
I repeat, these games work exactly like Diablo IV (internet connection required, 100% online, open world where you can meet players on the map) but do not require an active subscription to play.
“Online multiplayer on console requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (subscription sold separately).”
Straight from the Xbox store page. It’s not on the Destiny or Division page. You’ll need it.
And here is the PlayStation version
" * PS Plus required for online play. * Online play required"
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So, the examples given, Destiny and Division, both were a full priced game and you needed PS+ or Xbox live to play them with your friends when they initially came out. Since then, PS and Xbox’s stances have been games that are FREE TO PLAY do not need their live services anymore. So, Destiny went to Free to Play, did Division as well? That I don’t know myself I loved that game but haven’t played in years, so doesn’t surprise me. But because they are now Free to Play, they can bypass those live service needs.
D4 is a full priced game, maybe in 3 to 5 years like those you listed, it may become Free to Play, but if MS acquires Activision (looks shaky now), then they’d probably put it on Gamepass before Free to Play.
So, if the game is Free to play, Fortnite, Fallguys, Destiny (now) then no need for live service, but if you are paying full price, online only, you NEED live services.
Hope that helps.
Also in the XBOX and PS Stores, it says required.
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its my understanding that at least for PlayStation, that if a game is online only, then Sony makes it so that game does not require PS+. How does this work for Overwatch?
But see that is very vague in this context. That could mean all sorts of things. Connecting to the servers period, or will you just not be able to play with others or see other players?
There’s no single player so it’s not vague at all. You are either online or not playing.
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That is not the same as needing PS+ or Xbox Live Gold.
When it specifically mentions a subscription being needed it is
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People have given you the answer. It’s just not the answer you want to hear so you have become argumentative about it.
If you want to play D4 on console you will need a PS+/Xbox live subscription. You can go on the playstation store right now and it will tell you " * PS Plus required for online play." The game is always online. Therefor it requires a subscription. It doesn’t matter what others games do. This one requires it.
" I don’t see how millions of people could be required to pay a subscription to play solo only"
This is exactly why I decided to just get it for PC and not risk it. It’s outrageous that Sony literally charges just so the OS in your PS5 can connect to servers that Sony themselves don’t even host. Even more outrageous when you can’t even play a game you paid full price for without paying a recurring monthly fee.
I am a big lifelong PS fan for offline cinematic singleplayer games but online multiplayer on console is a meme. Sony and Microsoft make too much off their monthly sub fees to get rid of it either, it’s free money for them.
No offense intended but, you don’t understand. It requires the PS+/Xbox Live subscription. Continuing to mention how other games work is irrelevant. You can either subscribe and play or don’t subscribe and not play. Your choice.
Edit:
So it turns out the above is not true and can be played without subscription based on the community manager’s most recent post about this. I stand corrected.
It clearly stated in BOLD at end of paragraphs that once the actual game starts you WILL need to have ps plus or xbox sub. You dont have to have it for server only. Unless youre in germany.