Big Changes Coming to PlayStation Update System on the PS4

One of the most white-knuckle inducing things about the PS3 is its constant need to update at the most inopportune times, and you may be wondering why. This is mostly due to the PS3 allowing the system to Auto-update only for PlayStation Plus members. Everyone else has to go through the actual process of doing it manually. Yeah...I had no idea either.

But that's all about to change on the PS4. Starting with the new consoles release, everyone who owns a PS4 will be able to auto-update in the background even if you don't have a PlayStation Plus subscription.

"If you choose not to subscribe we are still gating relatively little in many senses, so access to online catch-up TV and online movie services sit outside of the gate, for example. The social features of PS4 and PS4 games sit out of the subscription service... things like auto-updates on PS4 sit outside of PlayStation Plus, so we're trying to be as balanced and as fair as we possibly can.” SCEE UK & Ireland MD Fergal Gara told VideoGamer.

And this is only a small part of the changes Sony is making as they move multiplayer functionality behind PlayStation Plus and tailoring it a little more like Microsoft's immensely successful XBLA. Say what you will about Microsoft, but XBLA made it through the last generation practically unscathed while the PSN was plagued by downtime, and the now infamous PSN Hacking debacle that kept the service down for a number of months.

But this isn't all bad news, not in the slightest. Sony also stated today that the just announced PlanetSide 2 and DC Universe Online will be available to PS4 owners without a PlayStation Plus account due to their free-to-play nature. And this is also true of movie services like Netflix and Hulu. No Plus account? No problem. No double-dipping here.  And honestly, I don't mind paying $5 a month for multiplayer access on the PS4 if it means a more stable and secure playing environment. And this isn't even taking into account the metric fuck-ton of freebies Sony throws into the deal. 

For instance, Plus members can download Enemy Unknown, Uncharted 3, and Human Revolution for free (as long as you keep your subscription active)...right now.