The PlayStation 4: do the online features stack up in Singapore?

If you’re reading the Games in Asia blog, then it’s likely you’ve already read about a million other reviews of the PlayStation 4 (PS4) console. So I’m not going to bore you with details on hardware, how great the Dualshock 4 feels in my hand, or how positively classy the new console looks with its matte/shiny finish.

Instead, I’m going to tell you about how the PlayStation 4’s online features stack up for the Singapore player. And in case you’ve been living under a rock, yes, the PS4 is available in Singapore as of December 19, 2013!

PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus is more accessible than ever. You’re notified of its existence while setting up your console, and given the option to purchase a subscription plan immediately. For those unfamiliar with PlayStation Plus, it’s essentially a subscription program that gives you access to games on discount, and even entire game downloads that are free for the duration of your sub.

As a PlayStation 3 user I honestly never gave it a second look – mostly because it was always just tucked away within a small button on the home screen. With the PS4, it’s in your face, and well advertised — although this is mostly because a PS Plus membership is necessary for online multiplayer via the PS4. The prices for PS Plus are localized in view of this, and not just converted from USD like how it is in the PlayStation 3 store.

Adding funds to your wallet is by no means a problem, should you choose to subscribe. The system accepted my Singapore credit card without any issues and I was able to purchase a PS Plus membership for myself. It’s just S$6.90 ($5.45) for one month, and there’s an offer going on now where you get three months free if you buy a year’s membership for S$43.90 ($34.70).

I personally find the price reasonable for the games alone, though the fact that you must purchase a PS Plus membership to play online cheapens the deal somewhat. The store is still rather skimpy given the PS4 has only just launched in Southeast Asia; hopefully this improves as developers start rolling out more games for the new console.

The full Resogun game and a platformer titled Contrast are currently available completely free to PS Plus members in Singapore.

PlayStation Store

Speaking of downloads — the PlayStation store has one really nice addition. Apart from a more streamlined look and clearly labelled subcategories in a neat sidebar menu, it also has a tab for localized titles. This tab collects all existing games in the store that come in different languages, such as Traditional Chinese, which is great for the local market. I’ve always felt Asia has been a more neglected market compared to the US, which is strange considering the PlayStation is an Asian product.

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