PS4 could allow multiple subscription levels

The PlayStation 4 could offer gamers multiple subscription levels, Sony president of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida told The Guardian. The executive said that because services and content have become available digitally, Sony is in a position to act like a traditional cable TV company and offer multiple membership tiers.

"As more and more services and contents become available digitally, we'll have more of an option to create attractive packages. So hypothetically we can look at different models--like a cable TV company," Yoshida said.

"We could have gold, silver or platinum levels of membership, something like that. We can do subscription services when we have more content--especially now that we have the Gaikai technology available," he added. "With one subscription you have access to thousands of games--that's our dream."

Yoshida's comments are purely hypothetical at the moment, as Sony has not yet detailed full plans for PS4 pricing. The only mention of firm pricing plans thus far came from SCEA CEO Jack Tretton, who said last week that PS4 titles will range from 99 cents to $60.

Digital software support will be a major component of the PS4, Yoshida said, noting Sony is taking a similar approach to that of the PlayStation Vita.

"We're shifting our platform more and more to the digital side--PS4 will be similar to PS Vita in that every game will be available as a digital download, and some will also be available as a disc," he said. "The Witness will be a digital release and because of the flexibility of the digital distribution scheme, we can have more small games that might be free or available for a couple of dollars, or different services like free-to-play or subscription models."

For more on Sony's vision for the PS4, check out Yoshida's thoughts on used games, The Last Guardian, and support for legacy platforms .