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"PlayStation Plus" Subscription Service Unveiled

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Those "free games" they talked about at the press conference aren't so free.

After months and months of speculation about the future of the PlayStation Network, Sony Executive Jack Tretton revealed a new online subscription service for the PlayStation 3 that will begin later this month. The newly minted "PlayStation Plus" service will offer PS3 owners additional online features, discounts on PSN games, "free downloadable games," and access to exclusive offers such as game betas. A one-year subscription to PlayStation Plus is $50 dollars--the same price as a year of Xbox Live--while three months of the service can be purchased for $17. The key difference between the Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus services is that the latter is not required to play games online.  
  

Plus subscribers will get exclusive access to new PSN game discounts every month.
Plus subscribers will get exclusive access to new PSN game discounts every month.
So, if you're not paying for online play, what are you paying for with PlayStation Plus? According to Sony's press release, PlayStation Plus subscribers get access to a number of exclusive features. First, Plus members will get access to "Full Game Trials" which are time-limited version of PlayStation 3, PSN, and PSone games that cycle every month. Like the free games on Gametap, you can play the games as much as you want during the allotted period,  but once the games are cycled out and replaced with new free games, you'll have to actually buy the game. 
 
That's not to say that there aren't free games to play. In fact, Plus subscribers will have access to a number of free PS3, PSN, and PSone games to download and play as much as they want. For instance, Wipeout HD will be a game free to download for Plus subscribers when the service begins this month. There is a caveat, however: the games are only free as long as you are subscribed to the service. If you cancel your subscription to PlayStation Plus, those free games will no longer be accessible, not unlike a Zune music subscription. So, remember: you have to pay money to play the free games. 
   
 Wipeout HD will be the first free game offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
 Wipeout HD will be the first free game offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Plus subscribers also have access to exclusive content, such as special themes and avatar items in home, as well as early access to game betas, demos, and the PlayStation's suite of video magazines. In addition, Plus members will have exclusive discounts on items various items in the PlayStation Store (PS3 and PSP!) that will cycle month to month. Finally, Plus subscribers get some additional features for their console: their system will be able to automatically download updates and patches for games. PlayStation Plus also adds cross-game chat functionality to the PS3, so you can chat with friends in any game they're playing. PlayStation Plus subscribers can even set their PlayStation 3 to "automatically start up at a designated time to download content and will turn off after the download has completed" which is less of an update and more of a terror that my PS3 has become sentient. It can turn itself on and off, and use my bandwidth at will. This is the nightmare connect future we were warned about. 
 
So, those are your PSN features. It's important to mention again that none of the content that has already been available for free will be blocked for non-subscribers, so don't worry that free online play will suddenly become a subscriber-only benefit.  
 
What do you think, guys? Are you interested in paying for Sony's online service when it launches later this month? Are you willing to pay to have access to free games, and continue paying for games to ensure that those games stay free? 
Filed under:
E3 2010
PlayStation 3
PlayStation Network (PS3)

274 Comments

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JoelTGM

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Edited By JoelTGM

I don't see much benefit.  The free trial thing is cool, free games, discounts, but what about group voice chat and all the good stuff that is still missing?

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Jensonb

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Edited By Jensonb
@neoepoch said:
" To be honest, I may have done it if it included cross game chat...but I probably won't knowing what is actually in it. "
This. Cross-Game Chat is still not on the PS3. That blows my mind.
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DrLove

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Edited By DrLove

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/cross-game-party-chat-coming-to-ps3-with-strings-attached/  
 
cross game chat... 

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Red12b

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Edited By Red12b

I'll wait and see, internet ain't the best in New Zealand and I damn well ain't going to download new games every other month, my bandwidth will go through the roof. 

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sapient

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Edited By sapient

I think it is a pretty good idea. I am sure I am not the only one to like it. It will allow them to earn extra money which will hopefully be used to make PSN even better. 

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Sully907

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Edited By Sully907

This is really rediculous, instead of making the normal PSN and XMB better, trying to catch up to Xbox Live, they charge for things that should be free to everyone. Automatic updates? Cross game voice chat? Give that to everyone! Sony can take their ripoff service and shove it where the sun don't shine.

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MoeB

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VoshiNova

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Edited By VoshiNova

I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is shitty.
 
It seems like a shifty marketing scheme.
Why not just copy Xbox Live?

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IanBrooks

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Edited By IanBrooks

Totally not worth the money in my opinion.   A few free avatars/themes, a 'possibility' of early access to betas/games, and a rental service.

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Jensonb

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Edited By Jensonb

This is not that impressive.

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MoeB

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Edited By MoeB
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zombie2011

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Edited By zombie2011

That was a fucking letdown.

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Natedogg2

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Edited By Natedogg2

I don't know about this. I think I'll have to wait and see during that free trial period to see if this is worth it or not.

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DrLove

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Edited By DrLove

there is a rumor about cross-game chat? can anyone confirm it?

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Dendei

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Edited By Dendei

Not quite sure how to feel about this. I mean on one hand it does provide some interesting services. On the other hand I lose everything if I happen to not want what they have to offer on a given month.

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newfound

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Edited By newfound

At E3 I think I heard him slip in something along the lines that you loose a lot of your content when you stop subscribing, or was that just me?

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neoepoch

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Edited By neoepoch

To be honest, I may have done it if it included cross game chat...but I probably won't knowing what is actually in it.

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Atary77

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Edited By Atary77

Yeah Sony already got enough of my money after the fucking yellow light I got on my PS3. No way I'm paying for this

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Urmean

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Edited By Urmean

This is the worst. Really.

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Fallen189

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Edited By Fallen189

Your statement is very misleading in the descript

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soliddragon24

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Edited By soliddragon24

damn.. underwhelming

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ChristianCastillo

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Edited By ChristianCastillo

sony disappointed me :(

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Fontan

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Edited By Fontan

Let's wait and see.  Sounds good, though.

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Edited By mattbodega

After months and months of speculation about the future of the PlayStation Network, Sony Executive Jack Tretton revealed a new online subscription service for the PlayStation 3 that will begin later this month. The newly minted "PlayStation Plus" service will offer PS3 owners additional online features, discounts on PSN games, "free downloadable games," and access to exclusive offers such as game betas. A one-year subscription to PlayStation Plus is $50 dollars--the same price as a year of Xbox Live--while three months of the service can be purchased for $17. The key difference between the Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus services is that the latter is not required to play games online.  
  

Plus subscribers will get exclusive access to new PSN game discounts every month.
Plus subscribers will get exclusive access to new PSN game discounts every month.
So, if you're not paying for online play, what are you paying for with PlayStation Plus? According to Sony's press release, PlayStation Plus subscribers get access to a number of exclusive features. First, Plus members will get access to "Full Game Trials" which are time-limited version of PlayStation 3, PSN, and PSone games that cycle every month. Like the free games on Gametap, you can play the games as much as you want during the allotted period,  but once the games are cycled out and replaced with new free games, you'll have to actually buy the game. 
 
That's not to say that there aren't free games to play. In fact, Plus subscribers will have access to a number of free PS3, PSN, and PSone games to download and play as much as they want. For instance, Wipeout HD will be a game free to download for Plus subscribers when the service begins this month. There is a caveat, however: the games are only free as long as you are subscribed to the service. If you cancel your subscription to PlayStation Plus, those free games will no longer be accessible, not unlike a Zune music subscription. So, remember: you have to pay money to play the free games. 
   
 Wipeout HD will be the first free game offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
 Wipeout HD will be the first free game offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Plus subscribers also have access to exclusive content, such as special themes and avatar items in home, as well as early access to game betas, demos, and the PlayStation's suite of video magazines. In addition, Plus members will have exclusive discounts on items various items in the PlayStation Store (PS3 and PSP!) that will cycle month to month. Finally, Plus subscribers get some additional features for their console: their system will be able to automatically download updates and patches for games. PlayStation Plus also adds cross-game chat functionality to the PS3, so you can chat with friends in any game they're playing. PlayStation Plus subscribers can even set their PlayStation 3 to "automatically start up at a designated time to download content and will turn off after the download has completed" which is less of an update and more of a terror that my PS3 has become sentient. It can turn itself on and off, and use my bandwidth at will. This is the nightmare connect future we were warned about. 
 
So, those are your PSN features. It's important to mention again that none of the content that has already been available for free will be blocked for non-subscribers, so don't worry that free online play will suddenly become a subscriber-only benefit.  
 
What do you think, guys? Are you interested in paying for Sony's online service when it launches later this month? Are you willing to pay to have access to free games, and continue paying for games to ensure that those games stay free?