"PlayStation Plus" Subscription Service Unveiled

I promise you this service will go nowhere and quietly disappear in about a year, just like the vitality sensor.

There's a good chance that a lot of this stuff will fuck free users over, but if the stuff is good, it's worth it. No matter what happens, it's still better than what Live is doing considering that free PSN has 99% of what Live offers. Even is Plus screws free PSN subscribers, they'll never be as screwed as Live Silver subscribers.

There is still a chance that the leaked Cross game chat feature of Playstation Plus is going to be free. 
 
But I will try this out for 3 months at 18 dollars and see how it goes. They said it adds up to you getting 48 games a year and you can keep the avatars and themes.  
 
The difference between this and Xbox Live is that Xbox Live is pretty much REQUIRED to get anything out of your console while PSN is still free and by not using Plus, you really aren't losing anything except bonus content.

I would only consider this service if they implemented the long awaited cross game voice chat.

Wow, and I thought Xbox Live was a shitty deal, they're asking you to pay for stupid shit when you already get the only thing that matters for free!

Doesn't seem worth it.

The game trials thing seems interesting. The problem still remains, though: No PS3 yet.

The service sounds like it has some value, but charging the same price as Xbox Live Gold is insane. Pass.

" @MetalMoog:They are implementing voice chat, they have an article up on joystiq.com and playstationlifestyle.net, I would post up the link but I'm kinda lazy right now, but they are putting out cross game voice chat when the service is released.  I don't know why they didn't broadcast that to the public. "

I won't bet on cross game voice chat until Sony says it.

Eh, I don't like paying for exclusive content.

No, thank you. I'll do just fine with my regular PSN.

I don't understand where all the hate is coming from.  You don't have to do it and if you stay using the free stuff you don't lose anything.  It looks to be a service you just pay for if you want some bonus stuff.

The few things that the playstation had over the 360, was free online services across the board. Now it isn't like that anymore. 

" They said it adds up to you getting 48 games a year and you can keep the avatars and themes. "

I'm very wait and see about this.

I think I'm going to stay as a free subscriber.  Basically they are trying to charge people for things that should already be free.  Like chatting with friends in different games, automatic updates (are we lazy now?)  

I'm okay with spending 50 bucks a year for cross-game chat.

This isn't helping my decision making between an XBox and PS3 as a 2nd console (have a Wii).

I just dont care for subscription services. Even if they're going to come up with features you cant get normally, I can just find a way to play games somewhere else for much less cash.

So, does this mean I can't participate in the FF14 or the DCUO beta without PSN+? That's no good... :/ 

" The few things that the playstation had over the 360, was free online services across the board. Now it isn't like that anymore.  "

I am completely fine without this.

Doesnt sound that good, alot of demo-ish things.......that you pay for.

Well I'll see what to do 2 months after PSN Plus its release, I'll gudge based on what they offered up till then.

Personally no....I expect 2 key things to get me interested for playstation Plus users I want a revamped XMB of the whole interface.. and 2 I want a music application dam it... heck just give me one of the 2 and I will be happy.

PS4 will surely require a paid subscription for anything online.

I honestly will probably take a wait and see approach before I shell out any coin on this, but he free games cycling in and out each month sounds pretty interesting if the games are any good. In all likelihood I'll check which games are free monthly and throw ten bucks down or whatever it is to play them.

Very underwhelming.

Wow, some of the ignorance here astonishes me. 
why is this disappointing? i have to break it down and hope i convert some of you 
1. online play is still free, psn and home is still available, everything you can do on your ps3 NOW, you can do in a month. 
2. 360 charges the same for the same services that are free on ps3, now and forever, you dont get anything for free there 
3. Sony is ADDING stuff to the services you already have, if you DON'T want it, dont buy it and imagine it doesnt exist. 
 4. one of the lines here are misleading as hell "you have to pay to play your free games"  you dont pay to play, you pay for the complete package, you pay the same on live without anything, not even discounts, just access to marketplace, MS says "you gotta pay to play online and buy stuff" sony says "you dont have to pay to play or use psnstore, but if you do we'll give you all this other shit too" 
COME ON PEOPLE! dont say what they're doing is wrong, if you do that you pretty much got to say that to Microsoft first, THEN Sony. 

I'm definetly paying for this and cancel my live gold account, lots, LOTS, more value for my money. 

Do these free games that cycle through include trophy support?

Has cross game chat definitely been confirmed? if so they have my money.

Sounds like this will eventually pay itself off, since it's only $50 for several games a year. I'm not really interested though.

I just hope this galvanizes xbox live to go free for online play. I do not play online because as a pc gamer I absolutely refuse to play subscription games.

Definitely not doing it. I already pay for one online service a month (Xbox Live), which I don't use enough. I can't see myself doing two.

If the PSN game is at least owned by me after the subscription, then I will gladly sign up. If everything disappears after, then it's a simple nope. They better not add cross-game chat for only subscribers in the future either..

SUCKS!!!

 Hey "free" games/content every month... sounds good to me. Wipeout HD alone is $20. I love my PS3 and while i like the free service... providing these services is expensive. If a small yearly fee is needed to improve the services then so be it. I will likely stop renewing my Live account though since I don't really use it anyway.    

so instead of paying for things, you can pay for a title and have a pretense of getting something for free... That's a stupid idea!!!!

" PS4 will surely require a paid subscription for anything online. "

I like the sound of this, but it depends what games they make free.  Here's hoping it turns out good.

I hope this turns out well.