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Rumor: Sony Unveils Optional Premium PSN Service At E3

The concept of a paid premium subscription service has been around for a while now, and the more reliable rumors have hinted at such a service being optional for PlayStation Network users.

However, there have also been whispers that it might be required – like Xbox Live – despite Sony's insistent claims that it will "never charge to pay online." Well, rather than continue to worry and argue, maybe we should all wait until E3 next month, when VG247 claims we'll finally have the official unveiling of a premium service. At an annual cost of "less than £50," those who wish to spring for the elite membership plan will receive one free PSN game each month along with "a host of new features." In the past, we've heard that early access to hot demos and even preferential treatment when it comes to betas could be included. But perhaps the best news is that VG247's source says there is "nothing in the premium PSN service that will gimp regular PSN users;" i.e, if you don't wish to pay, nothing will really change for you. You'll still be able to log onto the Store, play online, download stuff, etc. Oh, and one last thing- the long-awaited cross-game voice chat is coming and it won't be restricted to premium users.

Look, we've all seen the arguments a million times so instead of talking about what you won't do in the Comments below, how's about talking about what you will do? What are you willing to pay for? What would Sony have to provide to make your premium membership worth the cost of, say, $69.99/year?

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DazeOfWar
DazeOfWar
14 years ago

The one PSN game a month is pretty nice. If all the other stuff is as good or better I'll be signing up.

godsman
godsman
14 years ago

I would sign up too, but only if those monthly games are good games, not the cheap "minis" games.

I think it's rather clever for Sony to do so. The games were classics, it just cost them to update the coding and upload to PSN. They are just sitting there, mind as well release them for free download and rack up $70 a year. I hope they get the funding to broaden PSN even more.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

@Godsman

Don't forget Home. It's free to use but you pay for the stuff. I don't want to admit how much virtual crap I have bought for my avatars in Home, I don't want to know how much my wife has spent on hers.

People rag on Home all the time, but I think it's very smart. Judging by the avatars I see, a lot of people are spending real $$ on numerous virtual items. Let's say that you have a basic template for an item – a black T-Shirt. You charge 0.49-0.99 for every purchase and every time a game launches you copy and past a game logo or character onto the template and hey presto a new shirt! That'll be 0.99 please…it's like money for old rope.

Home is part of PSN, PSN is making money. Sony's investment in PSN is monstrous, I doubt it's as much as was spent developing the PS3 architecture, but it's clearly a big investment. I don't know whether the revenue has covered their start up costs yet, but I'm pretty sure that it operates at a profit now.


Last edited by TheHighlander on 5/17/2010 10:57:15 AM

TEG3SH
TEG3SH
14 years ago

Higlander

Lol, admit now ………it can't be that bad


Last edited by TEG3SH on 5/17/2010 2:35:14 PM

DazeOfWar
DazeOfWar
14 years ago

Also imagine if they added PS2 BC and then started putting games on the PSN to buy. That could be one feature they want/need money to keep it supported.

johnld
johnld
14 years ago

if they add the BC, its probably on the next tier bundle because for early adopters, we already have that so it wont be able to lure us in. well, maybe unless we have multple ps3s with different models.

DazeOfWar
DazeOfWar
14 years ago

@Johnld: It won't be a bonus for early adopters but I bet a majority of PS3 owners don't have BC. I don't know the facts on that but I'd bet most PS3 sales didn't happen until Sony canned all that.

manofchao5
manofchao5
14 years ago

want i want is better download servers because most of the time my connection is good but sometimes psn is downloading as good as it could
like 500KB/s instead of 1MB/s

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

One PSN game a month? OK, where do I sign? Does that include PS1 classics and PSP Minis?

Seriously, there are several things I would be interested in – such as cloud storage for game saves – and would definitely sign up for.

Once again though I bet we'll see dozens of fearful posts here with a dose or two of scare mongering and posturing. Before we go down that road, please read the article people. Especially this bit,
<<<
But perhaps the best news is that VG247's source says there is "nothing in the premium PSN service that will gimp regular PSN users;" i.e, if you don't wish to pay, nothing will really change for you. You'll still be able to log onto the Store, play online, download stuff, etc.
>>>


Last edited by TheHighlander on 5/17/2010 10:45:58 AM

godsman
godsman
14 years ago

Yeah, it's quite sad that people don't read the articles and come to a conclusion of never signing on PSN again because they have to "pay". Actually the PSN Premium paid by the other gamers, will ultimately improve with their funding and benefit those guys that won't pay. It's nothing but good news.


Last edited by godsman on 5/17/2010 10:52:01 AM

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Indeed, even if it doesn't bring new services to existing PSN users, a premium service will make the PSN more viable for Sony. Giving PSN a nice solid financial foundation helps ensure that the basic services become even more solid than they are now.

Kowhoho
Kowhoho
14 years ago

I'm most interested in the cloud storage… I lost my data from YLOD a year back. *tear*

Then this whole "complimentary PSN game" thing comes along? Sign me up bro!

johnld
johnld
14 years ago

i want cloud storage too and maybe a more efficient way to back up files. doing a back up takes up too much time and i'm also running out of space on my external hard drives. i wonder if its possible to back up your data while being able to access videos/music on my external drive so that my ps3 wont be useless while i'm doing a back up.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
14 years ago

IF you get a free PSN game out of choice that may be interesting, otherwise no, I shall still be stubborn, games already cost more than they should in the first place, i think its a bit sad that tHE PS3 has lost one of their key features just like PS2 backwards compatibility.

coverton341
coverton341
14 years ago

How has it lost a key feature?

""nothing in the premium PSN service that will gimp regular PSN users;" i.e, if you don't wish to pay, nothing will really change for you."

Does this statement not state that nothing for non-paying people is changing?

That in and of itself says that we are not loosing anything but rather we are gaining something OPTIONAL.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
14 years ago

my apoligies, missed the part about online still being free.

Very curious to how they are going to make this package appealing for people to actually spend money on.

coverton341
coverton341
14 years ago

They are talking about giving a free game to subscribers a month. Even if it is a mini at $4.99 that is $59.88 worth of free games a year. Then on top of that whatever extras they are putting into it seems like a pretty decent incentive at least to me.

I will need to see how this actually pans out but I am down with the idea so far. Looks very promising as of now.

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

I'd still rather buy my PSN games a la carte.

I can't imagine what they'd have to offer to get me to pay a monthly/yearly fee, but it would have to be phenomenal.

Arvis
Arvis
14 years ago

NOTHING they could offer would make me pay $70 a year. Unless they offered a free $60 game of my choice every year.

-Arvis

coverton341
coverton341
14 years ago

So if they offer a free game a month and even if that free game is $4.99 which comes to $59.88 a year would not have any sway? So basically for $10 a year you get whatever extras besides a free game a month your way would not be appealing?

Arvis
Arvis
14 years ago

Those free $5 games would just clutter up my hard-drive and they wouldn't get played more than a couple days. And considering they're NOT really free because I'm paying $70 a year, then I fail to see the added value.

-Arvis

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

…plus they would probably be the cruddy games that aren't selling well on their own.

hehateme
hehateme
14 years ago

ive been wanting to pay for psn for a while now i need the voice messages and cross game chat with friends playing diefferent games… only to convince them to play with me…. its just needed for online play to flurish…. its fine the way it is now… but i paid 600 + for this mammoth and i want the premium psn!

WolfCrimson
WolfCrimson
14 years ago

What will I do? Hmmm…
I'll just wait and see. Sony doesn't comment on rumors, and I don't make judgments or plans based on them.
And what the hell is up with the still-alive rumor of PSN becoming pay-to-use? The guys at Sony themselves said that they will never charge for PSN. You'd think the rumor would die out, but nooooo.

The Stig
The Stig
14 years ago

Agreed, but I think the recent removal of the Other OS has got folks a little worried. Sony already went back on their word about continuing to support the other OS feature then a few months later they drop it so people are starting to think the same could happen to the PSN remaing free.

Personally I think its just the 360 fanboys stirring up trouble.

Ivan_PSP
Ivan_PSP
14 years ago

The basic PSN will always be free still.

dachemists
dachemists
14 years ago

im game, but i need more specific details, i like the one game a month, depending on which type of games, if it includes all games, im buying, the beta's for games, love it, maybe they should add free dlc for certain games

Jawknee
Jawknee
14 years ago

Really, Sony would be nuts to take away the free aspects of PSN and make it mandatory like LIVE. An optional Premium services seems like a better idea going forward. They've said what's free now will remain free to many times to walk back on that now.

Zorigo
Zorigo
14 years ago

I wouldn't mind. As long as what they offer really is worth the price.
The money would help sony no doubt.
as for the games; they best be good ones.

marcusfrommo
marcusfrommo
14 years ago

please, please, if you are going to charge a fee, please upgrade the internet to an actual internet. doesn't the latest cell phones have that? it would be cool if you could stream the latest video on your console. that would prabably get xbox's attention. what say you?

Jawknee
Jawknee
14 years ago

Who is that??!

Yowza!

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

What?

"please upgrade the internet to an actual internet" ???

I think you're getting the PS3 confused with another video game console that doesn't alllow web browsing.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

I stream video to my console all the time.

shadowscorpio
shadowscorpio
14 years ago

I agree with improving the web browser. Not only do some sites not display correctly or work properly but it is also repsonsible for 100% of my PS3's freezes.

Fix that and give my PS2 backwards compatibility and Sony has a premium customer right here. Hot pic btw.

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

I believe Flash 10 is restricted to PCs and will be until Flash 11 is released.

godsman
godsman
14 years ago

Anyone see the new Kevin Butler commercial with Jack Tretton yet?! It's hilarious!

faraga
faraga
14 years ago

What Sony has to add what I'm willing to pay for?
PS2 BC.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

That's not something that can be a feature of a premium PSN service. PS2 emulation has to be done on the PS3 by the PS3, and it's easy, or they'd have done it already. Short of retrofitting PS2 hardware to your PS3 it ain't gonna happen. Unless of course Sony has solved the problems in emulating the Graphics Synthesizer on the PS2, and has a secret project waiting in the wings.

faraga
faraga
14 years ago

I meant it to be an extra you can download (as in emulation software) which has a code in it that renders it useless if your subscription runs out.

Alienange
Alienange
14 years ago

Oh yikes! Don't give them any ideas faraga.

shadowscorpio
shadowscorpio
14 years ago

Thanks for clearing that up Highlander.

if thats the case I guess I would settle for downloading ps2 games from the psn as long as they were at a reasonable price.

Speaking of which, I wonder when we get ps2 and Saturn games on the psn. I thought Ben had an article stating that this might happen?

Fane1024
Fane1024
14 years ago

You couldn't download (and play) PS2 games unless there was a working emulator.

AcHiLLiA
AcHiLLiA
14 years ago

I would love to be able to change my main PSN account with all the trophies I've earned. And the rest sounds interesting.

mike rlz
mike rlz
14 years ago

I dunno. Something sounds fishy about a free game. But if they charge $20 more than XBL, I'm not sure what extras they could throw in that would go above and beyond that service. I mean, when you think about it, XBL charges $50 to do ANYTHING online. If all these aspects of PSN remain free (like if cross game chat does come and is free), I'm not sure they can think of $70 worth of extras to add to a subscription on top of what is free. If they do give more and better features than XBL, the "top notch" service, then I would think about subscribing to it no question. But I have a hard time believing they can add an extra $20 of stuff XBL doesnt have which charges $50.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Dude, the premium – paid for – service will be something new and additional to the existing free PSN services. It's not comparable to XBL.

DeathOfChaos
DeathOfChaos
14 years ago

I doubt the 360 would have a single thing that I would remotly be interested in that the PS3 has exclusively or the PS3 already has in the store. Besides, the PSN is layed out so much better than XBL anyway.

mike rlz
mike rlz
14 years ago

in retrospect i didnt realize it was 70/yr… that i would do

PAKINIPS
PAKINIPS
14 years ago

Cloud storage would be brilliant, locked save games are a pain for backups and being able to continue my game on another ps3 and still get trophies would be very welcome.
Im sure sony will offer enough for a fair price and ill probably pay.
The rumor that its going to be revealed at E3 doesnt come as a surprise, id actually assumed that anyway

DeathOfChaos
DeathOfChaos
14 years ago

Cloud storage would be great. But if you were to decide not to pay the premium anymore, would that mean after your premium subscription goes out that all those saves would be gone/erased? That would suck…

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
14 years ago

Well, I'd bet that they'd allow you a one time option to move your game saves back to your PS3 if your subscription lapses – assuming that cloud storage of game saves came as part of a premium service and not as a free option.