CSL
05-27-2010, 01:00 PM
Reports: Paid "PSN+" service coming to PlayStation Network
by Mike Smith
For the nearly eight years it's been in existence, there's been one major thing that differentiated Microsoft's Xbox Live online service from its competitors: it's the only one to charge players fees for some features.
Now, according to reports from multiple sources, that's about to change. And no, Xbox Live isn't about to go free.
According to Joystiq, Sony will be unveiling a premium tier of its PlayStation Network service in June. Dubbed "PSN+," it could cost gamers as much as $9.99 per month. The top-tier service won't be needed for any of the functions currently supported by the PlayStation Network -- so you'll still be able to play online for free -- but it will grant subscribers access to a slew of new features, including cross-game voice chat, exclusive downloadable content, and a rotating list of free PlayStation and PSP Mini games.
Buyers will also get access to exclusive game demos, extended warranty coverage on their hardware, an automated service for downloading game patches -- and more features are on the way, Joystiq's sources said. So far, the PlayStation Network's feature-set has lagged considerably behind Xbox Live's, but -- if accurate -- the reported enhancements would easily make it the most capable online suite on the market.
Joystiq's reports were lent considerable credence following recent comments from the president of the European arm of Sony Computer Entertainment, Andrew House, made on Sony's official web site.
"I can assure you that the current PSN as you know it will remain a free service," he said, in response to a fan question. "It is something that our competitors don’t offer and something that shows our loyalty to the PlayStation Community. However, [Sony Computer Entertainment CEO] Kaz Hirai stated a few months ago that we were looking at a premium service to sit alongside the current free service and that objective has not changed. You’ll learn more about it very soon."
Very soon, eh? In a staggering coincidence, the gaming world's biggest media frenzy, the E3 trade show, is set to kick off in Los Angeles in mid-June, and Sony has already scheduled a major press conference for June 15. We'd say that qualifies as "very soon."
I'm far from being the biggest fan/user of online gaming so it'd have to be something pretty good for me to start paying.
by Mike Smith
For the nearly eight years it's been in existence, there's been one major thing that differentiated Microsoft's Xbox Live online service from its competitors: it's the only one to charge players fees for some features.
Now, according to reports from multiple sources, that's about to change. And no, Xbox Live isn't about to go free.
According to Joystiq, Sony will be unveiling a premium tier of its PlayStation Network service in June. Dubbed "PSN+," it could cost gamers as much as $9.99 per month. The top-tier service won't be needed for any of the functions currently supported by the PlayStation Network -- so you'll still be able to play online for free -- but it will grant subscribers access to a slew of new features, including cross-game voice chat, exclusive downloadable content, and a rotating list of free PlayStation and PSP Mini games.
Buyers will also get access to exclusive game demos, extended warranty coverage on their hardware, an automated service for downloading game patches -- and more features are on the way, Joystiq's sources said. So far, the PlayStation Network's feature-set has lagged considerably behind Xbox Live's, but -- if accurate -- the reported enhancements would easily make it the most capable online suite on the market.
Joystiq's reports were lent considerable credence following recent comments from the president of the European arm of Sony Computer Entertainment, Andrew House, made on Sony's official web site.
"I can assure you that the current PSN as you know it will remain a free service," he said, in response to a fan question. "It is something that our competitors don’t offer and something that shows our loyalty to the PlayStation Community. However, [Sony Computer Entertainment CEO] Kaz Hirai stated a few months ago that we were looking at a premium service to sit alongside the current free service and that objective has not changed. You’ll learn more about it very soon."
Very soon, eh? In a staggering coincidence, the gaming world's biggest media frenzy, the E3 trade show, is set to kick off in Los Angeles in mid-June, and Sony has already scheduled a major press conference for June 15. We'd say that qualifies as "very soon."
I'm far from being the biggest fan/user of online gaming so it'd have to be something pretty good for me to start paying.