Sony rumored to be announcing premium PSN service at E3
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 18th 2010 5:03PM
posted May 18th 2010 5:03PM
We've been hearing about a premium PlayStation Network service for some time now -- even from Sony's Kaz Hirai himself -- and if a report from VG247 is to be believed, it looks like it could finally become a reality at E3 next month. According to the site, a "highly-placed source" says that Sony will be announcing the service and a slew of new premium PSN features during its June 15th keynote at the show, and that it will cost less than £50 (or $70) per year. As we'd heard previously, the current PSN service would apparently remain as-is for anyone that doesn't wish to upgrade, but it seems that Sony will be throwing in some pretty big incentives to get folks to pay up -- you'll supposedly get a free PSN game from a choice of "two to four" each month with your subscription. Details on the premium service are otherwise still pretty light, but VG247 says it will include a music streaming service similar to Spotify.
let the flame wars begin!
@snugs (Turns on Lightsaber)
@snugs
You have no power here Lord Vader. We all know you are running OSX in that helmet.
@admlshake. You should know better than to anger a Sith Lord with a Lightsaber on (vmmm tsk)
@Lord Vader
My shwartz is bigger than yours.
@Lord Vader
We've all seen under the suit Vader. I fear no HALF sith lord. Darth Stumpy?
@admlshake. I would use the force to kill both of you, but the Force earlier today announced that it would charge for it's services. I can only kill one slave per day by force choke on a free account. On a premium account i can kill an infinite amount using force choke or throw, but at a cost
@Lord Vader
Well, at least you don't have to pay for each Force attack separately, like on some Apple Apps...
@Lord Vader Any attack made by Lord Vader (hereafter known as the defendant) towards a poster will face the ultimate power in the universe: Our lawyers. I assure you that the ability to choke a slave to death in a premium plan is insignificant next to the size of the wages we can garnish from you.
@Lord Vader
This guy is good, lmao.... This is way I read* Engadget
*And for the Gadgets
@snugs Yoga flame!
No flamewars here.
$70 a year, $6 a month. (rounded)
$6 a month is just about like XBL. But $6 a month with a free game? DEAL.
@Aguiluz
LIVE is $50 a year if your to lazy to get a better deal. Under $40 a year can be found at anytime, usually newegg.com! Even at $50, your SONY fanboys complained at that whole $4.17 a month. Even though it can be found where your only paying about $3.00 a month. Yet you NOW seem to be just fine with the $6.00 a month, and FREE game, Who cares, just a way for SONY to now sucker all you freeloaders into paying!!!
@JBDragon
LIVE is paid about the same, but if you stop paying, all your online services go out of the window.
At least if I ran short of cash to pay for the sub I can still play online on PSN, albeit losing a free game per month (which cancels out the sub fee) and losing all the flowery add-on features I won't miss.
I'm in for the games I get per month.
@Aguiluz
$70 A year for PSN
$50 A year for XBL
Your math skills suck.
This is a slap in the face to everyone who flamed Micro$oft for charging for XBL. I will probably upgrade but will wait to see what all the benefits are first. My PS3 is mostly a BluRay player and not much of a gaming rig so not sure if it'll be worth it to me.
@Icedassault
Difference is, it's still $0 for online play. Take your trolling elsewhere.
@Icedassault
How the hell is it a slap in the face? Everything we get now, including the online gameplay 360 owners have to pay for, will still be free. This adds other extras like the free game, streaming radio, etc. Not too bad of a deal if you ask me, especially for the games.
@Icedassault Worst comment ever? Quite possibly.
I have a 360 but I don't pay for online so I've flashed it - I do all my online gaming on PS3 and PC.
The difference you don't seem to get is that guys with a PS3 will STILL pay nothing for what 360 owners have to cough up the cost of a retail game for. If we choose to pay we actually get something worthwhile...
@admlshake
LOL
@Icedassault
Only one doing the slapping is Microsoft with their damn silverlight ads.
@JBDragon
its a PREMIUM service, as in, you dont HAVE to pay, unlike with xbox
the free game offer is a great idea, and for the price it seems good
now i just wish i had a PS3... :(
@HoldenMccrotch
Slight correction: You don't HAVE to pay for xbox if you prefer playing with yourself. :P
@snugs
flame wars. no!
game wars. yes!
microsoft will probably match that (partially) and piss off all the early live subscribers
then again i now redub it whine wars. lol
As long as it's optional. Some just want to play online and thats that. Of course it's nice to get the extras when you pay for them though.
@richb93
Unless this subscription gives my PS3 the ability to give head, I'll be sticking to my free service thanks.
@richb93 I hope your right. Free online play was a big selling point is the ps3.
@richb93 Yeah, that's how it's gonna work. The extra or bonuses and incentives are gonna be charged that premium, but for those that don't need it, they can still ride the free train.
@N900
They were going to include that, but it poses a "Security risk". I mean, Sony doesn't know what kind of viruses *cough* STDs *cough* you've picked up..
@SolidSnake
Stupid Engadget comment system...
meant for tobsmonster2
Weak photoshoppin' :P
@decypherSMC
TROLL... No seriously, look at the guy.
@Wiizer the chances of this stuff coming to Canada are pretty slim, so I probably won't be getting any of this.
@Wiizer
He's a troll!! =D
@decypherSMC actually it would be GLOBAL
Providing they keep all the features of the current PSN free, its not a bad thing.
@yais Yeah, though I wonder what those bonuses might be. DLC, videos, mods?
@yais
I like the free system, but I'm okay with a paid plan as long as it goes above and beyond what they offer on PSN now.
Plus, a free PSN game each month for a year? That amounts to about $5 each. Not bad as long as they don't unload the junk games all the time.
So much for me telling all my Xbox friends "our PS3 network is free and Xbox live isn't"...........FAIL !!!!
@TheEdge
However PSN will STILL be free, these are for 'premium' services which include special content and free games, not for access to PSN itself
@TheEdge
The report says you'll have two options, the free one and the paid one, please read before making your comments, I'm just saying.
@TheEdge needs to go back and re-read, or slap his reading comprehension teacher...
@TheEdge
to make it short: You Sir, "...........FAIL !!!!" pretty much yourself at reading and comprehending.
I seriously think you ARE at "the edge" of reading comprehension.
If u find spelling mistakes you can keep them for free .. thanks.
XBL needs to allow some online game for the silver members, I prefer ps3 games when they are released on both platforms because I have the option to play online for free.
@TheEdge no one who plays on PSN has friends
@kiyu727 I was able to get several monkeys to waste time responding to my post. Good little monkeys.
@kiyu727 "u" isn't a word. Next time stop being lazy and write "you". It only took two more presses of the keys buddy.
@TheEdge
Well, after all you understood what "u" stood for, I didnt intend anything else so Im pretty much happy with it.
So you admit trolling ? I like seeing people who admit doing useless activities. Makes me feel better ;]
@kiyu727 ummmmm, where did I admit trolling? I think it's medication time. The visions are returning. I play PS3 several hours a week. If that's what you mean by trolling then yes. But I encourage you to continue with your worthy responses since this is probably the only interaction you have with something other than animals.
@TheEdge
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community.
I do put your statement "I was able to get several monkeys to waste time responding to my post. " under this.
You think you've done something great with your flaming ? Well, Im happy to tell you that I dont mind :)
@SirNoDroin
Awww, what's wrong? Did mommy and daddy say that they wouldn't buy you a PS3 for your birthday?