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 $70) per year. As we'd heard previously, the current PSN service would apparently remain as-is for anyone that doesn't wish to upgrade, but it seems that Sony will be throwing in some pretty big incentives to get folks to pay up -- you'll supposedly get a free PSN game from a choice of "two to four" each month with your subscription. Details on the premium service are otherwise still pretty light, but VG247 says it will include a music streaming service similar to Spotify.
@oxymoreon
if they really want to give us an incentive to upgrade to the premium, i would suggest giving us a better download connections which would really be nice of them
I'm really disappointed in the PS3 pricing strategy now.
£25/game (less than 1 year old)
£50/year in PSN fees
£35/controller
£40/playstation move
the only thing that's worth the price is the console itself.
@Hydraulics How is that different from the other consoles?
The real question that just came to mind is how many Playstation fanboys that bashed Xbox fanboys for paying for Xbox Live are gonna be hypocrites and pay for this?
Wouldn't the better graphic for the story be "Paystation"?
I don't mind paying a subscription as long as it's reasonable, I get something for it and they don't make you jump through hoops to cancel.
It was only a matter of time really.
The selling of PS3s at a loss probably won't help stave this off either.
You get what you pay for.
PSN needs to develop into a good online network first, and then maybe I'll consider using the free version. Improve the capabilities first, and then maybe we'll pay.
free PSN game is a pretty good deal because they cost around 10$ each so you get 12 for 70$... If i had a ps3 this would be a sure buy just for that feature alone
I wish microsoft would give us that deal instead of the stupid deal of the week, which is always something incredibly usless, and the deal is a 2$ savings WHOOPTIDOO !!
@ja
You actually think you get a FREE game once a month? HAHAHAHAHA. Maybe one FREE game for a Year Subscription. So you get your 1 FREE game and it only costs you $70!!!
@JBDragon
its a free PSN game ... not a free released full game like GOW
read the story properly
Why not offer a free PS3 with a PSN contract?
@WYGUY good idea. FREE PS3 with minimum contract, say 5 years lol
if they can do it with a phone why not PS3.
I'll probably sign up just on the basis that I can get free PSN games. I already pay for XBL so paying another 5 bucks a month is no big deal. I spend that much on a coffee and donut and lunch in a day so this isn't a big deal.
Sony has lost a lot of my respect between getting rid of Install other OS and this. Not that that matters, but what I'm saying is just Sony, I used to think you were cool...
@Pliskin I don't get it. They're giving you everything you already get for free at the moment. For free.
And then they're giving you all kinds of cool bonus crap for a few bucks a month IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE IT.
Who exactly is losing out on this?
@Pliskin
Most people never once used the other o/s "feature" and everything we already get for free will still be free. Why would there be a loss of respect? I don't get it.
Just so long as they add cross-game voice chat to the free service. If it's part of a paid service, my friends will not use it, thereby making it completely useless for me.
@Ryan P
Didn't a Sony insider announce it had been tested around the time of forced trophy support, was incompatible with badly ported early titles from EA, and would never be implemented because of this?
If you're waiting for cross game chat you're dreaming.
@Sicarius123
Sources, please?
I'm just voicing my opinion that the only thing I see lacking on the PS3's current online service is cross game voice chat. Technical issues aside, if it was added as a paid service, it would have no value to me.
I tend to take the same view of this as I do the in-game XMB. It's not supported while playing PS1 games (maybe PS2 games as well, but I don't have a backward compatible model so I couldn't say for sure) but that didn't stop them from adding it. If a couple early, poorly done ports by EA are all that are stopping Sony from adding highly requested features, then it shouldn't be a big deal.
Saying something is impossible does nothing but make it so.
Hmmm ... I don't play games on my PS3, so that eliminates any gaming value for me. Streaming music isn't worth $50/year to me. Right now I'm voting NO on this ...
First thing I thought when I saw the graphic: "Should have called it the Paystation."
Rgh, meant to say Paystation Network.
The idea of PSN gradually going premium is kind of bad (free is better), but the bonus PSN games each month and possibility of a better service could be worth it.
@delicatessen lama :: Just to clarify, I meant Idea from a consumer perspective.
PayStation 3!
Certainly can't see this doing Playstation sales any good. Well with Xbox you have to pay Xbox Live, but with Playstation... oh... wait...
Xbox Live still is better. Sorry ps3 fanboys. Xbox live is just better quality. That's why you pay for it. Downrank me if you want but it's the truth. HALO 3 FTW!!!!!!!
@feelinmycrotch This is a sarcastic post, right?
okay I am a pc gamer but I use to play xbox and I have to say I havent played on the playstation network but I loved xbox live and it's worth it I can't say the same on playstation
@feelinmycrotch Can you give me some examples of what makes Live better than PSN? I have played both and I am just not seeing how Live is so much better and want to know what I am not seeing in this picture.
And as far as cross game chat (because everyone says that) I have found no use. I will talk to you if we are in co-op gaming, and if we aren't playing a game together, I use my phone. I call it cross-life talk/text/media messaging. Works awesome. So for me, its not a plus, I don't use it.
As a 360 owner and member of XBOX live, i would find A LOT of value in getting a few XBLA games every month or so. if this is true, good move SONY. MS, your turn!
The beginning of the end, smh. Saw this coming a mile away.
The dollar sign only has one line going through it sir, not two! (ex. $)
I always expected Sony to slowly move to charged online services for PSN. Microsoft not only sold more 360's they also made plenty extra money on top through XBL Gold and DLC - it's a great money spinner, something I'm sure Sony is regretting.
PS3 might be my last console if they're all going to be pay online services from now on.
Pity that'll be the end of my gaming.
free psn games hey ,,,hmmmm,,,i hold judgement out until someone see one of these games in the flesh but so far sounding like a better then my (current) xbox live ,,,ms better up the services on xbl or they will have ppl including me at some point drifting to psn ,then again i may go the even better move and get both services ,if i have money to burn.
the beginning of the end of free PS3 online gaming...
...no more XBox Live jibes!
So clear that they need the money!!!!