Sony's PSN Paid Services to be Revealed at E3?

[MyNameDidntFit]

According to VG247 (http://www.vg247.com/2010/05/17/premium-psn-plans-for-e3-reveal-to-cost-less-than-50-per-year/), Sony will be pulling out a big announcement of the monetising scheme for PSN. Or so their 'highly-placed source' tells them.

The article goes on to talk about the pricing of the service being "less than £50 per year" and incorporating a system where PSN users will be given one free PSN game per month, to be chosen from a selection of 2-4 games. Now, assuming $5-$15 for these PSN games, you're going to end up with at least your fifty pounds back -- sure, it might not be your most desired games, but it's better than nothing.

VG's source also mentions that cross-game voice chat will not be a premium-only feature and that there will be nothing in the premium service that will "gimp regular PSN users".


Looking good? I'd say so. Now, if only I had a PS3, I might be excited.

[Jason]

This could be make-or-break time for the PS3. At the moment, the one BIG thing the 360 has over the PS3 is Xbox Live. Yes, it's a paid-for service, but it wipes the floor with the PSN for flexibility and functionality. If the extended version of the PSN can close the gap a little, then the PS3 could well start to close some serious ground on the 360.

...If only Sony could maybe hold on to their exclusives now. :-/

[Konrad]

Interesting. The one thing that made me chose PS3 over 360 in my "potential buys" pile was free online.

[MyNameDidntFit]

It currently has free online yes, but [from what I hear] you get what you pay for.

If Sony's premium PSN comes out to be as good as, or better than, XBL... well... there's a whole tonne of cash heading their way because, well, not everyone is as much a stooge as you :p

[Konrad]

What can I say, I'm spoiled by free online gaming. I refuse to pay a monthly subscription fee for MMOs as well.

[Jason]

Having used both (although in a somewhat limited manner so far as XBL goes), the PSN is perfectly functional as far as online play goes - there's no difference between the connection quality or number of games available in a given title on either platform.

The main difference at the moment is features - the cross-game chat feature in XBL is fantastic, and the friends system is a lot more streamlined and versatile. If the PSN can do this for free, then the XBL system might have to step up its game a little.