After months and months of speculation about the future of the PlayStation Network, Sony Executive Jack Tretton revealed a new online subscription service for the PlayStation 3 that will begin later this month. The newly minted "PlayStation Plus" service will offer PS3 owners additional online features, discounts on PSN games, "free downloadable games," and access to exclusive offers such as game betas. A one-year subscription to PlayStation Plus is $50 dollars--the same price as a year of Xbox Live--while three months of the service can be purchased for $17. The key difference between the Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus services is that the latter is not required to play games online.  
  

After months and months of speculation about the future of the PlayStation Network, Sony Executive Jack Tretton revealed a new online subscription service for the PlayStation 3 that will begin later this month. The newly minted "PlayStation Plus" service will offer PS3 owners additional online features, discounts on PSN games, "free downloadable games," and access to exclusive offers such as game betas. A one-year subscription to PlayStation Plus is $50 dollars--the same price as a year of Xbox Live--while three months of the service can be purchased for $17. The key difference between the Xbox Live and PlayStation Plus services is that the latter is not required to play games online.  
  

Let's wait and see.  Sounds good, though.

sony disappointed me :(

damn.. underwhelming

Your statement is very misleading in the descript

This is the worst. Really.

Yeah Sony already got enough of my money after the fucking yellow light I got on my PS3. No way I'm paying for this

To be honest, I may have done it if it included cross game chat...but I probably won't knowing what is actually in it.

At E3 I think I heard him slip in something along the lines that you loose a lot of your content when you stop subscribing, or was that just me?

Not quite sure how to feel about this. I mean on one hand it does provide some interesting services. On the other hand I lose everything if I happen to not want what they have to offer on a given month.

there is a rumor about cross-game chat? can anyone confirm it?

I don't know about this. I think I'll have to wait and see during that free trial period to see if this is worth it or not.

That was a fucking letdown.

  According to JoyStiq you get cross game voice chat as a part of this service. Non plus members can be invited to these chats and will even be able to continue to voice chat once the plus member host leaves. 
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/cross-game-party-chat-coming-to-ps3-with-strings-attached/

This is not that impressive.

Totally not worth the money in my opinion.   A few free avatars/themes, a 'possibility' of early access to betas/games, and a rental service.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is shitty.
 
It seems like a shifty marketing scheme.
Why not just copy Xbox Live?

This is really rediculous, instead of making the normal PSN and XMB better, trying to catch up to Xbox Live, they charge for things that should be free to everyone. Automatic updates? Cross game voice chat? Give that to everyone! Sony can take their ripoff service and shove it where the sun don't shine.

I think it is a pretty good idea. I am sure I am not the only one to like it. It will allow them to earn extra money which will hopefully be used to make PSN even better. 

I'll wait and see, internet ain't the best in New Zealand and I damn well ain't going to download new games every other month, my bandwidth will go through the roof. 

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/cross-game-party-chat-coming-to-ps3-with-strings-attached/  
 
cross game chat... 

" To be honest, I may have done it if it included cross game chat...but I probably won't knowing what is actually in it. "

I don't see much benefit.  The free trial thing is cool, free games, discounts, but what about group voice chat and all the good stuff that is still missing?

I'd have to wait and see if the content is meaningful to me, and if it justifies the price. Also, didn't they say something about a three month free trial? Or am I just crazy?

Microsoft and Sony are going in opposite directions.

I thought this was kinda stupid.
 
I would pay $50 if it included cross-game chat/party chat. That's the main reason why 360 online is so much better than PS3.

It sounds very underwhelming to me, especially now that gold membership is starting to feel justified with the added services. But we'll see how it plays out.

Nah not enough to pay 50 bucks for. Some of those features should be in the PS3 regardless and they are just using it as a lever to have more people pay for the service... not buying into it. 
 
I am frightened to see what other system update features they will hold back in the future for this service...
 
The 360 has more justification in charging the price since the online service works in a much better fashion. 

" At E3 I think I heard him slip in something along the lines that you loose a lot of your content when you stop subscribing, or was that just me? "

I think I'll just spend 50 bucks on games I get to choose and keep.

Some of that stuff sounds good, I like having the option and not being forced into it. But no mention of cross game voice chat? would seal the deal if they chucked that in.

" That was a fucking letdown. "

So Sony wants me to buy a service where they get to choose what games I should play? And this includes automatic updating, which should be a standard fix for their lousy current system? Pass.

This is stupid. Who will actually subscribe to this service?

To be honest, Microsoft should do something like this.  Make Silver the standard to play online and buy XBLA games, DLC, etc at no annual cost to the player and make Gold like PS Plus.  Discounted Arcade games would be awesome.

so im gonna be down 100 bucks for subscription services doesnt sound reasonable. i do like the full game trial though if i play 2 games its worth it.

kinda dumb, where is cross voice chat?

u guys do understand that playing online is still free...

I want to know if you unsubscribe then resubscribe at a later time, will you be able to play the games that were free when you were previously subscribed.  So basically, can I subscribe only when the games are good?

You guys are fucking dumb - 'Why didnt they make it xbox live, thats worth charging for'  
 
Wake up, psn is equal to XBL - except party chat  - newsflash, i got a 360 a year ago, ive never used party chat - it aint a holy grail. 
This is not for me, it does not appeal to me but there are people it WILL appeal to, all you prats saying 'waaaah they shouldve just copied live then itd be worth it' basically, you just want em to charge 50 bones a year for what you already have? and give nothing back?!  
 
Just think before you type for once internet - please

" @neoepoch said:

" To be honest, I may have done it if it included cross game chat...but I probably won't knowing what is actually in it. "

This. Cross-Game Chat is still not on the PS3. That blows my mind. "

No, do not want. Sounds like a rebranded Qore. 

If the online gameplay is still free I don't see the point of subscribing.

" kinda dumb, where is cross voice chat? "

For everyone down on it atleast you don't need it for basic online play.  

HAHAHAHA PSN is fine free...but the same price as Live w/o the features and all Live has?
 
Sony can blow my sweaty nuts

Sounds straight up bogus. Only the hardest core of fanboys would think this was a decent deal.
 
Sony obviously still doesn't quite "get it" yet.