Report: Sony Launching $70 PSN Premium at E3

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Sony is said to be launching a new premium version of the PlayStation Network at E3 this year.

Sony may not be launching a new iteration of its handheld PSP console this year at E3 but that doesn’t mean the company won't have a big reveal for the annual games convention. VG247 cites sources that say Sony will introduce us to a new version of PSN next month. While the current PSN costs nothing to use and will remain free, the new premium PSN will cost under $70 per year.

VG247's 'highly placed source' says this premium service will also include one game a month for free, with users choosing from between two and four titles.

"If you work it out, PSN games cost an average of £6-9 each, so over a year you’re basically going to be breaking even," the source is quoted as saying.

The source went on to say that though the premium service would offer lots of extras, it wouldn't mean fewer features for those with the regular, old free version. When asked about the possibility that cross-game voice chat was being saved as a paid feature, the source said this was absolutely not the case.

"I can tell you now, 100 percent, that that’s not the case. There’s nothing in the premium package which will gimp regular PSN users."

Would you pay up to $70 per year for a premium version of PSN? Let us know in the comments below!

Jane McEntegart
51 Comments Comment from the forums
  • JonathanDeane
    It comes with some free games I guess so. I would wait a couple of months to see what kind of free games though. If its just Pacman or Qbert for free then I would say no.
    Reply
  • wintermint
    How about lowering it a bit in order to stay competitive with XBOX Live?
    Reply
  • flea420
    lol
    Reply
  • borisof007
    wintermintHow about lowering it a bit in order to stay competitive with XBOX Live?
    ^^ lol
    Reply
  • armitageid
    Maybe, but will need to know more about it. Where are some details! hopefully coming soon!
    Reply
  • idisarmu
    They should sell vouchers/cards in stores just like the XBL points. $5 gets you one month, $25 gets you 6 months, and $40 gets you 12 months.

    That would encourage people to buy the cards in bulk.
    Reply
  • keczapifrytkiI would, just because you are basically "breaking even" at the end of the year with the free games. Keep in mind that they might be crap, but still free.
    This, I think 2 out of 4 games released on PSN are fairly good though, so if they offer a good selection I think it wouldn't be too bad. And if it takes up the services offered to a new level, it might make the ps3 at least play on a level close to Xbox Live, although that all depends on how they present themselves. Still competition is always good, so lets hope for the best! And if nothing else this gives more exposure to those downloadable games, and some of them really could use the attention.
    Reply
  • nforce4max
    $70 isn't all that much now days and for a once a year fee that isn't to bad. I like the free game idea which might pay it's self off depending on the title. I have spent more on ice cream.
    Reply
  • Strider-Hiryu_79
    I have all 3 consoles minus a modern pc that can run today's games(waiting for diablo III and starcraft 2 to come out before I play catch up and build a new rig). 2 are collecting dust and the ps3 is what I'm currently using religiously. When not at work I hop onto psn to play super street fighter iv online with my real life friends over psn.

    And for all the hating amongst the platforms, there are games that are better tailored to certain platforms than others.

    Would I pay 70$ for extra "premium" content on top of the default benefits I already get with my free PSN account? No

    I'm betting those "free" games a month that Sony is offering are titles that no one would download or are "clearance" titles.

    I'm a use the example of the game worms. Sure it was popular to some. It's personally not my type of game but it's no high end game blockbuster-title either. Games like those I'm betting will be the "free" games that sony will offer. Not high end games(i hope for psn user's sake that I'm proven wrong).

    I'm hoping that the free downloadable games are of quality fun titles such as shatter(btw shatter is coming to PC as well i think or already has)which was a nice take on arkanoid-type games with a modern update and control scheme twist and excellent soundtrack by the way.

    But yah until Sony offers improved mic support(on par with xbox live) on psn AND until Sony makes online play not-free(god forbid) I'll be sticking to my low-tier free psn account.
    Reply
  • liquidsnake718
    not for shovelware but its interesting to see Sony take Xbox on one step at a time in terms of online content
    Reply