July 30th Update: The content per month isn’t determined as day one content and is content that will be made available through the month.
If you have been paying attention to all of the news coming out of E3, you probably heard that we introduced a new subscription service called PlayStation Plus, which will be available on June 29.
PlayStation Plus is a service that lives on top of the current PlayStation Network. So, while users will continue to have free access to PlayStation Network’s unmatched and ever-growing suite of new and exclusive content, services, and community focused tools – just as they do today – PlayStation Plus subscribers will gain access to an exclusive set of features and content designed specifically for gamers.
When you subscribe to PlayStation Plus, you’ll get free games and DLC (pretty sweet), frequent discounts on PlayStation Store, early invitations to select betas of popular games, and free monthly episodes of Qore – our high-definition, interactive gaming lifestyle show. You’ll also enjoy new functionality such as Full Game Trial where you can “try before you buy” – play a Blu-ray or PSN game for up to one hour and then you can buy the game, download it and keep your progress and trophies. Another cool feature is Automatic Downloads that will push select demos, game related videos, patches and firmware updates to your PS3 so you don’t have to think about it. Total it up and you’ll get hundreds of dollars of value through the year with exclusive digital content from both our World Wide Studios Group and our publishing partners. And every month we’ll be adding new content and continually adding new features, making PlayStation Plus an incredible value, time saver and ticket to front-of-the-line access.
At launch, PlayStation Plus will offer subscribers the full PlayStation Network game, WipEout HD, full game trial of inFAMOUS, PSP minis and PS One Classics such as Fieldrunners, Age of Zombies and Rally Cross, as well as premium avatars, themes and DLC levels and map packs. Additionally, subscribers will always have access to their virtual library of free games for as long as they keep their PlayStation Plus subscription. In all, subscribers will get an unprecedented amount of value, access and convenience and, in the first month alone, will receive more than $50 worth of content.
PlayStation Plus will be available for a yearly fee of $49.99. We are also running a “limited time offer” giving subscribers 3 free bonus months for signing up for a yearly subscription – so those who
sign up now will get 15-months of PlayStation Plus. Consumers also have the option to subscribe for 3 months for $17.99.
You can sign up on the PlayStation Store or learn more about the exclusive features at us.playstation.com.
@ Xeno3d
Sony is not giving us more Options, they are trying to give more Content, like the LBP Free if you buy into PSN Plus, where Live you pay the same 50 for extended features on your System.
That is what Sony should do, expand on the PSN Features, not giving away Games and Demos. I’m sure they will give more next year, but why not Start strong out the door, instead add on.
Cross game chat would be nice too if you put in psn plus, sony!
The service is launching in 12 days and they haven’t answered the very very very valid questions.
Jeff, Post a FAQ please.
I am interested, but I want to see a FAQ for the questions before I spend money.
I want PSN+ cards. Being able to get them on sale is great, PSN+ isn’t worth $50 (again until teh FAQS come and prove me wrong in my mind), but if I could get it on sale for $40 or less then it’s a deal.
This sounds pretty good, but I’d like to know more about the free games and dlc. Just saying you’ll get it doesn’t mean it’ll be anything worth getting.
Also, as many problems as new firmware updates cause sometimes I wouldn’t want my firmware to automatically update. I hope this can be turned off, while leaving the auto game updates on. I’m willing to play offline until I can make sure the firmwares not gonna mess up my system.
i will be all over this once it’s out. and maybe it’ll better explain how to sign up for it. they should go the MS route and offer monthly or yearly subscription cards
Hmmm… to many unanswered questions. So far i am NOT interested in PS+ until these blog questions are all answered.
372 comments/Zero replies
The N.A PS Blogs are horrible, they dont respond at all. Public relations needs to addressed, What a nightmare.
Sony is making me thinks twice about them recently.
@Those of you who are complaining about “leasing your games”
Then buy them. There is absolutely no way to spin getting free content. Enjoy it for free for as long as you want, and then if you want to still have access to the game when you end your subscription, then buy it, like you would do if you didn’t have a subscription.
Yes, for those who answered. Cross-game voice chat is in the official feature set. You’ll also be able to “call” non-plus friends and it will cost them nothing. You can also make “party chat” with up to 3 other friend, as long as it’s a plus member that makes the calls.
Hey Jeff. You guys had those in shirt xmb shirts @ GDC a couple years back as a slap to our face, why not just slap us in the face again with cross shirt chat for good measure?
BTW, Ive got money tied up in Home, bought a year of Qore, I even buy games I already have simply because they are download, and I love supporting you guys. But I swear, if I dont hear anything about cross game chat by the time PSN+ comes out, I will not buy another thing from the psn again.
I’ll sign up to this greedy, i mean, great idea of a service if someone would reply to the questions these people ask… I just don’t understand why this blog continues to ignore its comments. If the blogger is not a third-party developer, then don’t expect an answer New Slogan, Sony : We Love To Disappoint You.
People need to go back to page 7 near the bottom and read my posts. I’ve answered MANY of the questions here.
@359
It is hard to take you seriously when you say that buying avatars is idiotic, considering that you have a premium avatar yourself.
How about giving our Other OS ability back? Quit messing around, Sony. At this rate, why would I even want to support you with a subscription?
Go the European Blog if you guys want answers about PSN Plus. They have a good selection of questions like if the games you are given expire if your subscription expires. I am surprised Sony doesn’t answer anything unless they are going to when PSN Plus launches later on this month.
You can take your Plus Service and shovel it in you know what!
All these years now you want to charge for X-game.
I would like to know if the PS Plus will offer better online game play? I’m tired of playing MvC2 and keep getting network error message. So will PSN still be web base or more like Xbox Live?
Plus seem to be worth it but only if it doesn’t keep offering me games that I already bought.
@25 Who Told You Firmware 3.40 Includes xgc ?
@Demonhunter84
PSN for EU might come with different feature set, as the US/CA isn’t getting LBP for Free as a bonus. It would cover the simple questions about the “free” games, but there is more to it then that.
@DemonHunter,
Thank you for the suggestion.
1. The Trials are limited to 2 games of their choosing per month.
2. The PSN store discounts are select games at 20-50% off.
Interesting thing is that if you didn’t download that months “free” content then you can’t go back and download it.
This service will be awesome… think about a world where you can completely try a game with no locked features before you buy it, where you don’t have to apply to play a beta, where you won’t have to always pay for PS1 classics and minis as well as PSN games, where you don’t have to wait for a patch or anything else to download and install be it automatically did that while you were sleeping, and ONLY FOR A LITTLE OVER $4 A MONTH…. best of all if you don’t want to pay you won’t have to and still keep the same PSN service you have now.
Until there is confirmation of cross game chat, I might hold off. But maybe not. We’ll see.
Sure! I’m anxious to enjoy PSN +, but in order to sign and have the benefits of the PSN Plus, Sony has to launch the Brazilian PSN and everything will be alright!
So if I order it for a year, and a few years later i cancel it, I will lose all the free games I got? What if they shut down PS3 PSN when a new PlayStation comes out does that mean that i will never be able to play those games again?
I also am wanting to know much more about this before i buy. I will be doing the trial first as of now. But i dont buy PSN games alot so i would be more interested in enhancing the social part of PS3. X game chat should NOT be something you charge for, that will separate PSN users in a BAD way. I have some questions..
1. How often will this service get updated?
2. Will this allow sony to FINALLY have money to invest in better features were missing?
3. WIll the $50 be a great value after 12months or just money taken form me.
4. Will we keep our content we received from the service if we choose not to re subscribe?
Thanks
@ 375 there’s no trial of ps+.
I know jack said we would have 3 months free to try it out.
But if you goto http://www.playstationplus.com
It says you get, those 3 months free when you subscribe to a year.
And to those who say xgc is coming in ps+.
Sony shot it down on all sites and called it a rumor only.
There is no xgc for now.
We still waiting for the video store in Canada so I guess we wont see that until 2015!
377, It is said everywhere to be July 1st! Canada will get the video store on that date.
I guess I’d rather have 3 months bonus than 2 months and LBP. That 15th month could be awesome ;).
I’m done spending heaps of cash on the PSN with no regard. I would love to let Sony send me what they want to promote while I’m sleeping. I would love to wake up and be able to copy Minis to my PSPgo in the morning.
SONY this is my last warning if u guys keep ignoring us i will go out and buy the new xbox 360 right now at least they care more about they’re fans and give them what they want. how hard is it to look in playstation share and include the top rated ideas on playstation plus?? and till this day i havent seen not even 1 sony worker even mention CROSS GAME CHAT.
Sony ignores their customers 100% on here. Its these little people posting on here that fill your paychecks people!
Here’s the FAQ about PlayStation Plus:
What is Automatic Download?
When Automatic Download is activated, system software updates, game updates and selected demos will be automatically downloaded to your PlayStation 3 system, so they’re ready and waiting for you when you next use your PS3. To activate Automatic Download, visit Settings > [System Settings] on the PlayStation 3 system’s XMB (XrossMediaBar) menu.
How much does PlayStation Plus membership cost?
PlayStation Plus costs $49.99 for a one-year membership and $17.99 for a 90-day membership.
Does PlayStation Plus have an age limit?
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase PlayStation Plus membership.
Can I transfer PlayStation Plus membership to another account, including a Sub Account?
No. Once the PlayStation Plus membership has been purchased, it can not be transferred to any other account.
Does my PlayStation Plus account work on my PlayStation 3 system and my PSP system?
Yes. One PlayStation Plus account will be compatible with both your PlayStation 3 and PSP. Downloaded content can be used on both your PS3 and PSP, provided the content is already compatible with each system. Although PlayStation Plus members have access to select special offers on PSP, PlayStation Plus can not be joined from either PlayStation Store on PSP or Media Go. Full Game Trial and Automatic Download are not available on PSP.
Can I use PlayStation Network Cards to pay for PlayStation Plus membership?
Yes, any payment methods approved for purchasing content from PlayStation Store can be used to join PlayStation Plus.
Do I need to register a credit card to become a member of PlayStation Plus?
It is not necessary to register a credit card to become a member of PlayStation Plus, although we recommend that you do so to take advantage of automatic renewal.
What happens if I accidentally delete the PlayStation Plus content on my system?
In most cases, if the content is still available for download, you can re-download it. A Full Game Trial, however, may only be downloaded once.
Can I re-download PlayStation Plus content?
In most cases, if the content is still available for download, you can re-download it. A Full Game Trial, however, may only be downloaded once.
This was taken from the EU support site, but also applies to us. Of course I changed the pricing question to the US info.
To all of you who don’t understand why we don’t have xgame chat. Microsoft has certain patents that make it difficult for Sony to do without getting in significant trouble. I don’t get the big deal with it anyways. >,> Regardless, the US patent laws aren’t gonna change because you want xgame chat on your ps3. Sony probably could make a deal with Skype or start their own VoIP that runs on the PS3.
I will not pay for your online service until I am given far better incentive. If I wanted Qore, I would buy it. I already own I already own inFAMOUS and WipEout HD. The discounts are a nice idea, but who is to say that they will be on worthwhile items? I do not want forced downloads to my Playstation and i do not want those PS One classics – I would prefer….say….Final Fantasy VII. Automatic updates are hardly enticing as I can initiate the update manually, eat a sandwich and continue playing with no trouble at all. Front of the line passes to play unfinished games is far less glamorous than you make it sound and the 1 hour rental thing is really not very exciting either. If I want to pay that much fora game rental, I will get GameFly and keep the game as long as i want or go to a rental store and get to finish the entire game for a $7 rental fee. Don’t even think about trying to entice me with cross game chat either – that ought to be included as standard.
I think the premium edition is a good idea, just poorly executed. For some more enticing features, I would be willing to pay up to $15 annually. As it is, I will not be subscribing to your scam.
Thank you for your time,
Jason
Some answers from Sony Reps to all these questions sure would be nice.
it is hard to make an informed decision when you dont have the information you need.
skype?
You people are ridiculus. The reason it’s not free is because VOIP servers cost money to maintain. They know you have wanted X Game Chat forever but the reason they haven’t done it is because it costs money to host. With 35 million users we are talking some serious cash. So if you want a more xbox live esque experience then pay for it and stop [DELETED]. You have the most expensive console on the market and you can’t afford $4.00 a month. god. Not only are they giving you X-Game Chat they are giving you free games, trials, betas, avatars, themes, etc. etc. The list goes on. And to whoever is [DELETED] that they already have Infamous and Wipeout HD. No one cares. If you have it then you don’t have to play it again new games are released monthly. Get over it buy it. I know I will be. And I pay for Xbox Live.
And please stop asking stupid questions and expecting psn reps to come answer them… Obviously more details and answers to commonly asked questions will be announced at the end of the month at launch. sheesh.
I have a feeling I’m already going to own most of the psn games given… like wipeout
And BonScott, perhaps its not for everyone… but calling it a scam is just stupid. I can make all of the same arguments for not buying a ps3 in the first place. If you don’t want what they’re selling don’t buy it.
“If I wanted to play video games, I would bust out my NES. And don’t try to entice me with HD or 3D, but my tube tv is incapable of both. Playing online with built in wi-fi? I hate people and will not want to play video games with them. I will not pay $299 for your scam. I would be willing to pay perhaps $25 if you throw in a t-shirt.”
Nothing to PSP only users?
I havn’t seen anything that mentions about Home with this playstation+? i’m wondering what’s the deal???
What about existing annual Qore subscribers who are supposed to get early beta access, early demo access and free games?????
Will we be given some kind of upgrade offer??? Why should we pay twice for Qore??
Ok so if I subscribe to plus and receive free games and other free stuff. I heard that I loose everything if say I decide not renew for another year. Is this True. So Wipeout would become unplayeable if I were not to renew for the next year?
full game trial of infamous
what does it mean?
i can download the whole game but, i can get it at 100%? or is it just for a limited time?? thank you :)
@KnightRid all the DLC included in PSN+ will be lost, as it’s PSN+ exlusive content.
all regular paid content will of course stay, u won’t lose the stuff you purchased!
For the people that complained only Europe is getting Little Big Planet with the Plus feature, here’s what I’ve found:
The US PlayStation Plus gamers get 15 months for the price of 12, but European gamers get LittleBigPlanet instead.
I would jump on the PSN+ bandwagon if PSN also had
1. Discount Movie Rental’s (2.99 SD, 3.99 HD, TV Shows $.99 SD, 1.99 HD) Discount Movie Purchases for older titles ($4.99 and $6.99)
2. DLC (All are ~50% off or Free* if Active Subscription)
3. Internet Applications ( Netflix, Pandora, Youtube, Hulu, etc most new Blu-ray players have them) or even $.99 per Application.
4. Demos for Most New PS3 Games (@ $60 per game this is a must)
5.Improved Internet Browser ( It’s about time, Sony!)
6. More Weekly Discounts and Selections ( Not just a hand full)
7. Cloud Storage
8. Faster PSN Download Speeds
I want to spend money on PSN and PS3 Games, this will make PSN+ worth it!
As a fellow Playstation Underground GAP member,
I for one must say it is about time this happened. Microsoft for all the flak it sometimes gets for its decisions, is a very smart company filled with very smart people, and knew what it was doing back in 2002. Online game support is expensive for everyone involved including the platform maker, and getting paid for a little of that support in some way is always a good thing for your bottom line. Qore was a good start for Playstation but could not be the end as I am sure subs were not what they wanted.
I still would like something similar for Xbox Live but Inside Xbox and other offers currently make such a potential program a moot point.
Sony,
I look forward to giving some of my support to this new initiative as it will help improve the Sony Playstation Network product which in turn will provide amble competition hopefully for the Xbox Live Gold & Silver services to continue to improve beyond just the announced ESPN addition… which IMHO is Awesome for us Gold members! Way to go MS! More, thank you. :-)
Btw, a “Gold” PS plus symbol? ;-)