PSN not to be free anymore?

[Insanecyclone]

PlayStation Insider - PSINext Discuss PS3, PS2, PSP - PS3 News

You may remember we recently reported on some rumors regarding Sony's 3 hour press event at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. We said they had planned on revealing at least 3 things. One of which was said to be PS3 Slim, the other a PSP Go price cut (most likely in the form of another model with less internal memory storage), and one last rumor that our source would only say was something being done "for the first time".

Well, we heard back from our source again, and it looks like they decided to go ahead and tell us what that "first time' was.

Our source told us that Sony is planning on announcing firmware 3.0 at the conference, while being very careful to point out that Sony might not release firmware 3.0 on that day, but that they will announce it and detail it's features, possibly in video form. Our source also said it coincides with the release of the new PlayStation Network, however our source didn't go into any detail as to what this new PSN is supposed to feature. Sony did send out some e-mails recently hinting at a new PSN launching on the 18th, so that lends some credibility to these rumors.

We speculate that it could have some premium features. There was talk a while back about a possible premium service where users pay one flat rate to access unlimited downloads (online gaming and all of it's features would still be free though). If the price were right, that's something that many could find very appealing. Hopefully this firmware 3.0 will also come with some of our most sought after features, like cross game voice chat, voice or video messaging, etc.

So, once again, to recap:

PSP Go price cut
PS3 Slim
New PSN
Firmware 3.0

Until the 18th, until Sony says it themselves, treat this as rumor. Have your obligatory pinch of salt with this one.

Rumor but if they do start it then fuck them.

[BRP]

hmmm, I don't buy it

[Insanecyclone]

Some things would still be free but they could always reduce it in some way

[Null]

I don't buy at either. But if they did, that wouldn't stack with playing games online would it? I don't know how it is on the xbox but i assume you don't have to make two payments to play XI.

[Insanecyclone]

I don't buy at either. But if they did, that wouldn't stack with playing games online would it? I don't know how it is on the xbox but i assume you don't have to make two payments to play XI.

Nah you can have a normal free account to play 11

[Komm Suesser Tod]

Wow, on top of the whole "we suck so much more than xbox live" thing, they now want to charge? Now, I'm a fan of quite a few PS3 games, but the interface is hands down worse than like, anything. I can't imagine charging for it.

[Korietsu]

I don't buy at either. But if they did, that wouldn't stack with playing games online would it? I don't know how it is on the xbox but i assume you don't have to make two payments to play XI.

You do.

[Priran]

Fuck that shit. They already have that XBL-Lite Qore garbage, but adding a full-fledged Premium PSN would be getting rid of one of the PS3's biggest selling points.

[Kiarax]

Fucking retarded if so. Atleast it'd shut the fanboys up who have to spew bullshit about how superior PSN is to XBL because "it's free", as if it has any standing on the service.

You do.

No.

[izembo]

did you guys even read it? it says you'd still be able to play games for free. there would be a premium membership that has perks, not everyone has to pay. title is misleading

[Milkster]

did you guys even read it? it says you'd still be able to play games for free. there would be a premium membership that has perks, not everyone has to pay. title is misleading

Says speculate that it could be a premium membership. Just have to wait and see what they decide.

[izembo]

and it says that online games would still be free, they arent changing that

[Correction]

We speculate that it could have some premium features. The rest of this paragraph is also speculation, so stop arguing about it until it's confirmed one way or another

Cleaned that up in case there's any lingering confusion about what is or isn't going to happen to PSN. Paying for online play will remove the only reason for me to buy a PS3 release of a multiplatform game, though.

[Katlan]

Wow, on top of the whole "we suck so much more than xbox live" thing, they now want to charge? Now, I'm a fan of quite a few PS3 games, but the interface is hands down worse than like, anything. I can't imagine charging for it.

I'm sure them charging for a "premium" acct of sorts would mean better service / servers

[Komm Suesser Tod]

I'm sure them charging for a "premium" acct of sorts would mean better service / servers

That's what bugs me. Not that they may want to create a premium account sort of thing. Monthly subscriptions, even low ones, are a great way for companies to make money off of products they've already sold you. It's that, knowing Sony, they would make it so attempting to play on a non-premium account would be a substandard experience.

[Jefe]

Fucking rumors.

[Devolver]

Wow, on top of the whole "we suck so much more than xbox live" thing, they now want to charge? Now, I'm a fan of quite a few PS3 games, but the interface is hands down worse than like, anything. I can't imagine charging for it.

Wow, way to not really read whats going on here and jump directly on Microsoft's dick. Speculation, for one thing. And 2, the gaming would still be free. This seems to be talking about being able to download DLC on a subscription basis ("users pay one flat rate to access unlimited downloads"), and if that's the case, this is a great thing

[octopus]

Fuck that. I have multiple PSN accounts. It would be terrible if it goes premium because I have different friends (family, college friends, ffxi, etc) on different accounts to play with...

[Hiryo]

if anything they'll just get rid of Qore and call it something else. Maybe even just have the items inside viewable to anyone with a fee (i dont really know if Qore has a large subscriber base. I know I dont have it)

[Komm Suesser Tod]

Wow, way to not really read whats going on here and jump directly on Microsoft's dick. Speculation, for one thing. And 2, the gaming would still be free. This seems to be talking about being able to download DLC on a subscription basis ("users pay one flat rate to access unlimited downloads"), and if that's the case, this is a great thing

It's not dickriding, it's the simple fact that getting together with friends on xbox live to play a game has never caused me to want to burn down the world in rage like trying the same thing on PSN has. It is simply an inferior system, and through all the updates, all the new additions, every change to PSN since it's inception hasn't managed to make it easy to use, then why would paying for in, in any capacity, be a good thing?