Sony has finally revealed a pay subscription service for the PlayStation Network. The service, called PlayStation Plus, will run you $49.99 for a one-year subscription and $17.99 for three months; it will launch later this month. For a limited time, you’ll get three additional months for free if you buy a one-year subscription. While the regular PSN services will not change at all, PS Plus will give you extra stuff and support on top of what already comes free.
Those who do decide to upgrade will get such things as early demos, exclusive access to betas, “free” content like games, themes and PSP minis, discounts on PlayStation Store games, automatic downloads of upcoming demos you may be interested in, and updates. The first month of service will feature Wipeout HD for free, a trial of inFamous, two PSP minis and the PSOne classic Rally Cross. In the second month, Qore will be added.
Of course, this is Sony, so they’ve gotta mess it up somehow. All that “free” content you’re getting, you only own it if you stay subscribed to the service. I guess that’s to keep people from signing up for a month, downloading the free games and then leaving, but man, does it still suck.
