Leaked Information Reveals Exciting Playstation Network Premium Service Details


Late last month we found out that Sony is moving forward to offer a new tier of premium subscriptions for Playstation Network consumers. Kotaku has followed up with this information by detailing a new, credible looking survey outlining the details of this service, and if they are true it would be a huge boost to the Playstation experience. We’re talking about cloud storage for games and game saves, Hulu, music services, and so much more. The pricing would be very comparable to the industry standard at “$20 to $60 a year, or alternatively $6 to $9 a month.” I would pay that for some of these features (courtesy of Engadget):

Customer Service Priority Access
Priority access to PlayStation’s customer service both online and via phone should you need technical help or have questions about your products. This feature gives you support with little to no waiting.

Exclusive Experiences with Sony Brands
Get member-only access to attend exclusive Sony events and experiences throughout the year, including those offered by PlayStation, Sony Pictures, and Sony Music.

Extended Console Warranty 3 Years
Get your PS3 warranty extended to 3 years as part of your overall subscription (requires you to keep your subscription active). The standard warranty on your PS3 is 1 year.

Access to Beta Games
Get access to Betas of popular games not yet released at retail (Betas offer bigger experiences than typical game demos). You will have the ability to play these games before others do.

Early Access to All Store Content
Get early access to select free and purchasable game related content on the PlayStation Store before it’s available to everyone else. This includes games, add-ons, themes, avatars, as well as free game demos.

Member Demo Sharing of Full Game
Share a level of a game that you just purchased for your PS3 with a subscriber who doesn’t own the game. Your friends could do the same. This would be an exclusive demo not available otherwise to those who haven’t purchased the game.

Cross-game Voice Chat Access
Get exclusive member-only access to cross-game voice chat. This is the ability to use your headset to voice chat with friends on your PS3 regardless of what they are doing on the PS3.

Full Title Trial – 1st Hour Is Free
Download full versions of select Blu-ray and PSN game titles and have the chance to play the entire game (single or multiplayer) for free for the first hour. After that time you will have the option of purchasing the game to continue playing.

Token Wagering
Get a fixed number of tokens per month you can wager with other players in competitive online games. These tokens could then be built up and redeemed for free PlayStation Network games and other content.

User-to-user Challenges
Unlock developer-created challenges while playing games. Compete with your friends to see who can be the first to complete these challenges. The PS3 will automatically offer and track challenges and winners and would post results. An example of a challenge is ‘first to get 10 trophies’ in a particular game.

Free Access to PSOne Classics, PSP Minis, and PS3/PSP Themes
Get a fixed number of PSOne Classic games, PSP Minis (bite-sized games), and PS3/PSP themes per month to keep for free for as long as you are a subscriber. The PlayStation Store offers these types of content for $2-6 each.

Discounts on Store Content
Get weekly member-exclusive discounts on specific games, game add-ons and themes on the PlayStation Store. Discounts may range from 20-50% off regular retail prices.

Member Only In-game Content
Get exclusive member-only in-game content for your PS3 or PSP such as new game play options, unlocked in-game weapons or player slots, exclusive levels, costumes/skins, and PlayStation Home spaces.

Trophy Alerts
Get automated alerts on your PlayStation XrossMedia Bar, PlayStation.com, and via text message (if you so choose) that alert you when your friends get any trophy or a specific one. This feature is customizable – you can choose which friends to receive alerts from and what kinds of alerts.

Cloud Storage Space for Games
Store your game saves on a virtual secure saver. This would allow you to access your game saves at any point in time, and from any PlayStation 3 or PSP console you are logged in on.

Online Music Service
Get a streaming music service that allows you to choose your channel based on music style, artist type, etc. and listen to an unlimited number of tracks. This service would be for use outside of playing a game and similar to Pandora or a Last.fm.

Online Music Video Service
Get a streaming music video service on your PlayStation 3 that lets you stream music videos from a continuously growing catalog of music and allows you to create a custom playlist to play back.

Automatic Downloads and Updates
Customize the types of updates you want your PS3 to download automatically. These include game updates (patches) for games that you own, firmware updates, and game demos downloaded on your PS3 without manually having to select them and wait for them to finish downloading. Your PS3 can be set to automatically turn on for updates and turn off after completion.

Loyalty Program Rewards
Get rewards the longer you are a subscriber and also earn rewards by engaging with PlayStation such as buying games, downloading movies, and rating products. Rewards can include full versions of PlayStation Network games and digital movie rentals from the PlayStation Store.

Facebook Connectivity
Access to member-exclusive Facebook features on your PlayStation 3, such as viewing and linking your Facebook accounts with their PSN ID’s, updating your status, editing, uploading and sharing photos, and viewing photo albums of your friends on your TV.

Catch-up TV
Get access to popular TV shows and movies through service providers such as Hulu, simply by clicking an icon on your PS3 XrossMedia navigation bar.

Netflix Access Without Disc
Access the Netflix video streaming service on your PS3 without the need to insert a special disc into the drive each time to access the service. A separate Netflix subscription would also be needed to enjoy the service. Netflix offers over 17000 popular movies and TV shows for streaming on your laptop or a supported device such as a PS3.

  • Crude-DevilX
    cant be leave they going to make people pay for that crap?? I mean we been asking for cross game chat for a while and when we do get it they want $$$....well screw you Sony! Ill just go get an Xbox 360 at least the servers will be decent for what I pay for!
  • Toad
    A lot of this stuff should be free. Netflix without a disc? Automatic Downloads and Updates? Cross-game Voice Chat Access? These three should be free for sure. They might be insentives to buy a PS3, but they shouldn't be part of a subscription!
  • kevballs
    I could be persuaded, so long as it's purchasable over the store with psn cards. Can't get a credit card
  • Just what the doctor ordered. I love it just in time for 2010. Looks like with final fantasy coming out and this it looks like sony is going to have a good year. Well worth the price.

    Samuel
  • phantom
    i love it. day one purchase for me
  • glen421
    Great, as a got to have it guy this means I will be paying for Xbox Live and now PSN service. I've got to get a raise.
  • vorcia
    2 of these features are availible already for free, can you figure out which ones?
  • LOVEIT
    Finaly I've been waiting for something like this I'll pay for it only if your a cheap basterd you won't the good things in life are not free doesent matter what your parents told you so kitties get a job or learn to beg. Sign me up I'm a playstation premium subscriber.
  • Saul
    People relax keep in mind its a "Premium" service that means you will still be able to have basic service and do all the current you are doing for free. It's an option to get Premium if you want all the extra features.
  • just a gamer
    Why be mad if you don't want this stuff don't pay....i'm cool with psn as it is but some of these options look interesting.
  • Mark
    Wheres PSN ID change?
  • Rik
    Sounds like Live gold to me... only more expensive. Live is always evolving, and don't think Microsoft has never thought of any of those ideas.
  • such is the nature of the beast. Companys are always getting ideas from compitition( motion sensor controllers). But is really a bad thing. With no compatition, how would the companys grow. They would stagnat and the consumer would be the one worse off.
  • Chris
    OMG YES YES YES I WANT ALL OF THAT!!!
  • Zed
    Pfft, PS3 live, this is crap if true!
  • Chris
    Sony just shot themselves in the foot.
  • mofokilla
    fool's have this shit was going to be in playstation home have you forgot that quick and not to mention the next firmware update.
  • Pete990
    This is retarded!!...I've been waiting for most of these features since i got my PS3 2 years ago...one of the main reasons i chose ps3 was because i don't have a credit card and can't buy stuff online (can't get one...bad credit, student loans). Way to go sony, you copied all of microsoft's features and started charging people for them...way to lose the edge
  • except that the online play will still be free.
  • BigG
    yo you do know that you can buy PSN cards at a convenience store right?
  • Mark
    Did anyone notice that the long asked for Cross game chat will now be a premium feature for the PS3?
  • cjvzla
    most of those options should be for standard users.none sound really premium to me...
  • not even the free ps1 classic games?
  • eean
    But the best items: Facebook photos access, Hulu and Netflix-without-disc, sound more like standard features.
  • NCXMIAMI
    For that price, im definitively in :)
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