Rumor: Sony to Unveil PSN+ Pay Service at E3

From DailyTech: One of the things that has set the PS3 and the Xbox 360 apart since the console launched has been that PS3 owners don’t have to buy a subscription to access content and play online games on their consoles. Xbox 360 owners, on the other hand, have to buy monthly or yearly subscriptions.

Rumors are circulating that suggest Sony may be ready to offer up a new premium PlayStation network at E3 called PSN+. The PSN+ network won't limit game play between paid and non-paid users and will focus on giving the PSN+ subscribers bonuses that non-paying players can’t access.

The features are rumored to include free access to a rotating list of PSP Minis and PSone Classics, exclusive in-game DLC, discounts at the PlayStation Store, and "first hour" access to demos to full retail titles. The first hour feature would let the user buy the full game title following the first hour of demo game play. However, to use the feature will require the full retail game to be downloaded.

Those who opt to buy the PSN+ account will also reportedly get extra protection for the PS3 console with the recently unveiled PlayStation Protection Plans that are basically extended warranties. Another major feature the subscribers to the pay network will reportedly receive is a cross-game voice chat feature.

More features are in the works and another feature that is known is an auto-patch function that will automatically download patches for games that have been played recently. Pricing is unknown, but speculation points to $9.99 per month. Joystiq reports that Sony declined to comment on the rumors.

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