PlayStation Plus: it’s fresh, added value stuff for PlayStation fans who want a little bit more from the otherwise free PlayStation Network. But the information around is a little big confusing, and incomplete. Sure, there’s press releases, but these don’t always make it through to the public intact, and whilst over on the EU Blog James Thorpe is answering as many questions as his little fingers can reply to, there’s a lot to get through.
So, in the interests of simplicity, we’ve rounded up most of what’s important about PlayStation Plus so you can get a quick look at everything the brand new subscription service offers.
How much does it cost?
It’s €14.99 / £11.99 for 90 days and €49.99 / £39.99 for a whole year’s subscription.
What are the main features?
Monthly discounts on PS3 and PSP games, 4 free games a month, automatic downloading of patches and updates, and the ability to trial new games. More information here.
Does PlayStation Plus include Cross Game Chat?
No. The official line from Sony is that PlayStation Plus includes “games & special offers, full game trial and automatic downloads,” but we’re told that the service will “evolve over time” and that “anything they add will be a bonus.”
What happens to the content you get once your subscription ends?
Anything you buy with the exclusive discounts including exclusive add-ons, avatars and themes will be yours to keep. If you sign up for a year and download LittleBigPlanet, that’s yours to keep too.
However, the content you get for free (or, at least, included within the price) with the service, such as the minis and so-on will only work as long as you are a member of PlayStation Plus.
Do you get your games back if you re-subscribe at a later date?
Yes.
Which European territories won’t be able to sign up for PlayStation Plus?
The only territories that have access to the Store but will miss out on PlayStation Plus are Turkey and Russia.
Will there be new features in the future for PlayStation Plus members?
Again, we can only quote the official line: Sony “will always be working on evolving the service.”
What’s the ‘full game trial’?
It’s an hour’s rental, included within the PlayStation Plus price, for new PS3 games. You’ll get to demo the full game for 60 minutes, and if you decide not to buy it after that you still get to keep any Trophies you have earned, although they won’t be unlocked unless you buy the game.
Will it be all games available on the Store for Plus members as they’re released?
No. Sony will “select the best Blu-ray and PSN titles for the trial”, giving 2 different titles each month.
What games do you get included with the fee each month?
There are four games every month: 1 PSN PS3 game, 2 PSP/PS3 minis and a PS-One classic.
What firmware version does PlayStation Plus require?
3.40, which will be released, as far as we know, next week.
Do European gamers get the 3 free months like the US gamers do?
No. The US PlayStation Plus gamers get 15 months for the price of 12, but European gamers get LittleBigPlanet instead.
Can you, for example, sign up in December and get the previous five month’s worth of games for free?
No, you must be signed up for that month to get that month’s games.
Does each PSN account on the PS3 require PlayStation Plus membership to play the included games?
No, as long as it’s the master account, the sub accounts should be able to play the “majority” of the games.
Will my PS3 automatically shut-down after it’s automatically downloaded any patches and updates?
Yes. The PS3 will “automatically wake up, download, then shut down afterwards,” and you can also set the time it wakes up to best suit you.
Which games will it automatically patch and update?
The system looks at the last 10 games you’ve played, and then “the 10 before that”.
Will it update games from any region?
Sony say they “don’t see why it wouldn’t.”
What will the discounts be like for existing games?
Sony say the discounts “largely range between 20 and 50% and they vary by title”.
Can I play the minis and PS-One classics from PlayStation Plus on my PSP?
Yes, although your PSP will need to go online once to confirm you’re a PlayStation Plus member.
All answers are taken from the replies on the EU Blog. TheSixthAxis is not responsible for any errors or omissions.
metamorph
Great FAQ, though I have one last question that I’ve not seen an answer for: if we sign up for PlayStation Plus in one region, do we get access to PlayStation Plus content from other regions, like the US or Japan? Like, if our master account is signed up to PlayStation Plus Europe, will other accounts, if they’re signed up to say PlayStation Japan or PlayStation US, will we get access to the PlayStation Plus area for those regions as well?
Watchful
No, because if you had created accounts for other regions on your PS3, they would have to be master accounts for those regions and are therefore not sub-accounts of the master account you signed up to PS+ with.
Radboud
+
If you create an account, you approve of the fact that you told the truth about your information and you have to give up an address of where you live that must be in the region your account is for…. Last time I checked, I have an address in Europe, not in the US or Japan….
So no way Sony will allow you to connect accounts that legally shouldn’t be there in the first place….
metamorph
You know, there are people who also have homes in the US, Asia or even Japan, so what then? I think a region free approach would help alleviate the issue.
Radboud
And how would you propose to do that in a world that consists of local laws and legislation?
This is the same problem as with XBL, content on that differs also between regions/countries. (and I don’t know if they let you connect with a US account from a European IP-address or that it says you have a region)
MiguelX69
I’m going to subscribe! Thanks for this, know it is clear to me :)
marshaal5
i pay £31 a year just to play games online on my other system so this is a defo buy for me cant see haow you can go wrong.
The beauty of it is if you dont want it dont buy it
ruinereraser
Exactly, there’s always a choice here, as multi stays free (unlike with MS and LIVE).
samiro05
I have a question: If you subscribe to PS+ with your account, say I do it with samiro05, would you always be subscribed with that account, for instance if you set it up on one ps3 but then use your account on another ps3?
I’m under the impression it only works for the account and not the whole ps3 so I got that covered.
gazzagb
Wont be getting this, its a total rip-off. I bet you the ‘free’ games that they give you will be pretty old, and the discounts arent actually going to save you money as your paying for the suscription in the first place. There isnt a single feature here that I really want.
ruinereraser
And that’s your choice, which is fine.
That is a great feature of this OPTIONAL subscription – you can get extra features, but you don’t have to.
And I’m actually happy they’re not making the free PSN users second category customers here. You can still play multi for free and lots of other features are still free, PSN+ customers get extra content, but it’s not dividing the PSN cummunity.
Dexter17
Very tempting, but I’ll wait and see the reception first.
Topov81
What happened to the backup features that were talked about a few months ago ?… you know where you could backup game saves etc to PSN ?
Stef Nighthawk
Won’t be getting this.
There’s no way in knowing which games you’ll get free access to. It might be games you already own. Little Big Planet doesn’t sound like a nice freebie for those that already own it.
And looking at FirstPlay as an example some people are now holding off buying minis as the free mini that will be in an upcoming FirstPlay might be one that they’ve already purchased.
And discounts – if noone buys a too expensive game it’ll probably receive a discount for everyone. The PS+ discounts are going to be a testing ground to see whether a game can create additional revenue at that pricepoint before granting the same discount to the general public.
Free Trials – if I didn’t like the demo, why would I like to try first hour? If a publisher doesn’t give adequate info about their game (be it reviews, a demo) they will have a hard time persuading the general public.
bunimomike
*reads question about automatic updates*
*cries happy tears* Count me in! Many, many reasons but this was a great moment. :-)
The demos are a real winner for me.
yogh_wayne
Cheers for the FAQ. I’ll subscribe to PSN+ when it’s available end of June.