E3: Sony Details PSN PlayStation Plus Subscription Package

Sony Computer Entertainment announced that PlayStation Plus, its PlayStation Network subscription package with exclusive services and features, will debut worldwide on June 29th as an optional premium offering to its more than 50 million PSN users. The company plans to let PS3 owners try out PlayStation Plus for free for three months before choosing from several subscription options: $17.99 (€14.99) for 90 days and $49.99 (€49.99) for 365 days -- the same price as a year-long membership for Xbox Live Gold. Japan and the rest of Asia also has the option for 30-day subscriptions. As for PlayStation Plus's features, members will have full game trials, allowing them to play full versions of selected PS3 and PSN titles (including games from the PS ne Archives) for a designated period of time before they have to purchase the full game. Additionally, subscribers can play the full version of selected PS3 downloadable, PSN games (again, including titles from the PS One Archives), and Minis without any time limit for free. Members will also receive special content like exclusive avatars and custom themes, discounts to designated PS3/PSP games, early access to game beta trials/demos/videos, and automatic content downloads and updates, which enables their PS3s to start up at a set time to download content and turn off afterward.