Sony Rumored To Reveal ‘PSN+’ Service At E3 2010

According to sources over at Joystiq, Sony is set to reveal a premium service of the PlayStation Network, labeled PSN+, as announced during its E3 2010 media briefing. Unlike Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service, PSN+ will focus on giving paid subscribers additional bonuses without limiting online multiplayer between paying and non-paying users.

As per the sources, subscribers will have access to a rotating list of PSP Minis and PSone Classics, exclusive in-game DLC, discounts to the PlayStation Store and "first hour" demo access to full retail titles. Following the first hour of gameplay, players will have the ability to purchase the full title; however, demo access will only be available once the entire title has been downloaded.

PSN+ subscribers will also receive protection for their consoles with the recently announced PlayStation Protection Plan, as well as exclusive access to the long-awaited cross-game voice chat, gamers will also have the ability to enable an auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates for recently played PS3 titles on the system. Additional features are said to be in the works following the launch of PSN+, including the previously rumored cloud-based saving system.

Pricing and a release for the PSN+ service is unknown, though one source speculates PSN+ may cost $9.99 per month. When contacted, a Sony representative said the company does not "comment on rumors or speculation."

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