183w ago - Update: VG247.com has confirmed that Kaz Hirai stated the current PSN service will remain free, and subscriptions are only for "premium content and services."

Sony has revealed during their Media/Investor Conference that the PlayStation Network will be getting a new paid subscription service in 2010 alongside non-game content likely to include applications and videos.

According to their Slide Presentation [PDF] a "new revenue stream from subscription" will be generated.

Although few other details exist at this time, the way it is worded sounds like it could possibly be a subscription similar to XBox live on its way to PSN.

To quote: "It is unclear what the new revenue stream subscription might be. Could it be similar to Qore, an optional service, or something more akin to Xbox Live Gold, which is a premium service required to play games online for the Xbox 360?"

209w ago - Rumor has it that Sony may be considering a PSN subscription fee.

Not a subscription fee for access and online (ala Xbox Live) but a fee that gives you all you can eat access to PSN games be they for PSP or PS3.

To quote: This isn't a new idea (Sony Asia polled its customers in early 2008 about such a thing- pics below) but scuttlebutt is that they are asking AGAIN. Hmmm.

$10 dollars per month for 5 or 6 games out of the complete library? Games must 'check in' to see if you are a current subscriber or they just don't play. Maybe bump it to $20 and you get movie streaming to boot?

What do you think? Would you be willing to pay a fee to get access to all PSN games (esp considering if PSP Go! is real all future PSP games will be ON PSN).

223w ago - Sony continues to play the value card in its fight against the Xbox 360. This time, instead of focusing on hardware, the company shows you what games you could buy if you weren't paying for Xbox Live.

During CES, Sony gave press the argument that the PS3 was actually a great deal... considering all the features that came with the system. That only works if you want those features, and a $400 system is a hard sell even if it comes with an Eva(n?) Longoria love-doll.

Sony has now made a second argument that makes much more sense: look at what you can buy for the cost of Xbox Live.

Microsoft's online service costs $50 a year, if you don't find a card on sale, and Sony wants to show you what you could be buying with that money if you were online with your PS3. You have to give it to them: $50 on the PlayStation Network gets you some pretty great stuff.

"Rather than paying a $50 subscription fee that competitors charge for on-line services, PlayStation Network users could put that money towards a variety of content," the company claims. What could you get?

• PAIN ($9.99)
• Elefunk ($4.99)
• Guitar Hero Classic Rock Track ($6.25)
• LittleBigPlanet™ Metal Gear Solid® - Level Kit ($5.99)
• Episode of Afro Samurai | Season 1 ($1.99)

259w ago - SyphonFilter1 has shared the first edition of the subscriber-based Official PlayStation digital magazine known as Qore via YouTube today.

Will this be a growing trend for all future Qore updates, or will "big brother" Sony jump in to prevent non-subscribers from accessing the content others paid for? Time will tell, but until then check out the PS3 Qore premiere edition video below:

264w ago - The US PS Blog has revealed the full details of the new map for MGO and the new gametype rule, Sneaking Mission.

Also, they have clarified that "MGO is not a paid subscription service, you can play online totally free right out of the box - we know some of you thought there might be some payment because of the last step of Konami ID registration, but that is to confirm your identity for future potential microtransaction content updates (you don't have to register any payment info right now anyhow)."

To quote: Hi all! Welcome back to Metal Gear Mondays! It's certainly been a busy week, and once again, we'd like to take a second to thank you for all the great compliments and feedback from our previous installments - and of course, your enthusiasm for all that is Metal Gear!

We'll pick up where we left off ... As many of you know, gameplay of the Metal Gear Online Beta for the PLAYSTATION 3 is well underway as of the time of this post - please see the last bunch of Metal Gear PS Blog posts for full details on the Metal Gear Online Beta program and content to date.

First, we'd like to clarify, once again, because we see people still asking about this - Metal Gear Online comes with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It is not a separate product. Metal Gear Online...