Kaz Hirai Confirms Premium PSN Subscription Service
One the biggest selling points of the PlayStation 3 
is that gamers can use the console to play online at no additional charge. However, it is now confirmed that the company is planning a two-tiered subscription model for the PlayStation Network in 2010.
Slides accompanying a Thursday presentation by Sony show that the company is planning a “new revenue stream from subscription” on PSN in 2010. During the presentation, which emphasized Sony’s plans to make its game business profitable in the next fiscal year, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai confirmed the plans.
“We will be building upon our current free [PSN] service offering with premium content and services to start the subscription model”
Perhaps to assuage PS3 owners’ fears that they would soon have to pay to play online, Hirai issued a subsequent statement indicating the present level of service would remain gratis.
“SCE will further increase sales by offering users new entertainment through the combination of hardware, software, peripheral, and PlayStation Network,” Hirai said in a statement given to British outlets, such as CVG. “Especially in the online area, we are studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services.”
As the subscription service is to exist only “in addition to the current free” PlayStation Network, online play, as well as access to demos and betas, should remain free and untouched, without a charge for their use.
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