Ok, let me scale back: Maybe not every Playstation 3 owner needs this subscription offering from Sony but if you play your system on a regular basis or like a variety of games for your PS3 and PSP, Playstation Plus is an offering you cannot pass on. So first, let’s break down what Playstation Plus is.
Playstation Plus is a monthly or yearly subscription service from Sony for the Playstation 3. Members of the service recieve the following:
- Full Game Trials
- Automatic Downloads
- PS Store Discounts
- Exclusive Offers
- Free Games and Add-ons
- Early Demos
- Priority Beta Access
This is a kind of bulleted list of what exactly the service offers but that’s nothing more than just words. So why is this service so compelling? First, if you like to play games, this service gives you access to so many games you might not have played, whether it be from discounts on PSN games or entirely free games. I own so many new titles now for my PS3 and at least 15 titles for my PSP, including Mini Games and the PSone Classics. These are games I honestly would not have normally paid for, not because they are not worth the value, but because I have so many other titles I want to play. But now, I’m getting all of these games to own. If betas are your thing, since the release, I’ve been in the Killzone 3, MAG, and Assassins Creed: Brotherhood betas to name a few. I’ve truly never had access to so many games before and my Trophies collection is loving it too! So again, if you game and you want your gaming experience to be fresh and diverse, Playstation Plus is for you.
Who else is it for? Still gamers. I haven’t done a system download since subscribing. Prior to Playstation Plus, I had over 50 PS3 games. Nothing is more frustrating than suddenly getting the craving for LittleBigPlanet or Pain, only to find out you are 3 download packs behind and you have to sit there and wait for updates to load. With automatic downloads, my PS3 is always up to date. This extends to disc-based games too, so it’s not just for downloadable titles. I have my systems set (and it’s up to you to select the time) to 4am for any updates to be pushed to my system. This does not mean that it actually turns on to scan for updates, but if the system is aware of an update, my PS3 turns on at 4am and not only downloads the update, but installs it as well. It is such bliss to turn on your system and have it notify you that the following updates have been done.
In conclusion, if you only use your PS3 more for a media unit to play Blu-rays, rent and stream movies from online and your media server, Playstation Plus will probably not entice you. But, if you are a gamer who wants your system to always be ready to game and have access to a variety of titles, both old and new, I cannot recommend Playstation Plus enough to you. It really makes the Playstation experience something completely new.