Sony just released firmware version 3.40 for the PlayStation 3, which includes support for the previously announced PlayStation Plus. PlayStation Plus is Sony's premium PlayStation Network offering. The new paid version of the PlayStation Network is $50 a year (5,000 Yen in Japan, and 50 Euros in Europe).
What do you get for that $50? First, you get access to additional game content including full arcade games, automatic downloads, and access to PSP Mini games. Next, you can participate in beta programs for games (I don't get how this is a feature, either). Sony has also announced that PlayStation Plus will include access to full PlayStation 3 games, as part of a try-before-you-buy program.
However, when your subscription expires, so does your right to play the games that you earned as a subscriber. If you don't want to pay for the PlayStation Network, don't worry - normal PSN access will continue to be free. The firmware update brings a new (free) photo sharing / commenting option compatible with Picassa and Facebook. There's also a video editor (also free with the firmware update) which allows sharing with YouTube and Facebook. As you can probably tell, Facebook integration is big on the PlayStation now - there's a whole seperate Facebook app you can now download. Finally, the update allows users to rate PSN content up to 5 stars.
The PSP also gets an update today - Sony's portable system moves to firmware 6.30. This lets you store your games into folders.
Even before the release of PlayStation Plus, Sony has begun to make money on the PlayStation 3. The PS3 Slim is manufactured at a cost which is lower, and during the first three months of the year, reports are showing that Sony has turned a profit on the 2.2 million consoles that they sold during the first quarter.
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