Is the PlayStation Network free for use on the PS4?

With the release of Sony’s PlayStation 4, there has been a lot of interest in the PlayStation Network (PSN) and a complete resurgence of PlayStation consoles, games and online gaming. If you own a PlayStation, chances are you have a PSN account and are already using the online access for anything from web browsing to finding out the where to get the best mobile casino bonuses. For those who are interested in buying a PS4, here is what you need to know. The PlayStation Network is a digital media entertainment service.

What is the PSN?

Launched in 2006, the PSN was designed for PlayStation consoles but has since expanded to use on smartphones, tablets, smart televisions and Blu-ray players. The services on the PSN includes the PlayStation Store which is an online marketplace where players can try out games or purchase and download new gaming titles. In addition, the PSN includes PlayStation Video, a cloud-based television service which players can use for movie rentals, steaming and online purchases.

PSN Services

Another service available on the PSN is PlayStation Vue, a music streaming service as well as PlayStation Now, a cloud gaming service. Most recently the Sony have introduced PlayStation Plus, a subscription service for enhanced gaming, online play and additional social features. Getting connected to the PlayStation 4 PSN quite easy. First you need to have at least one local user set up on the console. Then you can simply create a Sony PlayStation 4 Network account for downloading or purchasing digital content. You can sign in and out of the PSN whenever you want, a handy feature if you have other people using your console and you don’t want them to have access to your account.

What About the PS4?

Now that the PlayStation 4 has been released, there has been a lot of chatter about the Sony PlayStation 4 Network not being free. While some players are convinced this is true, others quite rightly feel that there is more to it than that. So the question remains, is the PlayStation Network free for PS4 users? The answer is yes, the PSN is completely free whether you own a PS3 or a PS4. In fact, if you already have a PlayStation 4 PSN account setup, you can simply sign in on your PS4 and enjoy all the features the network provides.

PlayStation Plus

So where does the confusion come in? The main reason behind confusion all comes back to the PlayStation Plus service. In order to use the PlayStation 4 online multiplayer mode, players will need to have a PlayStation Plus account. It’s that simple; everything else remains free. So what exactly does one get if they sign up for the PlayStation Plus service. At the moment, players can choose from a 1 month subscription, a 3-month subscription or a one-year subscription.

For your hard-earned cash, you get: Unlimited access to PlayStation 4 online multiplayer mode, 24 PlayStation 4 games over one year, discounts at the PlayStation Store, 10GB of cloud storage as well as access to the Share Play service which allows your friends and family to play your games even if they don’t own a copy of the game itself.