The console will also support local network play, for those with a PS Vita, but it’s the remote smartphone support that could be most interesting. According to the source – who apparently previously leaked the codenames for the new Sony and Microsoft consoles – the PS4 will hook up to your smartphone or tablet, and then support remote chat with friends and purchases of new games and content, which will be downloaded straight to the console.

Those downloads will be from the PlayStation World, the newly-branded online counterpart to the PS4 hardware, and the replacement for PlayStation Plus. In fact, “most” of the PS4′s online features will demand a subscription, the insider claims, much as Microsoft demands today with Xbox LIVE.

Elsewhere, there’s believed to be a “spectating” system built into PlayStation World, that will allow owners to remotely watch their friends gameplay, without taking part in the game itself. Official pricing for the console is expected to be confirmed later in 2013, potentially at the mid-year E3 expo.

Speculation about the PlayStation 4 has been rife in recent weeks, with talk of virtualized back-catalog support and Gaikai-powered streaming gaming. There have also been several controller leaks – including the new image above – which have tipped a touchpad section for more precise control in certain titles, as well as for navigating menus.

We’ll know more later today, when Sony kicks things off in New York City. SlashGear will be there to bring you all the details.

For those of you unfamiliar with Guardians of Middle Earth, think of it as League of Legends with Lord of the Rings characters. There’s a little more to it than that, of course, but you get the idea. Normally Guardians of Middle Earth is $14.99, so while it isn’t a full retail release, you’re still saving a decent chunk of change by picking this up free.

Guardians of Middle Earth isn’t the only deal on tap though, as Sony will also be offering Karateka for PS3 at 50% off, bringing it down to $5.00. Big Sky Infinity and Knytt Underground, both for PS3 and PS Vita, are also seeing their prices slashed by 40%. Big Sky Infinity has come down to $5.99 for this promotion, while Knytt Underground will be $8.99. It’s worth pointing out that both of titles are cross buy enabled, meaning that if you buy it on one platform, you’ll get it on the other.

As always, you’ll only have access to the free games you download for as long as you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, which would be the catch to this otherwise great deal. Sony is currently running a promotion on PS Plus memberships, giving three free months to everyone who buys a year. The PS Plus update will be going live on February 5 – are you excited, or does this latest round of deals leave something to be desired?

[via PlayStation Blog]

If you think that sounds like a lot of games, you’re right – you’ll be the owner of six God of War games if you choose to pick up this bundle, thanks to the inclusion of the God of War Saga. The God of War Saga takes the first two God of War games for PS2 and gives them a coat of HD paint, tossing the PSP titles Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta in for good measure. It also features God of War III, which was the only game in the series made for the PS3 prior to the announcement of Ascension.

The Garnet Red PS3 in this pack will come equipped with a beefy 500GB hard drive and a matching controller. Aside from the entire God of War series and the PS3, purchasers will also get 30 days of PlayStation Plus, which is just enough time to tempt you into paying for a full year. Sony has given the bundle a price of $349, which doesn’t seem to bad considering the sheer amount of stuff you’re getting.

Of course, God of War: Ascension isn’t out yet, so this bundle won’t be available immediately. It launches on March 12, 2013, the same day as God of War: Ascension. Are you planning to pick up this bundle, or are you already set as far as PS3 is concerned?

[via PlayStation Blog]

BioShock 2 was released in February 2010, and it’s the sequel to the original BioShock, which featured some of the best gameplay elements we’ve ever seen. All week long, PlayStation Plus users will have the chance to download and play the game for free via the service’s Instant Game Collection.

Other deals for Plus subscribers include a 10% discount on Rockstar Games Collection Edition 1, which is a bundle that includes Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, L.A. Noire, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles Complete Edition. The bundle usually costs $59.99, but Plus members can pick it up for $53.99 — not a huge discount, but better than no discount at all.

Puzzle game Puddle will also be 50% off on both of its platforms, costing only $5 for PlayStation 3 gamers and just $4 for PlayStation Vita users. However, it’s not cross-platform compatible, so if you want the game on both systems, you’ll have to cough up $9 for the pair. Sony has said that they plan to release weekly updates to the PlayStation Store that will include new deals and offers for every week all month long.

Out of all of this, the fact that PS Plus users get 10% off is probably the most surprising. Console manufacturers – Microsoft especially, Sony to a lesser extent – sometimes like to keep prices high on digital versions of retail games. The result is that occasionally you’d end up paying more for a digital copy of the game than you would for a physical copy from a brick and mortar store, but this time around, Sony is ready to pass on some discounts provided you’ve subscribed to PlayStation Plus. Of course, just being a PS Plus member doesn’t automatically mean you’re entitled to the discount, as you’ll have to pre-order the game in question before Sony and the publishers will shave 10% off the purchase price.

Here’s the full list of games that will be launching on PSN on launch day. Keep in mind that PS Plus prices only apply if you pre-order the title unless otherwise stated:

• Resident Evil 6 – October 2, $59.99
• NBA 2K12 – October 2, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Dishonored – October 9, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Doom 3: BFG Edition – October 16, $39.99/$35.99 for PS Plus members
• 007 Legends – October 16, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members during first week of availability
• Medal of Honor Warfighter – October 23, $59.99
• Need for Speed: Most Wanted – October 30, $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members
• Assassin’s Creed III – October 30, $59.99

Unsurprisingly, three of October’s biggest games – Resident Evil 6, Medal of Honor Warfighter, and Assassin’s Creed III – don’t come with a discount for PS Plus members, though Assassin’s Creed III is still available for pre-order. There’s no word on if these games will be available to download at midnight on launch day, but Sony’s recent launch day release of Borderlands 2 wasn’t, so it isn’t looking good for the rest of the bunch. More details will almost certainly be coming shortly, so stay tuned.

[via The Verge]

Still, at least Sony has narrowed down the release window a bit for us. When PlayStation Plus launches on the PS Vita, it will come with all of the features that PS3 members love in tow. One of these features is Instant Game Collection, which allows users to access free full games for as long as they’re a PS Plus member. PlayStation Plus subscribers will also get discounts on games and DLC on a consistent basis, along with with 1GB of cloud storage, letting users back up their game saves or store DLC.

With PS Plus, PS Vita owners can also take advantage of automatic updates, which will turn your PS Vita automatically to begin downloading game demos, game updates, and system updates. Once the update has finished downloading, the PS Vita will switch into standby mode, meaning that your PS Vita could potentially download updates without you ever knowing – definitely a handy (if not somewhat creepy) feature to have around.

Those who are already subscribed to PS Plus on PS3 will get a PS Vita membership for free, and those who sign up for PS Plus using their Vita will be able to enjoy the PS3 benefits as well. If you aren’t already a subscriber, a membership will cost the going rate of $49.99 annually. As stated above, the PS Vita version of Plus is still lacking a specific launch date, but you can bet that we’ll update you once Sony lets it loose. Stay tuned!

[via Playstation Blog]

Still, regardless of what they are, with fan favorites such as Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII incoming, we’re sure PS Vita owners will be happy nonetheless. The first PSOne Classics will be arriving as a part of the larger Vita system software update to version 1.8. The update adds multiple new features, including Cross-Controller functionality, which will allow you to use your PS Vita as a controller for supported PlayStation 3 games. The PlayStation Blog has detailed all of the upcoming features in v1.8, but sadly it didn’t drop any hint as to which PSOne Classics will be up first.

In other news, Sony announced today that the PS Vita will be getting PlayStation Plus at some point this year. Sony didn’t get specific as far as launch dates go, but said that PlayStation Plus will be available on PS Vita before the Sun sets on 2012. Keep an eye out for that, because Sony will definitely be offering some PS Vita-exclusive incentives for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

So, while these may not be the high-profile announcements the PS Vita desperately needs, it’s nice to know that PSOne Classics will be landing on Vita soon. Many PS Vita owners are looking for an excuse to turn their Vitas on, and these PSOne Classics will undoubtedly help as we wait for things to pick up a little bit. Keep an ear to SlashGear in the coming days, as we’ll have more information on this first round of PSOne Classics once Sony spills more details.

PlayStation Plus premium subscription services include discounted games, access to betas of games before their final release, and full game trials as well. This service is and has always been in direct competition with Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, and here at E3 it’s war. This service update was announced by Sony PlayStation President Jack Tretton who noted that in addition to the 12 free game downloads announced today, the company will be releasing more games for free each month.

Amongst the games announced for free in this update are such titles as Infamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, and Saints Row 2. We’ll have to wait and see how many more “2″ games come in the full announcement later this week. You’ll want to join the crew like Sony wants you to – get on board!

PlayStation 3 owners in the U.S. can download for free two of the following games as long as you do so within 30 days after the PlayStation Store is restored. The game options for customers in the U.S. are: Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD, and Wipeout HD + Fury.

PSP owners can download two of the following games, also within a 30 day period after the restore of the PlayStation Store. The PSP game options are: LittleBigPlanet (PSP), ModNation Racers, and Pursuit Force.

Other free items you can expect include:
- A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles for one weekend when the Video Service is available. Those particular titles will be announced soon.
- PlayStation Plus membership free for 30 days for non subscribers.
- Additional 60 days free PlayStation Plus membership for current subscribers.
- Additional 30 days plus time lost free of charge for current members of Music Unlimited Premium or Basic services.
- PlayStation Home will offer 100 free virtual items, with additional free content to be released soon, including the next addition to Home Mansion personal space and Ooblag’s Alien Casino.

So, that’s how Sony plans to thank you all for your loyalty and patience. Are you pissed, satisfied, or just glad the network is back? Let us know what you think.

[via G4TV]

First, though: you are going to need a subscription to PSN+ if you want to get access to Hulu Plus. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a permanent feature. In fact, Hulu wants to clarify the situation. Apparently, you will only need to have the subscription to PSN+ if you want to get in on the early access, or the preview period. After that though, Hulu is going to just charge their $9.99, and you should be able to access it just fine on your PS3 without any trouble, whether you’re signed up for the extra goodies or not.

Here’s the official statement from Hulu, pasted below for your reading pleasure:

“With the launch of Hulu Plus there have been many rumors started and we are trying our best to remedy the situation. Specifically to your question, the Playstation Plus service is only a requirement during the preview period.

Right now we are limiting the number of users but Hulu Plus will be launching to the public very soon so stay tuned!”

[via Joystiq]

Otherwise the hardware specifications are the same, which means you get Blu-ray playback, PlayStation Plus access and the usual gaming support, together with media streaming.  The 160GB model – in black or white – starts at 29,980 yen ($342) while the 320GB model – in black only – starts at 34,980 yen ($400).  No word on a launch anywhere outside of Japan, however.

Press Release:

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN TO INTRODUCE
PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) WITH 160GB AND 320 GB HARD DISK DRIVE

Available from July 29, 2010 at a Recommended Retail Price of
29,980 yen and 34,980 yen respectively

Tokyo, July 6, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. responsible for business operation in Japan, today announced that the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system (CECH-2500 series) with 160GB and 320GB hard disk drive (HDD) will become available on July 29, 2010 in Japan at a recommended retail price (RRP) of 29,980 yen and 34,980 yen (including tax) respectively. As an additional color to the popular “Charcoal Black,” the 160GB PS3 system will come in “Classic White.” DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller and Vertical Stand for the PS3 system will also come in this new color on the same day in Japan at a RRP of 5,500 yen and 2,000 yen (including tax) respectively. Additionally, SCEJ will introduce a “PlayStation®3 Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Recorder Pack,” that comprises the 160GB PS3 system (body color: “Charcoal Black”) and “torne,” digital terrestrial tuner and application. The special bundle pack will become available together with the release of the new PS3 systems as a limited offer at a RRP of 36,980 yen (including tax). In conjunction with the release of the new systems, the company also announced that starting from July 7, 2010, the current PS3 system (CECH- 2100A)* currently available at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax) will become open price.

The new PS3 systems will continue to offer the cutting-edge features and functions of the current models, such as the ability to enjoy high-definition Blu-rayTM disc (BD) movies and games, as well as stereoscopic 3D games, various content and services downloadable through the network. Increasing the PS3’s storage size to 160GB and 320GB, PS3 allows users to store more interactive entertainment content and services including TV programs recorded by using “torne” and more downloadable content from PlayStation®Network.

The cumulative number of registered accounts on PlayStation Network in Japan has exceeded 5 million as of May, 2010. Users are able to enjoy a broad range of on-line content and services, including basic features of on-line gaming, video chat, text messaging and PlayStation®Home with other users on-line, as well as downloading games and video content from PlayStation®Store. Also from June 29, 2010, PlayStation®Plus, a new subscription service package on PlayStation Network, has become available for PlayStation® users, offering more exciting entertainment content and services available from PlayStation Store.

Exciting and attractive new titles are to be released from third party developers and publishers along with SCE Worldwide Studios, including “White Knight Chronicle” available on July 8 from SCE, “JIKKYOU PAWAFURU PUROYAKYU 2010″ available on July 15 from Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., “ModNation Racers” available on July 29 from SCE, “Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes” available on July 29 from Capcom Co., Ltd. and “Another Century’s Episode:R” available on August 19 from NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
SCEJ vigorously continues to expand the PS3 platform along with a vast line-up of attractive and exciting entertainment content with the new models.
* The PS3 system with 250GB HDD is a limited offer, and a RRP of this model is unchanged.

For most, it’ll be the trial gameplay that makes PlayStation Plus worth it.  The try-before-you-buy system will allow for up to sixty minutes of full access, after which titles can be purchased through the PS Store and all achievements and awards gained during the trial carried forward into the unlocked version.  As for early beta access, Sony say they’ll be picking from PlayStation Plus subscribers for their first beta invites and “select” early demos of new games.

There’ll also be the usual freebies and downloads, though there’s no telling exactly what they’ll be.  Right now Sony is hoping to drum up business by offering a three month bonus to one-year subscriptions – 15 months for the price of 12 – though it’s a limited availability offer.  You’ll need firmware 3.40 on your PS3 in order to access PlayStation plus; anyone tempted to sign up?

It’s called PlayStation Plus, just as we had heard, and it’s going to add a lot of different things. As Sony says, customers will get “hundreds of dollars of products” throughout the year, thanks to their position as a Plus member. You will also get early access to betas, which is a good thing.

How much is it going to cost? $49.99 for a year, and $17.99 for three months. But, that’s not the end of the good news. Once you sign up for the first time, you’re going to get your first three months for free. Sony’s making sure that it’s getting full support at launch, too, as there are going to be exclusive demos and trailers, as well as DLC, right out of the gate. And, if you don’t want to sign up for the premium service, you don’t have to. All of your PlayStation Network goodies won’t go anywhere: nothing’s changing about them.

[images via Engadget]