http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=227771?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS

Sony boss Kaz Hirai steps in to clear up PSN fee furore

The PlayStation Network, currently free to all PlayStation 3 and PSP owners, is to see "paid subscriptions" in the near future, Sony has revealed.

The news comes via a recent Sony investor conference, where one powerpoint slide listed "new revenue stream from subscription" as a feature headed to PSN.

Update: As the internet went bonkers at the prospect, Sony head honcho Kaz Harai has stepped in to clarify what this means and DON'T PANIC gamers, it doesn't refer to pay-to-play.

Hirai told CVG: "SCE will further increase sales by offering users new entertainment through the combination of hardware, software, peripheral and PlayStation Network. Especially in the on-line area, we are studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services."

Panic over, PSN will remain free for your usual everyday frag fests, it's just premium services and content that you might have to shell out for, much as you do across the wider internet and well, just about everywhere.

PSN = still free for gaming.

Thats all I need.

We all should have known that's what he meant. The confusion only lies now with which services will be charged for.

yay =) i just hope its not xgame chat , invites for party.

I think a VAST majority of gamers knew they wouldn't be charging for services that are already free...but that's not what the fury is about...it's about all those juicy carrots they are going to try to implement and charge for, when PSN member had expected all of this to be free into the future.

@heruamon

exactly, once they start charging for so called "premium" features, everything they add from then on will become a feature you will have to pay for to use

Wow, so all the people not overreacting and being total idiots and assuming things that weren't actually said were right!

IF they are going to require a yearly fee they better have the features to justify it.
like:

In game chat, Cross game invites, in game music native on all titles, in game internet, non disc based netflix with xmb integration, in game video chat, better trophy stat tracking, shouldnt have to sync trophies, new avatars, ability to use a pic from PSeye for avatar pic, video and music streaming off friends systems (in and out of home),

PSN music store, PS2 titles added to PSN store, possible PS2 emulation, ability to charge controllers when the system is off, automatic updates to games owned when update is released (this would happen when system is off), more PS3 games added to PSN store, party chat feature, ability to engage in a "grudge match" (a 1 on 1 competition between you and a friend of yours online to see who can get the most trophies in a given amount of time), A PSN only twitter like service where you and your friends will have a constant stream of updates to the progress they make in the games they play, a worldwide release of a better DVR service, instant unlock to alot of the PSN video stores titles

These are just off the top of my head.
But IF we are paying, they better produce things like this

I think that Sony has wanted this for a long time, the premium charging that is, it's just now that the PSN is popular enough that Sony can charge for it without running everybody out.

I'm glad, as it will force M$ to add more and more to XBL.