Tag

Subscription

All articles tagged with #subscription

business3 days ago•13 min saved

Sony offers up to 50% off PS Plus to soften backlash against end of physical games

Facing fan backlash over the end of physical PS5 discs, Sony is offering substantial PS Plus discounts (up to 50%) to fans who cancel or threaten to cancel, including deals of 3–12 months for Extra and Premium members. The move aims to retain subscribers amid a broader shift to all-digital gaming, though critics say the savings may not quell dissent and questions remain about pricing and the digital future ahead of a 2028 disc-free landscape.

via Notebookcheck|

#business #digital-games #discounts

technology6 days ago•2 min saved

Meta’s Smart Glasses Get a $20/Month Lock on AI Features

Meta is launching a Meta One Premium subscription at $19.99 per month to unlock and rate-limit AI features on its AI-enabled smart glasses, including Conversation Focus. Subscribers get up to 15 hours per month of the feature, while non-subscribers are limited to 3 hours. The capability can run offline, but critics call the price hike a cash grab on a device many bought already. The move comes amid ongoing privacy concerns tied to the glasses’ cameras and prior facial-recognition controversy, highlighting tension between AI access and user data considerations.

via Futurism|

#ai-features #meta #privacy

technology9 days ago•7 min saved

Meta’s AI Glasses Go Premium: Subscription Unlocks Advanced Features

Meta now requires a Meta One Premium Plan to unlock expanded features on its Ray‑Ban, Oakley, and Meta smart glasses; basic use remains free but Conversation Focus is capped at three hours per month without a subscription and a maximum of 15 hours even with one. The plan also includes Premium Device Support, and Meta says it will test more premium features as competition from Google and Apple grows.

via WIRED|

#ai #meta #smart-glasses

gaming9 days ago•2 min saved

GTA 6 Preorders Include an Auto-Renewing GTA+ Month

GTA 6 preorders come with a free month of GTA+ that auto-renews, meaning you’ll be charged $8 for another month if you don’t cancel before the first month ends; cancellation can be done on the platform you subscribed through, with PC options including the Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam, Epic Games Store, and the Xbox app, plus detailed steps on Rockstar’s site. GTA+ offers monthly GTA$ 500,000, access to The Vinewood Club and a free vehicle each month, rotating benefits, and a catalog of Rockstar titles. How GTA 6 will use GTA+ in online play remains unclear, with theories ranging from a separate GTA Online to an updated version, while the game launches November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and won’t be released on disc.

via GameSpot|

#gaming #gta-6 #gta-plus

business20 days ago•19 min saved

Sony Bets on PS Plus Upgrades to Drive Profits

Sony posted record profitability for its gaming division, with PS Plus as a major driver, and said it will push profitable growth by boosting user engagement, improving PS Plus content, and encouraging users to upgrade to higher tiers, even as debate over paying for online multiplayer continues.

via Push Square|

#business #playstation #profitability

technology21 days ago•11 min saved

Nex Playground brings AI motion gaming to UK families

Nex Playground lands in the UK on 22 June as a cube‑shaped console that replaces controllers with AI-based body tracking via a built‑in camera; priced at £269 in the UK & Ireland, it includes five starter games, with access to more than 60 titles via a Play Pass subscription (£90/year or £45/quarter). Nex says video is processed locally for privacy (no cloud storage) and the device carries kidSAFE+ COPPA certification, with a lens cover and parental controls; the aim is to encourage active play and reduce passive screen time for families.

via BBC|

#motion-gaming #nex-playground #price

gaming1 month ago•10 min saved

FFXIV Switch 2 Trailer Confirms August Early Access and Separate Subscriptions

Square Enix released a Final Fantasy XIV gameplay trailer for Switch 2, showing an August 2026 early access window with about a month of testing before official service. The Switch 2 version requires purchasing the game plus a separate subscription (half price if you have remaining time on other platforms), and you won’t need Nintendo Switch Online for this version. The piece also notes a teaser for Final Fantasy Resonance for Switch/Switch 2 releasing in October.

via Nintendo Life|

#early-access #final-fantasy-xiv #gaming

technology1 month ago•9 min saved

Tiny rings, big claims: Oura Ring 5 vs Ultrahuman Ring Pro premier face‑off

Trusted Reviews compares the new Oura Ring 5 and Ultrahuman Ring Pro, highlighting Oura’s claim of the world’s smallest smart ring (about 2g, 2.28mm) versus Ultrahuman’s 2.65mm design with a Pro Charging Case. Oura requires a monthly subscription to access data, while Ultrahuman does not (though PowerPlugs and third‑party fees can apply). Ultrahuman touts Jade, a real‑time biointelligence AI for insights, and promises up to 15 days of battery life (the case extends charging potential); Oura claims up to a week for the ring itself. Price starts around £399–£499 for Oura and £429 for Ultrahuman, with Oura launching June 4 and Ultrahuman July 15. Both devices are unreviewed at the time, but promise reliable sleep, recovery and activity tracking with different ownership models and extras.

via Trusted Reviews|

#oura-ring-5 #sleep-tracking #smart-rings

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Sony widens PS Plus price hike to Premium and Extra tiers

Sony has confirmed that price increases apply to all PlayStation Plus tiers—Essential, Extra, and Premium—effective May 20, 2026 for new customers, with Extra priced at £11.99/month (£34.99 for three months) and Premium at £14.99/month (£43.99 for three months) in the UK; annual subscriptions remain unchanged for now, following an earlier PS5 price rise.

via Eurogamer|

#playstation-plus #price-increase #sony

technology1 month ago•5 min saved

AcuRite nudges customers onto a paid, revamped weather app

AcuRite is forcing users to switch from the long-running My AcuRite app to AcuRite Now by May 30, 2026, introducing a subscription tier (AcuRite Now+) for extended data; customers complain about missing features and limited data display, risking dissatisfaction and potential churn while the company argues the move simplifies its platform and enables future improvements.

via Ars Technica|

#acurite #acurite-now #my-acurite

technology2 months ago•8 min saved

WhatsApp Plus Brings Premium Personalization to iPhone (Icons, Themes, and More)

WhatsApp is rolling out a paid iOS plan called WhatsApp Plus aimed at heavy users, adding customization options such as premium sticker packs with fullscreen animations, 18 accent colors, 14 alternate app icons, bulk theme/ringtone settings, and an expanded pinned-chat limit (3→20); pricing is €2.49/month in Europe or $29 in Mexico with potential free trials, while core messaging and encryption remain free and the rollout is limited to a small beta for now.

via MacRumors|

#icons #iphone #subscription

gaming2 months ago•8 min saved

FFXIV Arrives on Switch 2 in August — and it needs a separate subscription

Final Fantasy XIV is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026, but the Switch 2 edition will require its own separate subscription (Nintendo Online won’t be needed). Active FF14 subscribers can buy the Switch 2 version for 50% off, though the price and exact date are not yet announced. The release accompanies Patch 7.5: Trail to the Heavens and the Dawntrail expansion.

via Eurogamer.net|

#dawntrail #final-fantasy-xiv #gaming

business2 months ago•3 min saved

Game Pass price cut signals strategic push for 2026 subscriber growth

Analysts view Microsoft's decision to lower Game Pass prices and drop Call of Duty as a day-one offering as a calculated shift after CoD’s limited impact on boosting subscriptions and revenues. While some dispute whether CoD revenue was savable, all see the price cut as likely to grow subscribers by 2026, with Ampere forecasting higher ARPU and lower churn as prices normalize; the move underscores a pragmatic, windowed approach to first-party releases and continued emphasis on value in a growing subscription market.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#business #call-of-duty #game-pass

technology2 months ago•7 min saved

WhatsApp Tests Paid Plus Plan with Themes, Icons, and More Pins

WhatsApp is testing a paid subscription tier called WhatsApp Plus for Android beta users. It adds customization features such as premium sticker packs with fullscreen animations, optional accent colors, and alternative app icons, plus a higher pinned-chat limit (3 to 20), 10 exclusive ringtones, and bulk theming/notification options across chats. The beta shows €2.49 per month in Europe and $29 in Mexico, with a potential one-month free trial; core messaging remains free, and the plan isn’t expected to affect WhatsApp Business. iOS support and wider rollout are planned for future releases.

via MacRumors|

#customization #pinned-chats #plus

technology2 months ago•3 min saved

Xbox Game Pass May Undergo Pricing Overhaul After Past Increases

Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma reportedly said Game Pass pricing will change, noting it has become too expensive for players. An internal memo obtained by The Verge suggests a move toward a more flexible value equation and longer testing, following last year’s price increases of up to 50%. The company says it will preserve current plans for existing auto-renewing customers in some regions unless they cancel and repurchase.

via GamesIndustry.biz|

#game-pass #microsoft #pricing