Sony Mulling Tiered PlayStation Plus Subscriptions?

A curious survey leaked to IGN may tip off that Sony is mulling a tiered PlayStation Plus subscription structure.

IGN credits reader Bryan Findley with passing along Sony Computer Entertainment's short query wondering about users' various ideal PS Plus price points and what bang they'd get for their bucks. As it stands now, the premium service's memberships start at three-month packages for $17.99, run up to a discounted $49.99 year-long membership and include exclusive complete PlayStation Network games, preview trials, downloadable items and discounts.

The hypotheticals Sony's survey sets forth present some lucrative possibilities. The three general options it sets forth mean to hone in on some perfect package of perks from spit-balled possibilities such as free "Call of Duty Elite" access and free PlayStation 3 new releases. It takes the form of a sort of fluid negotiation, as with each selection, the survey suggests some alternative package.

Observe the linked screen capture of the sample survery. The taker, it could be surmised, prefers the most possible free games be added weekly, with a combination mostly of PSN exclusives, classic PlayStation and arcade selections, and a few complete Blu-ray games - all of varying quality ratings (mostly "C" and "B"-grade titles, with a few "A"-grade selections) and no newly added games less than one year old.

Our respondent also would be amenable to 10 pre-selected downloadable PlayStation Store game and bonus content purchases offered at 50 percent off the sticker price. Our subject doesn't really care one way or another about free "Call of Duty Elite" access, and would ideally dig his perfect premium package at price points of $9.99 monthly, $24.99 for three months, or $59.99 annually.

"We have nothing specific to announce at this time, but PlayStation Plus continues to delight gamers with free games, huge discounts and exclusive gaming features that can't be found on other platforms," a Sony representative told IGN.