PlayStation Plus announced, available later this month for $49 per year

Sony has confirmed its intentions to offer a premium for-pay version of the PlayStation Network. The name is slightly different from what was initially reported, and will now be called PlayStation Plus. Online play will still be available for all PSN members, free and paying. PlayStation Plus offers a number of added perks, though:

• Exclusive in-game DLC and other content
• Free full games, changing each month
• Early access to demos and betas
• Auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates

PlayStation Plus will be available later this month for $49 annually, or $18 for three months. Subscribers will receive Wipeout HD, a demo for inFamous, Fieldrunners, Age of Zombies, Rallycross and a handful of themes and avatars for free throughout July. One caveat: When you unsubscribe from the service, you lose access to all the free content you downloaded.