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The winds of change are bringing a storm toward PlayStation Plus subscribers, and many faithful players are jumping ship before it hits. Since the first PlayStation was born in 1994 in Japan, its success led to 100 million consoles sold and shipped worldwide in the following year. Sony figured out a new way to bring games to their consoles later in 2010, calling it PlayStation Plus. With new consoles, plans, games, and players, PlayStation Plus has been a staple for many of its faithful customers ever since, that is, until now.
PlayStation Plus Is Changing
PlayStation Plus provides exclusive content for its players, including games, shopping discounts, and early access to some of its most popular titles. It’s a paid subscription service that adds cloud storage for saved games, so players don’t need to purchase gaming titles individually but share the opportunity to play a variety of titles, as well as the previously mentioned benefits.
There are also some added advantages that some players use to enjoy their gaming experience. If you love to play online multiplayer games on the PlayStation 4 or 5, then it’s a must-have to link up with friends for the most popular games like Call of Duty and FIFA. When it comes to playing free-to-play games, PS Plus is not required, so gamers are free to enjoy Fortnite or Apex Legends.
What is PlayStation Plus
Here is where we start to get to some of the upcoming problems. Subscribers do have the opportunity to play free games for their members. However, their game titles are usually available for a month while gamers make the most of their subscription. You see, every month, Sony releases select free games to play for their subscribers that are usually PS4 or PS5 titles, where they can be claimed by adding them to your library. Once you have added them, you can download and play the game as long as you have an active subscription.
With the games you get access to play through PlayStation Plus, you need to keep in mind that you can only play them while you pay for the monthly subscription. You don’t own the games but are kind of renting them as long as you pay. So for some, it’s great having a variety, while for those who wish to only play a few games, it’s not a dream come true. There are three different tiers for PlayStation Plus.
Different Tiers
PlayStation Plus Essential is the basic and most common. For it, you get the monthly PS5 and PS4 downloadable games as well as Exclusive discounts, cloud storage, and online multiplayer access. Next, you can get the Extra package, where you get everything from the Essential as well as a downloadable catalogue of nearly 400 games. The third tier includes the benefits of the others as well as PS3 game streaming, as well as catalogue download streaming of the PSP, PS1, and PS2, as well as time-limited game trials.
The end of May is going to be a brutal month for popular games leaving PS Plus services. They will be losing about 20 titles that also include some AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto V, VI, and GTA V. There are several others like Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, with a few old classics that have stood the test of time.
Cost or Keep
There is also the price hike problem. For those unaware, a yearly PS Plus subscription cost rose significantly in 2023. PS Plus Essential used to be $59.99 for a year (now $79.99), PS Plus Extra used to be $99.99 a year (now $134.99), and PS Plus Premium used to be $119.99 a year (now up to a monstrous $159.99).
Things are always changing in the gaming world, which means that with all this going on with the PlayStation. What are you going to do, switch, watch, stay with what you love, or keep your ear open for more? Whatever you are going to do, keep up with what you love.
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Sony’s PS3 Store Glitch Sparks Shutdown Panic—But It’s Still Alive
If you thought the PS3 had been taken out back and retired to make room for its flashier, younger siblings, think again. Sony’s plucky last-last-gen console refuses to say die, and its PSN store is still hanging on for dear life. Well, most of the time. Recent server hiccups gave fans mini heart attacks, raising fears that this time, for real, the PS3 store was about to vanish into digital oblivion. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. But before we get into the drama, let’s appreciate this artifact of gaming history. Released in 2006, the PS3 was a beast of its time, complete with weird marketing, a $600 price tag no one asked for, and a catalog of some of the greatest games of its generation. And here we are, nearly 20 years later, and people still care about accessing its online storefront. The Week Sony Nearly Gave Us a Heart Attack Picture this: You’re booting up your PS3, reminiscing about the good old days. Then suddenly, the dreaded “error, under maintenance” message pops up. For almost 24 hours, gamers from across the globe were locked out of the PS3 store. The forums lit up like a Christmas tree with panicked fans asking, “Is this it? Is this the end?” To get some perspective, this isn’t Sony’s first dance with store drama. Back in 2021, they announced plans to shut it down entirely, but after fans lost their collective minds, Sony backed down, issuing a rare, public “we messed up” apology. Since then, it’s been a game of “Will They? Won’t They?” with every new technical hiccup. Thankfully, the store mysteriously limped back online, with Sony offering no explanation. A bug? Maintenance? A rogue hamster powering the basement servers? We’ll never know. What we do know is that, for now, the PS3 isn’t going anywhere. Why Are We Still Talking About the PS3 in 2025? Alright, so what’s the deal? Why are people still clinging to this ancient machine when we have PS5 SSD magic and DualSense controllers? Simple. The PS3 is nostalgia, legacy, and for many, a treasure chest of exclusive games you just can’t get anywhere else. Sure, you’ve heard digital content fans rant about backwards compatibility like a broken record, but they’re not wrong. Titles like Metal Gear Solid 4 or Infamous 2 are emblematic of the PS3 era. Unless you’re into jailbreaking your console or waiting for Sony to miraculously bring everything to the PS5 (don’t hold your breath), the PS3 store remains your digital lifeline to a world of gaming gold. Sony knows this, which is probably why they’ve kept it on life support. Or maybe they’re just too busy printing money from PS5 sales to care. Either way, we’re not mad about it. What Happens When the Store Does Shut Down? Eventually, Sony will have to close down the PS3 store. Let’s face it, servers don’t run on hopes and dreams. But when that happens, what do we lose? Beyond the nostalgia, it’s a genuine concern for game preservation. Once those digital-only titles disappear, they’re gone. Sure, modders and emulators might keep the spirit alive, but nothing beats the legitimacy of owning a piece of gaming history. For now, fans are making the wise call to back up their libraries, dust off their consoles, and stack up on digitally exclusive DLCs like they’re canning goods for a storm. Whether or not Sony chooses to offer an alternative solution, like making PS3 classics available on PS5’s storefront (hint-hint, nudge-nudge), remains to be seen. PS3 Lovers, Assemble At the end of the day, the PS3 community isn’t going anywhere. From Reddit to dedicated forums, there’s no shortage of fans who will keep the spirit alive. And honestly? It’s kind of wholesome. Whether people are booting up the console to relive Uncharted 2 or argue about its clunky interface (yes, it’s still aggravatingly slow), it’s clear that this 2006 relic still holds a special place in gamers’ hearts. Sony’s unpredictable approach to the PS3 only proves one thing: when it finally goes, expect another tidal wave of angry tweets and blog posts from fans around the globe. Until then, power up your PS3, scroll through the lag-tastic store, and grab those digital gems while you still can.
Standout performances from Week 1 of NFL preseason: Rookie, backup QBs shine
The first week of the 2025 NFL preseason is officially in the books. Even though the games and results do not matter, there is still reason to pay attention to standout performances from around the league. Here are some of the best from this week's games. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots The Patriots need some game-changers on offense, and they may have found one in second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson put on an immediate show in the Patriots' preseason opener, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, rushing for 18 yards on his only carry and catching three passes. Skylar Thompson, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers Thompson is not likely to make the Steelers roster, but that doesn't mean he can't find a spot on another team. Especially if he puts together a strong preseason performance. He did exactly that on Saturday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 20-of-28 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. With Aaron Rodgers unlikely to play in the preseason and Will Howard injured, Thompson should get plenty of reps to audition for other teams. Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia Eagles Following the offseason trade of Kenny Pickett, McKee is now pretty much cemented in as the Eagles' backup, and he had to give them a lot of confidence in his ability following his preseason performance against the Bengals. McKee torched the Bengals defense to the tune of 20-of-25 passing for 252 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. It is a nice continuation for McKee following his promising debut a year ago when he threw for 323 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in his two appearances. Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams The Rams already have a starting running back in Kyren Williams, but there is nothing wrong with having a second productive player at the position. Corum didn't make the expected impact in his rookie season, but he had a promising preseason debut this year with two touchdowns in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie quarterbacks Cleveland's Shedeur Sanders got the week off to a promising start by throwing two touchdowns against Carolina, taking a big step forward in his quest to win the team's starting quarterback job and to silence the critics following his slide in the draft. Jaxson Dart, one of the Giants' first-round picks, also had a strong showing by going 12-of-19 with 154 yards and a very impressive touchdown pass. Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, also had a strong debut by leading a touchdown drive and developing an instant connection with veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Abdul Carter, DE, New York Giants Carter did not play a ton of snaps for the Giants, but he was a force when he did play. He recorded a quarterback pressure on all three of his pass-rush snaps and showed the type of quickness and speed that made him one of the best players in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Cam Little, K, Jacksonville Jaguars Look, when you kick a 70-yard field goal, you deserve to get some added recognition, whether it counts as an official league record or not. Little made all four field goal attempts, as well as an extra point, in the Jaguars' preseason debut.
Kevin Durant Takes Subtle Shot At Stephen Curry; Reveals Why Warriors Fans Hate Him: 'They Will Never Recover'
Kevin Durant typically has no filter when interacting with fans online. But this time, while answering fan questions on X, Durant inadvertently ended up taking a shot at Stephen Curry. When a fan asked him why he thinks Warriors fans hate him, he seemingly pointed at Curry's fans. "Them finals MVPs, they will never recover," said Durant in response. One of the biggest debates for Stephen Curry's legacy had been that until 2022, he hadn't won a Finals MVP award despite winning three NBA championships before that. In 2015, Andre Iguodala received the Finals MVP award instead of Curry, and in 2017 and 2018, Kevin Durant was awarded the Finals MVP, and not Curry. Therefore, Durant seems to believe that since he won two Finals MVPs over Curry, loyal Warriors fans who love Curry started criticizing Durant. This planted the seed that developed into Warriors fans disliking Durant, despite him winning two titles with them. Let's take a look at Durant and Curry's performance in 2017 and 2018 to see if Durant was really better than Curry in those two seasons' Finals runs against the Cavaliers. In the 2017 NBA Finals, Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in five games played. He shot 55.6% from the floor and 47.4% from beyond the three-point line. In the same year, Curry averaged 26.8 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field and 38.8% from beyond the arc. In the 2018 NBA Finals, Durant averaged 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists as the Warriors swept the Cavaliers. He shot 52.6% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the three-point arc. Meanwhile, Curry averaged 27.5 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 40.2% from the field and 41.5% from beyond the three-point line. In both seasons, it is evidently clear that Durant contributed a lot more than Curry in almost every aspect and hence was justified in being awarded the two Finals MVP awards. However, since Curry ended up not winning the Finals MVP award in four consecutive visits to the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018, his fans unfairly blamed Kevin Durant for stealing the award from him. Curry and Durant have a lot of mutual respect, but his fans evidently drove Durant out of the Warriors. According to NBA Insider Marc Spears, the Warriors fans regularly gave Curry MVP chants, and that did not sit right with Durant until very late with the Warriors. Spears hinted that these chants made Durant feel like Warriors fans did not fully embrace him. If Warriors fans did not criticize Durant as much as they did, maybe Durant could have made a return to the Warriors now instead of joining the Rockets? The world of possibilities and "what-ifs" here is endless.
Updated Recruiting Rankings After Colorado Buffaloes Latest Commitment
The Colorado Buffaloes landed a commitment from three-star offensive line prospect Josiah Manu, giving Colorado coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes 11 total commits in the 2026 recruiting class. With the commitment of Manu, Colorado moved up slightly to No. 78 in 247Sports' recruiting rankings for the class of 2026. Earlier in the summer, the Buffaloes were as low as No. 93 in 247Sports' rankings. There is still some time remaining for Sanders and Colorado's coaching staff to continue recruiting top prospects, but the Buffaloes currently have the lowest-ranked recruiting class in the Big 12. Big 12 Recruiting Rankings: Here are the current Big 12 recruiting rankings (overall ranking in parentheses) as of Aug. 10: 1. BYU Cougars 2. Texas Tech Red Raiders 3. Baylor Bears 4. TCU Horned Frogs 5. Kansas Jayhawks 6. Houston Cougars 7. Arizona State Sun Devils 8. West Virginia Mountaineers 9. Arizona Wildcats 10. Iowa State Cyclones 11. Utah Utes 12. Oklahoma State Cowboys 13. Kansas State Wildcats 14. Cincinnati Bearcats 15. UCF Knights 16. Colorado Buffaloes Despite Colorado's low ranking relative to other Big 12 teams, the Buffaloes are ranked above ACC schools like Virginia and Virginia Tech as well as Missouri, from the SEC. If Sanders and the Buffaloes can sustain success without former Colorado stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, will more recruiting success follow? Under "Coach Prime," Colorado has added fewer high school recruits than transfer portal prospects. Still, the Buffaloes' 2025 recruiting class had 14 commits and was ranked No. 2 in the Big 12, only behind TCU, according to On3's rankings. In 2025, Colorado's recruiting class was headlined by quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis and offensive lineman Carde Smith. Colorado's Recent Recruiting Momentum: Despite Sanders' absence from Boulder, Colorado, for most of the offseason, the Buffaloes had some success on the recruiting trail over the summer. Gula is Colorado's second commitment of August after interior offensive line prospect Ben Gula pledged to the Buffaloes on Aug. 1. In June and July, Sanders and his coaching staff landed the following prospects: Four-star safety Preston Ashley Four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Three-star linebacker Carson Crawford Three-star offensive tackle Xavier Payne Three-star safety D'Montae Tims Three-star offensive lineman Colby Johnson Meanwhile, the Buffaloes had one of the larger transfer portal classes in the country in 2025, adding 33 new players to the roster. Colorado's transfer portal class was ranked No. 19 overall by 247Sports. During the spring, Sanders spoke about recruiting to Colorado and how the Buffaloes attract top recruits from around the country: "I don't think I have to explain 'Why Colorado?' I think they see that on an everyday basis. Why Colorado? I don't think I have to sit up there and sell us to anybody. I think by the time they get here, they're looking for confirmation. Our program sells itself. . . . We do a great job of really exposing our program. We did a great job on pro day," said Sanders.
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