Sony lets PS3 and PSP owners get 3-year service

Sony today gave PS3 and PSP owners the option of an official extended warranty for their consoles. The Protection Plans give the consoles either one or two years of coverage beyond the built-in single year of coverage. PSP owners can also choose an accidental damage plan that covers shattered screens and other ill effects.

Pricing depends on the system and the amount of coverage. PSP owners get the least expensive deal and can pay either $30 for one year or $40 for two years. The accidental coverage adds $10 to each of those terms. PS3 owners have to pay $50 or $60 for one or two years of coverage. For regular coverage, either owner can add the extension as long as they're within their initial year of warranty coverage. Accident coverage has to be applied within the first 30 days.

All of the plans potentially shake up retail game hardware sales. Stores such as GameStop have often produced their own, unofficial warranties that get users replacement systems even without Sony. The measures have usually been treated as ways of padding the frequently tight profit margins associated with retail but don't come with any official guarantees of help or a mail-in option for an actual out-of-warranty repair.

By Electronista Staff