After dismissing in February 2010 the possibility of an added tax for premium services (aside from the PS+ services), the idea of a new fee for accessing the PSN Network has returned. Sony has announced today the PSN Pass, a fee for those that want to play online through the PSN Network.

Details are scarce, but until September it is clear that Sony will demand this free from PS3 owner wishing to use the PSN Network to play with friends. The PSN Pass will come in the form of a unique one-use code accompanying certain games that will join the PSN Pass programme. Among other things, it will mean that online gaming through Playstation Network will be available only to the original game owner (those buying pre-owned games will have to pay the fee again).

Unlike Microsoft’s XBOX and Nintendo’s Wii, access to most PSN Network has always been free for PS3 users. Given the recent hits that Sony too, this was likely to happen for PS3 owners as well. Well, here it is.