money

Second Life is rolling out a new cheaper Premium Plus plan this October, but it doesn’t include the weekly Linden stipend. On paper, it works out to about the same cost as the old plan with the stipend, but the benefit really depends on who you are in-world.

If you’re a resident who shops, rents land, or just enjoys having a little spending money, the stipend is basically free Lindens in your pocket. It’s what makes Premium feel cheaper, because those few hundred Lindens a week can either go straight into your shopping budget or help offset the cost of Premium. Without that stipend, the discount doesn’t really give you more value. You just lose the free money.

Where the new plan makes sense is for creators and anyone earning Lindens in-world. If you already have a steady flow of income, you probably don’t care about a stipend trickling in every week. In fact, this option benefits you more because it means fewer Lindens are being pumped into the economy. Less supply keeps Lindens stronger, and that helps creators when they cash out their earnings.

There’s also a smaller win here for people who love playing Game of Homes (GoH) and having multiple homes. Premium Plus gives you access to the 2048 Linden Homes, and this new no-stipend version brings the cost down by about $100 a year. So if you’re mainly in it for the house and don’t care about stipends, this plan lets you hold onto a home for a little less.

It’s also worth pointing out that with the real-life economy struggling, Second Life is clearly planning ahead. They’re looking for ways to improve their own virtual economy while keeping Linden dollar stable. A stronger, steadier Linden dollar benefits creators the most, especially those who rely on cashing out.

But I also wish Second Life would consider the residents who aren’t earning any Lindens at all. For a lot of people, the weekly stipend is more valuable than free uploads or other perks. I have Premium Plus and almost never upload anything. This is where the new plan could backfire. Without a stipend, people may become more budget conscious. They may start to notice just how expensive it is to buy Lindens with real money, once you factor in the fees and the not so great exchange rate. Reminding people that in-game currency equals real money is not the kind of wake-up call Second Life should want to encourage.

If Second Life wants to cater to all residents, they would allow us to customize our Premium plan. Imagine being able to pick from a list, no uploads, no stipend, no extra groups, etc., and adjust your subscription price based on what you actually use. That kind of flexibility would make Premium feel more tailored and valuable to everyone, not just creators.

At the end of the day, this plan isn’t really for shoppers or casual users. It’s for creators who earn their Lindens, or for GoH fans who just want the cheapest way to hold a house for less money. Everyone else will find the stipend plan still gives the better deal.

Still, having options is always a good thing. Soon, residents will be able to choose what works best for them, whether that’s weekly pocket money or a lower upfront cost with no stipends attached.

Read more on these blogs:

• A Cheaper Premium Plus, but who’s it for and who wants it?
• Coming Soon: new option to reduce the cost of SL Premium Plus subscriptions

Read More “Who Really Benefits from Premium Plus Without Stipends? Creators.”