Premium users subsidizing land owners with new pricing
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Peter Stindberg
I am a Premium member since forever. The Lab just dropped a whopping 21.1% price increase on me, without adding additional value.
My landlady (and close friend) is Premium since forever. The Lab just dropped a 14% price increase on her, but since she owns the land, the Lab also granted her a 13% reduction on land costs, which will save her several hundred US$ per year.
This new pricing seems to me to be a redistributing from residents to landowners. We regular Premium residents pay more, and the landowners pay significantly less. We non-land-holding residents subsidize the land barons.
This is hardly fair.
I understand costs are rising across the board. I understand the Lab's costs are rising as well. Had the Lab argued "everythign gets more expensive" and raised the prices - SLIGHTLY - for ALL, I would have understood.
But a 21.1% price increase for Premium residents, paired with a 14% subsidy of landowners - in percentages this seems harmless, in absolute US$ amounts it's massive - sends the wrong message.
I ask the Lab to reconsider, and restore fairness.
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Benny Crisp
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Shannon Varonia
I could not agree with you more. I have also been a Premium subscriber for a long time and this news has been at most .. very underwhelming. All the Lab will be doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Also what are the ‘expanded membership benefits? A confusing statement at best.
Owning a full 30k region has always been a dream for me here but the costs do not justify it especially with SL being in the advanced stage of ….
In summary if the Lab cannot make region ownership affordable to the rest of us ordinary users without making a loss itself then is their whole land model really sustainable?
Wissy Pooh
I agree honestly in this present economy these price increases are making spending my extra funds on SL less of a priority sadly. Many of us really can't afford any additional increases in the cost of living.
Bubbaluva Resident
I agree, Jessica. If the basic were to cost money, the premium and premium plus costs alot of money, and they keep increasing, this game maybe coming to an end, then besides 5M, gta, and all that mess, where are we able to build and create stuff? this is unfair. We've been on the game for so long, it really sucks. I vote that this is indeed unfair.
Wolf Clawtooth
My PP comes up in a few months as well, thinking of just dropping second life off my list of things to pass time with. With the money exchange being 30 more cents on the dollar, the outrageous charges for picture uploads, the charge for automated name changes, the slow support. I can find other simulators to log on to for enjoyment.
Oatmeal Linden
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Hello Peter! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding the upcoming pricing changes.
We understand your concerns about the Premium membership increase and appreciate you sharing your perspective on how these changes may affect you and other residents. Feedback from long-time community members is valuable, and we will ensure your comments are shared with the appropriate teams.
If you would like more information about our membership options or have any questions about their benefits, I would be happy to assist.
jessica111 Clary
Oatmeal Linden Hello Oatmeal Linden,
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I want to be direct but respectful, because I know you are representing Linden Lab here.
I do not understand the logic behind raising Premium membership prices on loyal paying members and creators so region owners can receive a percentage cut. I understand wanting to help region owners, but shifting that cost onto Premium members does not feel fair, especially when many Premium members are also creators who already support the Second Life economy.
In business, costs move downhill. If creators are charged more, many will have to recover that cost somehow. That can mean higher prices for clothing, homes, décor, scripts, services, rentals, and other Second Life products. So even residents who are not creators or region owners may still feel the impact.
This decision can ripple through the entire Second Life economy.
There is also a real risk that Linden Lab could lose Premium members instead of gaining revenue. Some residents may downgrade or cancel because the price is going up without enough added value to justify it. The L$650 weekly stipend is appreciated, but realistically, it does not go very far in today’s Second Life economy.
The Linden Home benefit is nice, but for many users, it does not make up for a major membership increase. The added value does not feel equal to the extra cost.
If Linden Lab wants to lower region costs, I understand that goal. But I believe Linden Lab should absorb that cost as a company instead of placing the burden on paying subscribers and creators. Premium members should not be used to cover discounts for another group while receiving little or no meaningful increase in value.
As a creator, this affects me directly. It also affects my customers, because if my costs go up, that pressure can eventually reach them too. That is not helping Second Life grow. It risks making Second Life more expensive for everyone.
I also hope that the next time Linden Lab considers a decision that affects this many residents, creators, consumers, and region owners, it is chewed down to the bone before being pushed forward. A change like this needs to be fully thought through from every angle, because the financial impact does not stop with one group.
I strongly urge Linden Lab to reconsider this pricing change. Helping region owners should not come at the expense of Premium members, creators, and everyday residents.
jessica111 Clary
Oatmeal Linden I’m not sure if everyone is aware, but many people who are trying to vote on this issue are reportedly getting errors when they log in. I personally have not experienced the error myself, but multiple people have said they are unable to vote because of it.
I do not know whether this is intentional or simply a technical problem, but given how big and important this decision is, it needs to be taken seriously.
If this is not being done intentionally, I would respectfully ask Linden Labs to investigate why people are receiving errors when trying to vote and make sure everyone has a fair chance to participate before it is too late.
This is a major decision for the community, and residents should not be blocked by login or voting errors.
Oatmeal Linden
jessica111 Clary: Hello Jessica! If there is an issue with logging into any of our websites or the viewer, the best course of action is to contact support for assistance. This site allows users with unique and verified email addresses on their account to log in and participate. If you are using the same email address for multiple accounts, only one will be able to log into Canny.
Information about verifying and changing your email on file may be found in the Knowledge Base: https://community.secondlife.com/knowledgebase/verifying-your-email-address-r1513/
jessica111 Clary
Oatmeal Linden yeah about 10 people said they can log in basic SL website but when they try and come here to Vote and login they Get a Error. and thats 10.. people...... 10 votes........ that wanna be heard..... so can u please have some 1 check for errors? please?
jessica111 Clary
Oatmeal Linden they said theri email is verified and they only get this with a empty page. An error has occurred. Further information is available in the server log. and yes they cleared cookies etc same issue
Oatmeal Linden
jessica111 Clary: Please have your friend contact support directly for assistance.
Archer Blep
jessica111 Clary agreed. Logging in on the browser was impossible for me. I kept receiving the error message. Fortunately I kept the original feedback message in my email. It’s the only way I can access the feedback. I’m certain lots of people haven’t been able to access it at all.
jessica111 Clary
Archer Blep I find it concerning that around 10–15+ people I personally know are receiving an error when trying to vote on the Second Life Feedback page.
The error reportedly says it has been logged in the server logs. If that is the case, then Linden Labs should have the website/dev team review those logs directly instead of sending residents through the ticket system, waiting 24+ hours, and making them jump through basic troubleshooting steps.
I am not making accusations, but the timing is questionable. This issue appeared while residents are trying to vote on a major community decision that could affect many people.
Archer Blep
jessica111 Clary I don’t think think they care, to be honest.
Archer Blep
jessica111 Clary I just tried to login on my browser again and magically it doesn’t give a blank page with an error message 🙃
Lettie Linden
jessica111 Clary: Thank you for letting us know! We have found the root cause and are working on a fix. While I cannot provide an ETA, it is being fast tracked so we can get it out ASAP
Lettie Linden
jessica111 Clary: We believe the Canny login issue has been resolved. Please let me know if anyone is still unable to log in.
jessica111 Clary
Lettie Linden thank you Lettie :)
jessica111 Clary
Lettie Linden GracielaLuna, said: i click log in and it takes me to the community site for reporting bugs. and i asked her can u click link and see if it brings you here. She said no brings her back to the report page.
jessica111 Clary
Lettie Linden so it seems like a redirect issue
Lettie Linden
jessica111 Clary: GracielaLuna's issue is unrelated and specific to their account. Please have them contact support.
jessica111 Clary
Lettie Linden am little lost on what u mean. As i gave them Link to this to read it and Vote and she clicks Link and it sends her here but den when she logsin it sends her to report page instead. so am little lost.. on what u mean
Lettie Linden
jessica111 Clary: There is an issue with her account specifically that is preventing her from logging into the feedback site. As this is a public forum, I am unable to provide those details here. Support will be able to let her know what the problem is and how to correct it.
jessica111 Clary
Lettie Linden ok thank you
SL Feedback
Merged in a post:
Do not raise paid membership prices to offset land fee reductions
jessica111 Clary
Description:
What Linden Lab is changing:
Linden Lab has announced pricing updates across land, LindeX fees, and paid memberships. Selected land costs are being reduced, the minimum LindeX buy fee is being lowered, and some paid membership plans are going up starting with billing cycles on or after July 8, 2026.
What I am asking for:
Do not raise Premium, Premium Plus, or other paid membership prices to offset region or land-price reductions. If Linden Lab wants to lower selected region fees, Linden Lab should absorb that cost instead of shifting it onto loyal subscribers.
My feedback:
I am speaking as a creator, customer, land renter, and long-time resident of Second Life since 2005. I strongly disagree with raising membership prices while lowering selected region prices. To me, this feels less like making Second Life more affordable and more like moving the bill from one group of residents to another.
As a creator, I pay for Premium Plus because the benefits matter. Free or reduced uploads help creators test textures, materials, mesh, sounds, and other assets without being punished every time we build or improve something. That helps creators, customers, homeowners, shoppers, event owners, and the overall Second Life economy. If Premium Plus becomes more expensive, many creators will have to recover that cost somewhere. That can mean higher product prices, higher service prices, higher event costs, or less creation overall.
The weekly L$650 stipend does not balance this out. In the current SL economy, L$650 does not go far. I personally spend around L$2,000 or more per week on weekend sales, tools, creator resources, home items, clothing, textures, materials, and other things I need. Many residents do the same. A stipend, a Linden Home, support perks, and upload benefits are useful, but they do not justify increasing costs on paying members during a time when real-life prices are already difficult for many people.
I also rent land and pay around L$22,000 to L$23,000 a month. That is already a lot of money in the Second Life economy. Reducing selected region prices may help some landowners, but it does not automatically help every renter, creator, customer, or subscriber. Meanwhile, a membership increase directly hits the people who are already paying Linden Lab every month or every year.
This is the main issue: region pricing and creator memberships are not the same thing. If someone owns land and wants a membership tied to a land discount, then create a separate land-owner membership tier or land-related pricing option. Do not raise the cost for creators and residents who mainly use Premium Plus for uploads, stipends, groups, support, and creator tools.
Loyal paying subscribers should not be used to cover the cost of a land-price change Linden Lab chose to make. If Linden Lab wants to reduce selected region fees, then Linden Lab should carry that bill, not shift it onto Premium and Premium Plus members.
Please vote for this if you want paid membership prices to remain the same and want Linden Lab to find another way to fund land-price reductions without putting the extra cost on loyal subscribers.
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xDancingStarx Resident
You have the creator community constantly complaining about the land prices, especially compared to other platforms. I do not think this change is targeted towards what you call "land barons".
jessica111 Clary
xDancingStarx Resident I agree that land prices in Second Life are too high. I do not think most people are arguing against lowering region fees. The problem is how Linden Lab appears to be balancing that change.
Starting a region already costs a lot, and the monthly tier is expensive too. Most people agree land has been one of SL’s biggest cost problems for years. But lowering selected region prices does not automatically mean ordinary residents, renters, shoppers, or creators will benefit.
A lot of residents do not own full regions. They rent from estate owners, landlords, malls, stores, clubs, or communities. If Linden Lab lowers the bill for some landowners, that does not guarantee those savings will be passed down to renters or customers. Some landowners may lower rent, but many may simply keep the difference. That is just reality.
Meanwhile, raising Premium or Premium Plus costs directly hits creators and loyal subscribers. Many creators get Premium Plus mainly because of uploads. When you are making textures, materials, mesh, clothing, buildings, signs, animations, or tools, you make mistakes. You test. You re-upload. You fix bugs. Free or reduced uploads are not just a perk; they are part of how creators keep building.
If that membership becomes more expensive, creators have to recover that cost somewhere. Some creators cash out. Some pay for tools, ads, rent, events, commissions, software, and real-life bills. If their monthly SL cost goes up, many product prices will go up too. Clothing, home items, houses, tools, textures, materials, and accessories can all become more expensive.
That means the final bill does not stop with the subscriber. It reaches the consumer. Shoppers will pay more. Renters may not see savings. Creators may charge more. Residents may need to buy more L$ just to keep doing what they already do.
So yes, land prices are a problem. But shifting the cost onto paid members is not the right fix. If Linden Lab wants to reduce selected region fees, then Linden Lab should absorb that cost or create a separate land-related membership tier. Do not raise the price on creators and subscribers who are using Premium Plus for uploads, stipends, groups, support, and creator tools.
My concern is simple: this can ripple through the whole SL economy. Linden Lab raises membership costs, creators raise prices, consumers pay more, and many renters may not see lower rent at all. That is why I oppose this change.
Cuddles Supply
I'm premium and I may not renew. I also own some land outside my 1024. My friend is PP and is will probably drop to the non-stipend PP tier if the numbers work out in her favor (hard dollar redction over all or recapturing value). I'm sure the Lab worked these out factoring in attrition but it seems drastic.
Rick Nightingale
Absolutely agree with the OP. If things stand like this, I'm out, along with my five premium accounts (between me and my wife) and all my MP earnings, most of which currently gets spent in SL.
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