EOTB: Linden Lab To Raise Premium Account Price, Lowering Linden Dollar Buy Fee, Sim Monthy Fees

 

Yesterday on Monday June 8, Linden Lab announced some price changes. Good news if you keep buying Lindens or own one or more sims. But if you're a Premium Resident, some bad news. 

 

First the bad news, which the Lab called the reason for "adding more value to paid membership plans." The cost of Premium will be going up from $11.99 USD a month to $12.99 a month. If you pay by the quarter or year, the price will be a little less. If you pay every three months, the price will be going up to $11.99 USD a month or $35.97 per quarter. If you pay by the year, the rate will be going up to $9.99 USD a month or $119.88 annually. There was some fine print at the bottom of the announcement saying that the option to pay quarterly is no longer available "for new purchases."

 

The last time Premium accounts went up in price was over seven years ago from $9.50 a month, in May 2019, which the Lab then called "the difficult decision to make our first Premium price increase in over a decade." Their language back then was more direct than the wording in Monday's announcement. 

 

The price increase is not immediate, but will take place thirty days after the announcement, on July 8, 2026.  

 

The costs for Plus and Premium Plus level accounts. $5.99 and $29.99 USD a month respectively, which were introduced after the previous price increase, are not changing.  

 

Not all of the news was bad. Linden Lab announced that the minimum fee to purchase Linden dollars would be going down from $1.49 USD to 49 cents. 

 

But, there was a catch. The Lab would announce the ceiling rate, the maximum buy fee, was going up from $14.99 USD to $29.99.  The benefit of making fewer purchases of more Linden dollars instead of more smaller ones is being reduced. 

 

The fee changes Linden Lab wanted to emphasize the most is what will likely affect the smallest number of residents (albeit so much of the Grid as we know it depends on them).  The price of maintaining a sim will be going down from $209 a month to $199 a month. Sims whose prim capacity has been expanded to 30,000 will drop in monthly maintenance from $239 USD to $209. For a sim with an education discount, the monthly rate to maintain it drops from $129 USD to $105. This is a decrease of almost a fifth. So good news for those paying for education areas. The setup fee of $349 USD will not change. 

 

Linden Lab would justify it's increase in Premium accounts by saying they were "adding more value to our plans. In the past month alone, we’ve added two valuable new benefits - exclusive early access to some of the hottest shopping events in Second Life and at least 12 exclusive gifts monthly, which is the largest collection of exclusive paid membership monthly gifts ever!" They also stated they were offering "Expanded access to Linden Homes, Premium customer support benefits, more subscriber-exclusive virtual gifts than ever before," and "New partnerships offering early access to some of Second Life’s hottest shopping events and experiences."

 

A thread opened in the official Second Life forums on the announcement.  While there was some praise for making land more affordable, most of the comments were grumbles about the greater cost for Premium accounts. "They're getting greedy again and want to milk Premium a little more if they can, or push more people to go for (Premium Plus)." "'Expanded access to Linden Homes' ... so what, in fact, what does that even mean?" "Given that just about everything in real life has gone up a lot in price in recent times, it's hardly surprising that LL has put its fees up."

 

To see the blog post in full, Click Here.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Events This Week at the Sunweaver and Montecito Bay Clubs, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Club Scorn

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, Urban Furry, and Scorn clubs.

Club Cutlass: Summer Colors, Beach Party, No Event - Relay

Happy Vixen: DJ Scratch, DJ Umbra, TBA, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - Rainbows

 

Bouncing Bunny Beach Club:  No Event

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

 

Montecito Bay:  CAYA, After Dark

Club Scorn: Th 8-12, Sat 2-12

 

Furry Fashion: TBA

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Charlee, DJ Emma, DJ Emma

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

Relay Track: RFL Survivor, Playdolls

 

 Taken at RFL Survivor, "Survivor Strong, Caregiver Strong."

 

 The Playdolls team had a huge statue at their camp.

 

More to come,

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

Sixteen Years Of The Newser

 

In Spring 2010, the staff of the Second Life Newspaper faced a dilemma. It had not been a good past several months. A sponsor went under, forcing them to abandon their office and build a new smaller one elsewhere. The owner and founder JamesT Juno was facing real-life difficulties and had to take an indefinite break from Second Life. And Editor Dana Vanmoer was spending less and less time inworld due to real-life as well. Finally in their April meeting, Dana announced she was having to close the paper. It was news that shocked the rest of us, some having been writing for the "Gray Lady" of SL for most of it's three and a half year history.

So we talked amongst ourselves, and four of us, Gemma Cleanslate, Grey Lupindo, Shirley Sands, and Bixyl Shuftan (myself) made the decision to start a new newsletter. Since I was the one with the most experience, being Dana's assistant editor aka Office Manager, I would be the owner and editor. And so on June 5 2010, the day the Second Life Newspaper made it's last entry, the Second Life Newser would start. 

Sadly, our first topic was covering the retirement of the established paper. Following that were a few routine articles. Then came shocking news. Linden Lab was laying off a third of it's staff. This would include some popular Lindens. Then came news of then CEO M Linden stepping down and Philip Linden returning as interim CEO. We would cover a happy event as expected, the Second Life Birthday, the SL7B, though we also reported on the close of the classic Greenies sim which longtime residents from the early days still look back on fondly. And there was the office and land donated to us by Ranchan Wiedman of the Sunweaver/Angels community. It was an active first month. As the year went on, we would report on the Relay for Life, the Emeraldgate scandal, the decision to merge the teen grid and the older teens, Universal demanding Linden Lab shut down the Battlestar Galactica roleplay and then pulling back, Ozimal bunnies taking Amareto horses to real-life court, Philip stepping down and the new CEO Rod Humble stepping in, and the real-life news network CNN closing it's location in SL. To help us out, Breezes Babi and Any1 Gynoid would join the team. We would also get our first sponsor, the Podex Exchange owned by Jacek Shuftan (no relation). 2010 was a pretty active year. 

Since then the Newser team has continued to report the news, big and small, of the people, places, and events in this crazy and wonderful virtual world. There have been no shortage of problems, the occasional griefer, drama that can end a group or community, sims closing down, the occasional questionable move by Linden Lab (in the past this happened more often), and saddest of all people passing away. But there's also been plenty of good, memorials set up to honor soldiers and others who gave their all, support groups to help those with troubled thoughts, people tweaking the mechanics of this virtual world to explore it's possibilities, people who found friendships and comradery here, charities that help people in real life such as Team Diabetes, Homes For Our Troops, and the Relay for Life, and much more. 

Sadly, over time people have had to drop out of the Newser team due to real-life concerns. Grey Lupindo and Shelly Sands would drop out after a couple years. But we've had others step up to contribute to virtual journalism such as DrFran Babcock and Grease Coakes. Today, the Newser consists of three full time staff. Gemma Cleanslate (who is currently under medical leave) and myself remain from the original team, with Netera Landar having rejoined us and is productive as ever. 

Sixteen years later, Second Life is a very different place. The few sims owned by corporations and US Government agencies are gone. Mesh has changed the way people build. The people have themselves changed with the Boomers and Gen Xers slowly giving way to more Millenials and Zoomers. But what hasn't changed is people still want to know what's going on. And it's up to newsletters such as the Newser to deliver. We're not perfect and occasionally we miss something. But we're persistent. Every day we post something, even if it's just a video or cartoon. But we inform as well as entertain. Our mission as always is to report the news big and small on the people, places, and events of this virtual world. And we will continue to do so. 

Special thanks to JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer for showing us the ropes. Special thanks to Ranchan Wiedman and the Sunbeamer and Angels community for giving us our office. Special thanks to Linden Lab for giving us this virtual world to start with (but we still wonder about some of our strategies). And of course special thanks to you the readers without whom this newsletter would not be possible.

And that's the way it is. Good day from the Second Life Newser.

Bixyl Shuftan
Editor
SL Newser

 

Reader Submitted: More Relay Track Pictures

 

Kamida Delec sent more pictures. One suggesting she just missed an event on American Cancer Society sim on Sunday, "Celebrate Cancer Survivors Day with us."

 

 "There's a suspicious amount of Giraffes in this years RFL event....🤔 🕵🏻 🕵🏻‍♂️ 🕵🏻‍♀️"

 

 "So many giraffes! Perhaps the agents of S.K.U.N.C.L.E. should do some investigation regarding a giraffe world domination complot."

 

20th Annual Hair Fair in Second Life Offering Limited Edition Last Names, Lifetime Premium Plus, Premium Auction

 

With the attention on the Relay for Life, it's easy to miss another cancer-related fundraiser going on in Second Life: The Hair Fair. Taking place in six sims, it offers a large variety of hairpieces, as well as other headgear like bandanas and wraps. And for it's anniversary, this Hair Fair is offering something special: Limited Edition last names and a  Lifetime Premium Plus and Lifetime Premium auctions.

 

...the 20th annual Hair Fair event in Second Life. Since 2010, Hair Fair has proudly partnered with Wigs For Kids, raising crucial funds and awareness to support children experiencing medical hair loss. Each year, creators, organizers, and residents come together to make this virtual event a meaningful celebration of community and generosity. 

 

Like every year, the Hair Fair has numerous shops offering hairpieces for sale, each with a listed percentage of sales going to the charity Wigs For Kids. Fifteen percent is the minimum amount, with 100% of the bandana sales going to the fundraiser. They are in six sims, grouped by hair color: Blonde, Brunette, Redhead, Streaks, Noirette, Fouls. Supporting a good cause isn't the only reason people come here. You can find varieties here that can be hard to find anywhere else, especially men's hair. 

 

But there are two things that set this Hair Fair apart. One is you can purchase one of three limited edition surnames for your account (all hair related): Style, Salon, and Strand. 

 

You can purchase at the event the last name of your choice and these will be manually set in motion with Linden Lab. They are being sold for the standard name change fee of L 12250 and 100 % goes to Wigs for Kids. You can also change your first name included in the price.

These will not only have the awesome factor of having such unique new names, but also knowing that the name has history of helping Wigs for Kids ♥. Who do their best to promote this event every year on their own website. 

 

As a reminder, your name will not change instantly, "While the name change is not instant it is done in order of filing your ticket, so do that as soon as you purchase." To get one of these last names, head to:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Blonde/236/251/24

 

But this isn't all. You can also bid to get to upgrade to a Lifetime Premium account or a Lifetime Premium Plus account. You'll never have to pay another monthly fee for as long as Second Life is around. 

 

Hair Fair 2026 has been given the amazing opportunity to Auction off two Lifetime accounts, where 100% of the proceeds will go to Wigs for Kids.

 - 1 Lifetime Premium Plus account.
 
 - 1 Lifetime Premium account.
 
 The starting bids are based on the purchase price of these accounts set by Linden Lab. The Auction closes on 14th June but do not miss out on getting your bid in, if you are outbid before the auction ends you will be sent a notecard with landmark to return to the location to bid again if you wish to do so - which will also show as an offline notice to email if you have your settings that way. Please visit regularly during the event to keep your eye on the Auction. 

 

The Hair Fair is going on until Sunday June 14.

 

To get to the auction, head to: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Streaks/233/11/24

 

For more information on the Hair Fair, check out:  https://www.wigsforkids.org/events/20th-annual-hair-fair-in-second-life/

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Hair%20Fair%20-%20Blonde/245/239/24 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Relay Track Sneak Peeks: Fantasy Faire, Seekers of Hope

 

 Taken at the Fantasy Faire's exhibit in RFL Research. 

 

 Taken at RFL Reflection, the Seekers of Hope's camp, "Everyday Warrior: By Anya Stanwyck. This picture is up for bid in their silent auction.

 

 Bixyl Shuftan

 

Cartoon of The Day: Pride Month

 

 Taken at the BBBC. June is Pride Month, and rainbows are considered a show of support of the LGBT movement, even if one isn't lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual but a straight friend. 

 

By Bixyl Shuftan 

 

RFL Sneak Peek: Wild

 

 

 Taken at RFL Reflection, SL Living Expo's camp, "Where the wild things are."

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Reminder: Newser Party Today

 

Just a reminder, the SL Newser anniversary party is today, Saturday June 6, at the Happy Vixen Beach club at Noon SL time, with DJ Snowy scheduled to play the tunes. 

 

Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24)  

 

See you there

 

SL Video: "Sunbeamers Make Ruby" (2023)

 

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

From Nydia Tungsten on June 2023, a video to celebrate the Relay for Life's Sunbeamer team reaching Ruby level fundraising. 

 

RFL Announcement: Sunbeamers Make Ruby!

 

 

 Late last night on the evening of June 4, following the Relay Sunbeamer team's weekly Moon Dance event, Cynthia Farshore announced in the Relay's Discord channel they had crossed the one and a quarter million Linden dollar mark, and were now Ruby level fundraising.

 

Sunbeamers got Ruby at the Moon Dance, going to need the camp marker changed! (excited grin) 

 

In the Sunbeamer's own group, she would happily announce, "We did it, at the end of the Moon Dance tonight we made Ruby!" Journey Texan would respond, "Congratulations, Cynthia and all Sunbeamers. That is fantastic! Thanks for all you do during Relay season. You definitely deserve to reach Ruby."

 

As of now, the Sunbeamers are eighth of 202 registered teams in fundraising.

 

Go Sunbeamers! Go Relay! 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

 

Today, the SL Newser turns sixteen. But what did people read before it? While there were tablods such as The Herald, there was also the Second Life Newspaper, owned by JamesT Juno with Dana Vanmoer as editor. It started small, a blog with occasional glances at the virtual world, but soon grew into a respectable newsletter with a good sized staff. I would join it in October /November 2007, and become a respectable member of the team. This was a different time, the Golden Age of Second Life when it and not social media was talked about as the future of the online world and it would be mentioned on the news and even prime time TV, while we the residents made all content entirely inworld in these pre-mesh days with only a small amount of the content created by the Lindens. So what was covering the news in these times like?

 

Read the 2015 article in Extra. 

 

Looking Back At The Newser: The First Years, 2010-2013 (2022)

 

The Second Life Newser is a publication with quite a history, fifteen years. That's quite a lot to look back over. In 2022, Bixyl took a look at the Newser's first few years. Starting from a team of four reporters fresh from the recently closed Second Life Newspaper, the Newser would win the confidence of readers and advertisers alike and soon become a force in journalism covering the people, places, and events in Second Life (with occasional nods to our sponsors). But much of what it covered was a Linden Lab that seemed increasingly unable or unwilling to understand it's virtual world's users.

Read the 2022 overview of 2010 to 2013 in Extra. 

Join the Newser For a PARTY!

 

It was today, sixteen years ago, in which the Second Life Newser began.. It was quite an eventful month, in which we wrote about the end of the classic "Greenies" sim, the decline of Ozimal breedable pet bunnies, the Relay for Life, the Second Life Seventh Birthday, and of course Linden Lab laying off thirty percent of it's workforce followed soon by the resignation of then CEO M Linden. And since then, the Newser and it's writers have kept on going.

 

And now, we're taking a moment to celebrate. There will be a party at the Happy Vixen Beach club tomorrow, Saturday June 6, from Noon to 2PM. There will be a small contest prize (CAYA) up for grabs. It's a chance talk to some of the reporters, and a moment to celebrate journalism in this virtual world.

 

Purrfection Estates (236, 219, 24)  

 

*Addition* It slipped my mind earlier to mention the party was on Saturday, for some reason.  

 

Subject to last-minute change 

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Relay Track Sneak Peek

 

 

 Taken at the Relay Track a few days ago. The Roos With A Dream were working on their campsite. What will it look like when it's done? Stay tuned. 

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

When Real-Life Strikes ...

 

Yours truly has been really busy in real-life, so some articles I was hoping would be finished will have to wait until next week. My apologies for the delay.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Announcement: Homes For Our Troops June 2026 Benefit Concert

 

Frets Nirvana, longtime supporter and contact for Homes For Our Troops in Second Life in conjunction with the US Military Veterans Group, announces the 2026 June benefit for Homes for Our Troops benefit in Second Life.   The benefit will be held on June 9, 2026 from 5PM - 8 PM PM SLT at Veteran’s Isle.    http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/176/58/3501.

Frets Nirvana states:  “HFOT is a privately funded 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization building specially adapted, mortgage-free homes nationwide for the most severely injured Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these Veterans are multiple amputees, paraplegic, quadriplegic or have suffered severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents of every dollar spent by Homes for Our Troop has gone to directly support Veterans. DURING THAT TIME HFOT HAS BUILT 437 SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOMES NATIONWIDE FOR EXTREMELY INJURED VETERANS.” 


This HFOT benefit concert will feature the following DJ’s and artists from 5 PM- 8 PM on June 9, 2026:


DJ Zack 5 PM
Max Kleene  6 PM
Amforte Clarity 7 PM 

Cartoon of The Day: Ringtail Cat Toy

 

 Taken at Sunweaver Space

 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Relay Track Sneak Peek: Steelhead Graffiti

 

 

Taken at the Steelhead Salmons' campsite. Someone did a little graffiti poking fun at the team captain, which got a response from him. Which leads to the question, do we start calling him "Fuzzbutt Ortega?" 

 

Bixyl Shuftan (with the help of Droppa MaPants)