PlayStation Plus launches new subscriptions

Sony announced new subscription tiers to its PlayStation Plus offerings yesterday afternoon. The offerings seem to be the answer to Xbox’s Game Pass subscriptions, which allow users to pay a monthly fee to access a large library of games for as long as they’re subscribed. 

The shuffling of Sony’s subscription services, PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, will now see all subscriptions being PlayStation Plus subscriptions under different tiers. The subscription tier set consists of three tiers, with the two more expensive tiers offering access to multiplayer gaming with a catalogue of PlayStation games to install or stream.

In a blog post published yesterday, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s CEO Jim Ryan said the new tiers will become available first in Asia markets in June, followed by North America, Europe, and the rest of the world.

PlayStation Now subscriptions will be absorbed into PlayStation Plus Premium subscriptions, with no increase to their current subscription fees at launch.

At the launch of the new service, Sony plans to include games like Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal. 

Sony provided the following information on the game subscription service’s tiers:

PlayStation Plus Essential

• Provides the same benefits that PlayStation Plus members are getting today, such as:
• Two monthly downloadable games
• Exclusive discounts
• Cloud storage for saved games
• Online multiplayer access
• There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier.
• The price for PlayStation Plus Essential remains the same as the current price for PlayStation Plus.
• Price: $9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $59.99 yearly

PlayStation Plus Extra

• Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier
• Adds a catalogue of up to 400 of PS4 and PS5 games – including blockbuster hits from the PlayStation Studios catalogue and third-parties. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play.
• Price: $14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $99.99 yearly

PlayStation Plus Premium

• Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers
• Adds up to 340 additional games, including:
  • PS3 games available via cloud streaming
  • A catalogue of beloved classic games available in both streaming and download options from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations 
  • Offers cloud streaming access for original PlayStation, PS2, PSP and PS4 games offered in the Extra and Premium tiers in markets where PlayStation Now is currently available. Customers can stream games using PS4 and PS5 consoles, and PC. 
• Time-limited game trials will also be offered in this tier, so customers can try select games before they buy.
• Price: $17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly

PlayStation Plus Deluxe (Select Markets) 

For markets without cloud streaming, PlayStation Plus Deluxe will be offered at a lower price compared to Premium, and includes a catalogue of beloved classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations to download and play, along with time-limited game trials. Benefits from Essential and Extra tiers are also included. Local pricing will vary by market.