Clearly taking aim at Microsoft’s well-received Game Pass, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a major change to PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now subscribers.
Beginning in June, Plus and Now will combine into three subscription tiers: PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium. Current subscribers to PlayStation Plus needn’t worry too much, as the PlayStation Plus Essential tier is the exact same, with the same price.
The primary difference is Sony combining their PlayStation Now digital library into the Plus subscription for online gaming, and updating it to include bigger and more recent titles. PlayStation Now will no longer be offered as a separate service.
Here’s a breakdown:
PlayStation Plus Essential ($9.99/mo or $59.99/yr)
- All the same benefits of the current PlayStation Plus subscription, including:
- Online multiplayer access
- Online cloud storage for saved games
- Two free downloadable games each month
- Exclusive discounts
PlayStation Plus Extra ($14.99/mo or $99.99/yr)
- All the benefits of the Essentials tier
- A digital catalog of up to 400 of the “most enjoyable” PS4 and PS5 games, including third-party games. Given examples include: God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Death Stranding, and Returnal.
PlayStation Plus Premium ($17.99/mo or $119.99/yr)
- All the benefits from the Essential and Extra tiers.
- An additional catalog of up to 340 games from the PS3 (via cloud streaming), PS2, PSOne, and PSP generations.
- Cloud streaming access for PS4 games offered in the Extra tier.
- Time-limited game trials.
The new PlayStation Plus will begin rolling out in June, beginning with Asia, then North America and Europe.
