Sony has finally revealed an overhaul to its PS Plus subscription service for PlayStation gamers, which will see it become a much closer rival to Microsoft’s Xbox and PC Game Pass service.
Xbox Game Pass has been the talk of the town for a long while now, with its great value and expansive library, and Sony’s PS Plus and PS Now services have started to look lacklustre in comparison. There have been rumours floating around for a while of a competitor service in the works from the Japanese giant that will provide those on the blue side of the console divide a similar offering to Game Pass, and it’s finally here.
Sony’s new PS Plus system offers players a three-tier subscription service. PS Plus Essentials is the basic package, and offers the same PS Plus service available today, and for the same price. PS Plus Extra offers the same as Essentials, but with the addition of 400 PS4 and PS5 games for subscribers to download and play, including the likes of Spider-Man Miles Morales and Death Stranding. Additional titles will be added on a regular basis and this tier will cost $14.99/€13.99/£10.99 per month.
PS Plus Premium is the top tier of the new service and will offer everything from the previous two tiers, plus a collection of retro games from the PS1, PS2, and PSP – available as a download or to stream – as well as PS3 and PS4 game streaming similar to what is available on PS Now and time-limited trials so that you can test games before you buy. This tier is available for $17.99/£13.49 a month.
“We really do feel that we can do better in the way that we offer these services to our gamers and subscribers,” Jim Ryan tells GI Biz. “For example, 75% of those who subscribe to PlayStation Now also subscribe to PlayStation Plus. We think we should be doing better by those people.”
If you want more in-depth information about what this new PS Plus offers, be sure to read up on our subscription tier guide with prices and benefits. Or, you can get a rundown of the Premium PlayStation Plus tier.