Sony announces multiple PlayStation Plus subscription forms

Sony PlayStation has released all the details via the PlayStation Blog, stating that the renewed service will be released in June.

As expected, that was indeed the case, Sony will combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now into one service and three tiers will be available: PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium. For convenience, we describe all three variants.

PlayStation Plus packages and the content they contain;

PlayStation Plus Essential

The first package, Essential, will be similar to the currently used PS Plus system.

• $9.99 per month.
• Two different free games every month.
• Special discounts.
• Cloud storage capability.
• Online game access.

PlayStation Plus Extra

• $14.99 per month.
• Access to a library of approximately 400 different games in addition to all PS Plus benefits.

PlayStation Plus Premium

• $17.99 per month.
• Access to all PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Extra features.
• Possibility to try the game for a certain period of time before purchasing.
• Up to 340 different games in addition to the game libraries offered in other packs.
• All PS, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PSP games in the game library in question will be cloud-based on PS4, PS5 and PC in countries where PS Now system is in use.

PlayStation Plus Deluxe

• Price has not been announced yet.
• In countries where PlayStation Now is not available, this package will be available and PlayStation Plus Premium features will be available, except for cloud-based gaming.

The first variant, PlayStation Plus Essential, is exactly the service you know right now. In addition to these, there are PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, which offer the integration of PlayStation Now and therefore include real classics from generations ago.

Directly released PlayStation 5 games include Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11 and Returnal. In addition, Sony works closely with its studios and third parties to regularly refresh the library. In other words: this is how Sony is following the route of Microsoft and Xbox Game Pass. The only difference seems to be the absence of first-party titles on the first day of service.

PlayStation Now will cease to exist entirely as a standalone service as it will be integrated into PlayStation Plus after the launch of these new subscription plans. Existing subscribers will automatically receive PlayStation Plus Premium at no additional cost while their PlayStation Now subscription is still active.

With a release scheduled for June, we’ll have to wait and see when it’s our turn, as the rollout will begin in Asia and be phased out by North America and then Europe. The goal is to make it live by the end of the first half of 2022.

Sony has not discussed upgrade options, but around release it is expected that it will be possible to increase your existing subscription on a per tier basis for an additional fee. Sony will reveal more details as the release gets closer.