Sony has unveiled a new tiered PlayStation Plus subscription system. Different benefits are available across three tiers of increasing price, including access to many major PlayStation exclusives. The changes won’t arrive until June, but you’ll need to decide which plan you want access to. To aid in that choice, we’ve broken down what we know about how PS Plus is changing this June, what will happen to current subscriptions, and what’s included in all three tiers of access.
How PS Plus is changing in June
© Sony
In June PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now will merge into a three-tiered subscription model. The included levels are PlayStation Plus Essential, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium.
“With the all-new PlayStation Plus, we’re focused on delivering a compelling game subscription service with curated content from our exclusive PlayStation Studios team and our third-party partners,” the announcement blog post states. “The newly enhanced PlayStation Plus will enable our fans to discover and engage with more content than ever before, and deepen their connection with the PlayStation community through shared experiences.”
The basic level is effectively equivalent to the current PS Plus subscription, offering access to online gaming, two free games a month, cloud storage, the PS Plus collection, and store discounts. The next two levels, Extra and Premium, add access to further games from both the PS4 and PS5 catalogs.
PS Plus Essential details
Effectively the same as current PS Plus subscriptions.
Benefits
- Two monthly downloadable games
- Online multiplayer
- Cloud storage for saved games
- Exclusive PS store discounts
Price
- United States: $9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $59.99 yearly
- Europe: €8.99 monthly / €24.99 quarterly / €59.99 yearly
- United Kingdom: £6.99 monthly / £19.99 quarterly / £49.99 yearly
- Japan: ¥850 monthly / ¥2,150 quarterly / ¥5,143 yearly
PS Plus Extra details
Adds access to a large library of PS4 and PS5 games.
Benefits
- Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier
- Adds a catalog of up to 400 of the most enjoyable PS4 and PS5 games – including blockbuster hits from our PlayStation Studios catalog and third-party partners. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play.
Price
- United States: $14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $99.99 yearly
- Europe: €13.99 monthly / €39.99 quarterly / €99.99 yearly
- United Kingdom: £10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly
- Japan: ¥1,300 monthly / ¥3,600 quarterly / ¥8,600 yearly
PS Plus Premium details
The ultimate subscription tier merges PS Plus with PS Now along with some extra features like download and streaming options for classic games throughout PlayStation history.
Benefits
- Adds up to 340 additional games, including:
- PS3 games available via cloud streaming
- A catalog 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
- United States: $17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly
- Europe: €16.99 monthly / €49.99 quarterly / €119.99 yearly
- United Kingdom: £13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly
- Japan: ¥1,550 – monthly / ¥4,300 – quarterly / ¥10,250 yearly
PlayStation Plus Deluxe details
For regions without access to cloud streaming, Sony is offering PS Plus Deluxe as an alternative, cheaper subscription tier. Pricing will vary by region, but Deluxe will grant access to “a catalog of beloved classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations to download and play, along with time-limited game trials.”
© Sony
When is the new PS Plus launching?
June. Sony will be rolling out the changes in a phased system across different regions.
“In the June timeframe, we’ll begin with an initial launch in several markets in Asia, followed by North America, Europe and the rest of the world where PlayStation Plus is offered,” the blog post explains. “We aim to have most PlayStation Network territories live with our new PlayStation Plus game subscription service by the end of the first half of 2022. We also plan to expand our cloud streaming benefit to additional markets, and will provide more details at a later date. “
What will happen to my current PS Plus subscription?
Current PlayStation Plus subscriptions will automatically transfer to PS Plus Essential when the new system launches. That means you won’t need to do anything if you want to keep the same benefits and not bother with all this game library faff. If you want to increase your subscription tier, however, you’ll need to end your current level and pay more.
Current PlayStation Now subscribers will automatically migrate to PS Plus Premium membership with no increases to subscription fees at launch. PS Now will cease to exist as a standalone product.
What games will be included?
Sony notes that the games included in the Extra and Essential libraries will vary by region, but a few big titles have been confirmed already for launch. So far we know that the following games will be included in the Extra and Essential libraries come June:
- Death Stranding
- God of War
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Returnal
Sony promises that further details regarding the libraries for both tiers will be announced ahead of the service’s launch.
That's everything we know so far about the new PS Plus subscriptions tiers going live in June. Will you be subscribing to PS Plus Extra or Premium? Let us know in the comments below.
