PS Plus Confirms Big Price Increase

Sony has recently made an official announcement signaling an impending increase in the pricing of its popular PlayStation Plus subscription service. The origins of PlayStation Plus date back over a decade, offering subscribers a gateway to exclusive deals and complimentary game downloads. Over the years, this service has undergone significant transformations, evolving from its initial form to becoming a requisite for online multiplayer, particularly with the advent of the PlayStation 4 generation. It has subsequently grown into a multi-tiered service, catering to diverse gaming needs.

In a notable move last year, Sony undertook a revamp of the PlayStation Plus structure, effectively integrating elements of PlayStation Now and distributing benefits across three distinct tiers. The fundamental tier, known as PS Plus Essential, retained the core features that loyal fans have embraced over the years – online multiplayer capabilities and a monthly allocation of complimentary games. Expanding on this foundation, the PS Plus Extra tier encompassed everything offered in the Essential tier while introducing an expansive library of games compatible with both the PS4 and the newer PS5. Elevating the experience further, PS Plus Premium emerged as the pinnacle offering, incorporating an array of retro games from the PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 eras, alongside the added advantage of cloud streaming functionality.

However, these enhancements are not without a cost adjustment. Commencing on September 6, Sony will implement a price increase for PlayStation Plus subscriptions across its various tiers. The 12-month subscription for the PS Plus Essential tier will see a price shift from $59.99 to $79.99, while the PS Plus Extra subscription will now be priced at $134.99. The upper echelon, known as PS Plus Premium, will come with the heftiest price tag, retailing for $159.99.

Critically, some gaming enthusiasts may view this price adjustment as ill-timed for several reasons. Firstly, the upcoming selection of free PS Plus games for September 2023 has garnered less than stellar reception. The lineup featuring titles such as Saints Row, Black Desert: Traveler Edition, and Generation Zero has failed to impress. Among these, Generation Zero has faced outright criticism from the majority of reviewers, while Saints Row’s scores pale in comparison to its predecessors.

Secondly, the timing of this price increase coincides with the release of Starfield on Xbox Game Pass by Microsoft. As Sony’s PS Plus subscription tiers vie for market attention and competition with Xbox Game Pass, the decision to implement a price hike on the very day that Microsoft introduces one of its flagship games, Starfield, raises questions about strategy and timing.

The implications of this PS Plus price increase on subscriber count remain uncertain. Given that the service is pivotal for accessing online gameplay on both the PS4 and PS5 platforms, a mass exodus of subscribers due to the price hike seems unlikely. Nonetheless, some fans might reconsider renewing their subscriptions when they come up for renewal, considering the evolving landscape of gaming subscription services. As the dust settles, the true impact of this decision on Sony’s gaming ecosystem will gradually come to light.