It’s been a long time coming, but it is finally here. Introducing the multi-tier Playstation Plus Subscription service. Good things take time and from what we have heard this is going to taste like a fine wine. Sony has been at the forefront of gaming technology for as long as I can remember. From the game (pun intended) changing PS Plus to the first streaming service in the guise of PS Now.
Today they take it one step higher, because well this is what they do. They just gave the traditional Playstation Plus a huge shot of NOS and looks like there is no slowing down now. This comes in a few choices which is great as budgets are important. More so for gamers. Trust me. I have ground GT5 to GTA 5 for my desirables. There will be 3 tiers.
Below is an overview of the three membership tiers:
(prices are calculated from official US prices and rounded off and are only presented as an indicator)
PlayStation Plus Essential
- Benefits:
- Provides the same benefits that PlayStation Plus members are getting today, such as:
- Two monthly downloadable games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage for saved games
- Online multiplayer access
- There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier.
- Price* for PlayStation Plus Essential remains the same as the current price for PlayStation Plus.
- Price*: R145 –R150 / Month
PlayStation Plus Extra
- 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*: R218 – R220
- £10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly
- Japan
- ¥1,300 monthly / ¥3,600 quarterly / ¥8,600 yearl
PlayStation Plus Premium**
- Benefits:
- Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers
- 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*: R260 – R265
There is also a fourth option, but especially for markets without could streaming, this comes packaged as the Deluxe option, which will be cheaper than premium and will include our fan-favorite classic games from the golden era of PS2 and PSP which will be able to download as well as limited game trials. The sub-tier will also include all the benefits of the Essential and Extra packages. Again local pricing is to be set.
This truly is a jump forward from the old PS Plus but a welcomed one. The large library of games will include a large selection of AAA games ranging from Mortal Kombat to Spider-Man and God of War. This will make it a real bang for buck service. And yes the games will be refreshed regularly.
No Sacrifice, No Victory
All these goodies do come at a cost, and that means losing PS Now as a standalone service. Current Subscribers will be migrated over to PS Premium with no extra fees at launch.
This new exciting service will launch in phases starting in Asia then moving to America, Europe, and eventually to the rest of the world. The target time for world domination…. Mean the conclusion is targeted for the first half of 2022.
Honestly, I can’t wait, this is something I wanted for a long time. The target dates are just around the corner. With current games being so expensive, this seems like a no-brainer. It’s why I always opted for my PS Plus. Even getting just 2 AAA games a year justifies the price. 400 plus makes it a steal.
