PlayStation has just announced major changes to its long-running PlayStation Plus subscription service. This comes in the form of a three-tiered model, offering PlayStation fans different perks at every level. This announcement also marks the coming end of the PlayStation Now streaming service, as it is being merged into the higher PlayStation Plus tiers.
PlayStation Plus is now split into three tiers: PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium. Essential is basically what PlayStation Plus is now — online play and free PlayStation titles every month — but the two higher tiers add much more on top of it. There is a lot to look at when deciding on which PlayStation Plus tier to go for, so here is a breakdown of how they all function, their pricing, and potential benefits at each level — all to simplify the decision before the new PlayStation Plus rolls out in June.
PlayStation Plus Essential
PlayStation Plus Essential is essentially the same PlayStation Plus that is available right now. Benefits include free PS4 and PS5 titles that change every month, extra discounts on top of the PlayStation Store's sales, in-game tips on PS5, cloud saves, and online play. This tier also grants PS5 owners access to a library of 20 major PS4 titles. As there are no new offerings in this tier, the price remains the same at $9.99 monthly, $24.99 quarterly, or $59.99 annually.
There are a few reasons to stick with this Essential tier. This tier is for more casual PlayStation fans: Those who are happy with the games they have now, buying an occasional new release. As an example, if the player sticks to online multiplayer for one or two games a year, PlayStation Plus Essential is worth it for the online play capabilities alone. This tier also has the most appealing price of the three. An annual $59.99 is still hefty for what the Essential tier offers, but playing the occasional free monthly game quickly justifies it. The other two tiers rapidly increase in price, so this factor may affect the decision greatly.
PlayStation Plus Extra
PlayStation Plus Extra is the second tier in PlayStation's updated subscription service. Extra contains everything included in the Essential tier, with the inclusion of 400 additional PS4 and PS5 games available for players to download. This includes games like Marvel's Spider-Man, God of War, Returnal, and Death Stranding. The Extra tier is priced at $14.99 monthly, $39.99 quarterly, or $99.99 annually.
The PlayStation Plus Extra tier brings a lot to the table — it is starting to feel like Sony's answer to Xbox Game Pass, as many rumors suggested. This tier is great for players who may be new to PlayStation, or for those who want to jump into a massive backlog of games. This price point is great for players who do not own many of the 400 games that are available, as even playing two full-priced games a year will justify the cost.
That being said, avid PlayStation fans may already own lots of these games, so the practicality of this tier may vary. PlayStation's official announcement states that this pool of games will be regularly updated, though there is no mention of new games being available upon release.
PlayStation Plus Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium is the third and final tier. It is also the tier that brings in all the functionality of PlayStation Now. On top of everything included from the Essential and Extra tiers, PlayStation Plus Premium also adds about 340 more games to the library. These are from past generations, including the PlayStation 1, 2, 3, and the PSP. Unlike the Extra tier, which only allows players to download the included games, Premium allows players to either download the games or stream them on PS4, 5, or PC. In fact, the PS3 games are only available for streaming. The Premium tier is the highest priced of the bunch, at $17.99 monthly, $49.99 quarterly, or $119.99 annually.
PlayStation Plus Premium is where things get exciting for the most avid PlayStation fans. PlayStation backwards compatibility has been in high demand for years, last seen on only the first models of the PlayStation 3. The Premium tier allows long-time PlayStation owners to revisit their favorite older games, or for newer players to experience some for the first time.
This is great for those who no longer own older consoles, or just have no way to connect them to modern TVs. That being said, this tier may not appeal to those who do have access to the previous generations of games — there is no real reason to spend a substantial amount of money every year on games that are playable in their original format.
Overall, there is lots of decision-making to be had when deciding which of the three PlayStation Plus tiers to go for. It could be nice to just stick with what Essential offers, but the added older PlayStation games in the Extra and Premium tiers are also appealing. It is clear that each of the three tiers has a specific audience in mind, but only time will tell if audiences deem the respective price points worth it. It is an exciting time for PlayStation fans regardless, with the ability to jump into many games, both old and new, very close on the horizon.