Sony has announced an expansion to the Playstation Plus subscription service overnight, combining their online and game streaming services to create a new service moving forward.
Launching in June, the expanded Playstation Plus service will include three tiers: Playstation Plus Essential, Playstation Plus Extra and Playstation Plus Premium (or Deluxe in some markets), with each tier including the benefits of the lower tiers.
The basic service, Playstation Plus Essential tier is the same service you’ve been using up until now. The price won’t change and will still include your online multiplayer access, discounts, cloud saves and 2 free games each month – which next month will include Hood: Outlaws & Legends, SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated and Slay The Spire.
The Playstation Plus Extra service will cost $14.99 USD ($20 AUD) per month and this is where the game streaming comes in – though Australia won’t get this benefit as yet. Playstation Plus Extra will offer users access to stream over 400 PS4/PS5 games from Playstation Studios and third parties including the likes of Death Stranding, Spider-Man, God of War and more, in addition to the benefits of the Essential tier.
The Playstation Plus Premium (Deluxe in some markets) tier is an all you can eat service priced at $17.99 month ($24 AUD), offering all the benefits of previous tiers but with access to original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP games to download, as well as, PS3 games for markets with access to game streaming.
In terms of what we’ll see here in Australia, we’ll still be able to access the Playstation Plus Essential service, but will most likely be offered the option to upgrade to Playstation Plus Premium – or Playstation Plus Deluxe as Sony are calling it. This option includes access to downloadable games from Playstation, PS2 and PSP, but not the games requiring streaming. We will be offered a lower priced offering due to our not having access to game streaming, but Sony hasn’t announced any pricing details as yet.
Sony themselves outline this in the blog post announcement, saying :
PlayStation Plus Deluxe (Select Markets) For markets without cloud streaming, PlayStation Plus Deluxe will be offered at a lower price compared to Premium, and includes a catalog of beloved classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations to download and play, along with time-limited game trials. Benefits from Essential and Extra tiers are also included. Local pricing will vary by market.
The full list of tiers includes:
PlayStation Plus Essential
- 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
PlayStation Plus Extra
- 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.
United States – $14.99 monthly ($20 AUD)/ $39.99 quarterly ($54 AUD) / $99.99 yearly ($133 AUD)
PlayStation Plus Premium (Deluxe in some markets)
- 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.
United States – $17.99 monthly ($24 AUD) / $49.99 quarterly ($67 AUD) / $119.99 yearly ($160 AUD)
The new services launch in June, and Sony Computer Entertainment Australia has already begun emailing PS Plus members this morning confirming nothing in terms of price or service will change at this stage – but they are planning on more. Stay tuned, as soon as Sony announces local details we’ll let you know.
