Sony Interactive Entertainment is releasing a new and improved version of their PlayStation Plus subscription this June. The updated subscription service will merge the current version of PlayStation Plus with Sony’s other subscription service, PlayStation Now. While an exact release date has yet to be announced, subscribers of the platform have much to look forward to this summer. 

Sony’s New Plan

For over a decade, Sony Interactive Entertainment has allowed PlayStation users to enjoy online gaming and special discounts with the use of its PlayStation Plus subscription service. Subscription plans have ranged from $9.99 monthly, $24.99 quarterly and $59.99 yearly. Special benefits of being a PlayStation Plus subscriber include free monthly games, discounts and access to online multiplayer. Additionally, the PS Plus Collection offers 20 free games exclusively to PlayStation 5 owners once they subscribe to PlayStation Plus. 

On the other hand, PlayStation Now allows users to stream a variety of first-party and third-party games. The selections include games on PS2, PS3 and PS4 across an extensive library. Players can purchase the same subscription plan options as PlayStation Plus to grant access to PlayStation Now. 

Moreover, the merging of the two services will allow players to enjoy both options under the same plan. This new version of PlayStation Plus will have three membership tiers, each with its own benefits. 

PlayStation Plus Tiers

The first tier will be called PlayStation Plus Essential. Subscribers of this tier will have the same benefits as they do today. Those benefits being two free monthly games, discounts, cloud storage and access to online multiplayer. Also, the current prices of PlayStation Plus will remain the same in this tier. 

The second tier will be called PlayStation Plus Extra. Players who choose this tier will have access to all the benefits in the essential tier, as well as an additional library of 400 games available for download across PS4 and PS5. The prices of this tier rise to $14.99 monthly, $39.99 quarterly and $99.99 yearly. 

The third and final tier will be called PlayStation Plus Premium. This tier will provide all of the benefits from the essential and extra tiers. In addition to those benefits, players who subscribe to this tier will also receive 340 more games available to download. This is in addition to the 400 in the extra tier. That means a total of 740 games will be available for players who go premium. 

Why the Change?

This new expansive catalog will feature games from the original PlayStation, PS2, PSP, PS3, PS4 and PS5 generations. Furthermore, cloud streaming will also be available on PS4, PS5 and PC. 

The premium tier comes with the heftiest price tag however. Players in this tier will have to pay $17.99 monthly, $49.99 quarterly and $119.99 yearly. In addition to all the benefits in the premium tier, players will also have access to time-limited game trials. This will allow them to try out select games before they decide to buy them. 

Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Sony Interactive entertainment, shared his thoughts on the upcoming changes to PlayStation Plus. 

“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.”

Ryan continued, “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.”