PlayStation Plus Prices Increasing Starting September 6th

Sony has announced that it will be increasing the prices of PlayStation Plus subscriptions starting September 6, 2023. 

The price increases will affect all three tiers of the service: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Sony has said the price increases are necessary to “continue bringing high-quality games and value-added benefits to your PlayStation Plus subscription service.” 

The company has also noted that the price increases will not affect current subscribers until their next renewal date.

The new Premium tier offers a wider selection of games, including classic titles from previous PlayStation generations. Cloud streaming of PS3 games is a new and innovative feature that could be a major draw for some gamers. 

The price increases are relatively modest, especially considering the new benefits that are being offered.

However, on the other side,  The price increases are still a tough pill to swallow for some gamers, especially those who are already struggling with the rising cost of living. It is unclear how the price increases will affect the popularity of PlayStation Plus.

Prices of PlayStation Plus subscriptions

Here are the prices of PlayStation Plus subscriptions in the US:

• Essential: $79.99 per year, $9.99 per month, or $24.99 every 3 months.
• Extra: $134.99 per year, $17.99 per month, or $49.99 every 3 months.
• Premium: $159.99 per year, $19.99 per month, or $59.99 every 3 months.

The prices will increase on September 6, 2023.

Here is a table summarizing the prices:

Tier	Old Price (USD)	New Price (USD)
Essential	59.99	79.99
Extra	99.99	134.99
Premium	119.99	159.99

The Essential tier is the basic tier and includes the same benefits as the current PlayStation Plus service, such as online multiplayer, monthly free games, and discounts.

The Extra tier includes all the benefits of the Essential tier, plus a library of up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games.

The Premium tier includes all the benefits of the Essential and Extra tiers, plus a library of up to 340 classic games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP generations, as well as cloud streaming of PS3 games.

Tier	Features
Essential	Online multiplayer, monthly free games, discounts
Extra	All of the Essential features, plus a library of up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games
Premium	All of the Essential and Extra features, plus a library of up to 340 classic games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP generations, as well as cloud streaming of PS3 games

• Essential

This is the basic tier and includes the same benefits as the current PlayStation Plus service. This includes online multiplayer, monthly free games, and discounts on games and add-ons in the PlayStation Store.

• Extra

This tier includes all the benefits of the Essential tier, plus a library of up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games. These games can be downloaded and played at any time.

• Premium

This tier includes all the benefits of the Essential and Extra tiers, plus a library of up to 340 classic games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP generations. These games can be downloaded or streamed, depending on the title. 

The Premium tier also includes cloud streaming of PS3 games. This means that you can play PS3 games on your PS4 or PS5 without having to download them.

PlayStation Plus prices are Increasing!

PlayStation Plus subscription costs will rise globally beginning September 6, 2023. The price increases will affect all three tiers of the service: Essential, Extra, and Premium.

The Essential tier is the basic tier and will now cost $79.99 per year, up from $59.99. This tier includes the same benefits as the current PlayStation Plus service, such as online multiplayer, monthly free games, and discounts.

The Extra tier is the mid-tier and will now cost $134.99 per year, up from $99.99. This tier includes all the benefits of the Essential tier, plus a library of up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games.

The Premium tier is the top tier and will now cost $159.99 per year, up from $119.99. This tier includes all the benefits of the Essential and Extra tiers, plus a library of up to 340 classic games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP generations, as well as cloud streaming of PS3 games.

Only time will tell how the price increases will affect the popularity of PlayStation Plus. However, Sony is committed to providing its subscribers with the best possible gaming experience.

Why do subscription services consistently increase their prices? 

While inflation might play a role, a steep 33% hike appears unjustified. Sony argues that this adjustment enables the provision of high-quality games and benefits. 

However, recent additions to the PS Plus library—a trio of games with Metacritic ratings around 60 or lower—raise questions about the promised quality.

In comparison, Xbox Game Pass also raised prices, but its lineup boasts superior titles. This aspect underscores Xbox’s dominance over PlayStation.

It is indeed frustrating when the prices of subscriptions keep increasing. There are a few reasons why this might be happening.

• Inflation: Inflation is the general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. This means that the cost of goods and services is rising, and people have less money to spend. Businesses need to raise prices to cover their costs, and this can lead to higher subscription prices.

• Increased competition: The subscription market is becoming increasingly competitive, with more and more companies offering subscription services. This means that businesses need to find ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors, and one way to do this is to raise prices.

• Cost of content: The cost of content is also rising. This is because the cost of producing movies, TV shows, and video games is increasing. Businesses need to raise prices to cover these costs, and this can lead to higher subscription prices.

In the case of PlayStation Plus, the price increase appears to be justified by the inclusion of new services such as cloud streaming and a library of vintage titles. However, some gamers are not convinced that these new features are worth the price increase.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to subscribe to a service is up to the individual. If you are not happy with the price increase, you can always cancel your subscription.

As for Xbox Game Pass, indeed, the price increase was not as significant as the PlayStation Plus price hike. However, Xbox Game Pass has also been adding more and more high-quality games to its library. This is likely because Microsoft has a larger budget than Sony.

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