PS Plus: Breaking down the three new PlayStation Plus membership tiers

For weeks now, it has been rumored that Sony would announce a service that competes with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. It finally happened. Sony announced that in June 2022, PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now will be combined to create an all-new PlayStation Plus subscription service. The revamped PS Plus model gives PlayStation gamers more options across a total of three tier-based membership levels.

With the all-new PS Plus subscription starting in June, PS Now will be shut down and your current membership will be transferred to the premium tier of the new subscription.

PlayStation Plus membership Tiers

PlayStation Plus Essential

The first membership tier is the cheapest and there are really no changes in this tier from what current PlayStation Plus members are used to seeing. Everything that is included in this tier is what you are currently getting with the current PlayStation Plus membership today. Here is what is included with this tier.

• Two monthly downloadable games
• Exclusive discounts
• Cloud storage for saved games
• Online multiplayer access

This is the simplest and cheapest membership that will be offered to Sony’s gamers. If you are happy with what you are currently getting from your PS Plus subscription, this would be a great option for you. The pricing for PS Plus Essential is going to be your standard $9.99 per month, $24.99 per 3 months, and $59.99 for the entire year.

PlayStation Plus Extra

PlayStation Plus Extra is the second tier Sony will offer its gamers and the name of the tier is very fitting for what it offers. Just like the name suggests, you get a little extra for subscribing to this tier. PS Plus Extra will broaden your PS library by adding around 400 video games for your gaming pleasure. Here is what is included in the PS Plus Extra tier.

• Two monthly downloadable games
• Exclusive discounts
• Cloud storage for saved games
• Online multiplayer access
• Adds up to 400 PS4 and PS5 video games. This includes blockbuster hits from first-party and third-party partners. Games in this tier are downloadable for play, but no new exclusives will be launched into this subscription tier.

The biggest change included into this membership is the addition of 400 video games from the PS4 and PS5 library. You have a wide variety of video game options and because of that, the price per month, 3-months, and per year increase slightly. The pricing for PS Plus Extra is going to be $14.99 per month, $39.99 per three months, and $99.99 for the whole year.

There is a noticeable increase in price for PS Plus Extra, but with how many extra video games you will be receiving, you have to think that the price may be worth it. Especially because this tier includes blockbuster hits from first-party and third-party partners. You know that there will be plenty of AAA titles that you will be enjoying.

PlayStation Plus Premium

The final and most luxurious tier is PlayStation Plus Premium. PS Plus Premium is going to offer you a whole lot of benefits and even more video game options than the PS Plus Extra tier has offered gamers. This tier will broaden your video game library with not just PS4 and PS5 video games, but all generations of video games from Sony’s history. The original PS, PS2, PS3, PSP, PS4, and PS5 will all be represented with video games in the PS Plus Premium tier. Here is everything that is offered in this final tier.

• Two monthly downloadable games
• Exclusive discounts
• Cloud storage for saved games
• Online multiplayer access
• Adds up to 400 PS4 and PS5 video games. This includes blockbuster hits from first-party and third-party partners.
• Adds up to 340* additional games that include PS3 games available via cloud streaming and 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.

As you can tell this tier basically offers you everything that Sony has to offer. Almost every generation of Sony is available in the PlayStation Plus Premium tier and only for a few more dollars than the second tier. The pricing for the PlayStation Premium tier is going to be $17.99 per month, $49.99 per three months, and $119.99 per year.

If you want to have the highest PlayStation Plus tier that Sony will be offering, this will be the membership subscription for you. There will be no shortages of video games that you will be offered along with all the benefits from each of the three tiers.

Is the new PS Plus a true Xbox Game Pass competitor?

This is officially Sony’s option that they are throwing out there to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Based on what we know from the Xbox Game Pass and what we know from PlayStation’s new PlayStation Plus subscription, it still appears that Xbox is marketing their service in a better way.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $14.99 per month and that is the most expensive option that Microsoft offers gamers. Everything is included with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate along with EA Play and you are able to get some incredible day one exclusive titles like how Halo Infinite was released on it day one. Sony has made it very clear that first-party exclusives will not be launched into the service for any tier, which really kind of stinks. That is where the Xbox Game Pass has the significant upper hand.

However, Sony promises to include titles such as Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal at launch. Those are some pretty incredible PlayStation titles to have at launch and are going to be some of the reasons why PlayStation members subscribe to this new service.

Starting in June, the battle of video game subscription services will officially begin. In the green corner, we have one of Microsoft’s biggest and successful creations of all time. In the blue corner, we have the newly and revitalized PlayStation Plus subscription membership. Given a cheaper price and the fact that Xbox includes tons of day one additions to the Xbox Game Pass, I believe that the Xbox Game Pass is a favorite to win this battle in the ring.