Sony has announced a major rework of its online PlayStation Plus service, which will now be including additional tiers that bring a library of games that users can download and play, as well as integrating the cloud-based PlayStation Now service.
The first tier will be PlayStation Plus Essential, which is exactly identical to the current PlayStation Plus service. All of the benefits are still available, including two monthly downloads, online multiplayer, cloud saves and discounts. The pricing will also remain the same, which is $10 monthly, $25 quarterly, and $60 yearly. This tier will apply to all PlayStation Plus subscribers.
The next level is the most exciting. Called PlayStation Plus Extra, this tier brings all the benefits of the Essential tier but also gives users access to a catalog of up to 400 PS5 and PS4 titles, which can be downloaded and played any time as long as the subscription is active. It includes titles from PlayStation Studios as well as third-party developers.
The PlayStation Plus Extra tier is priced at $15 monthly, $40 quarterly, and $100 yearly.
Lastly, there’s PlayStation Plus Premium, which is the most expensive option. This tier includes all benefits from Essential and Extra tiers and brings an additional 340 titles to the catalog of games.
Included in this catalog are PS3 games, which can be played over the cloud, as well as PS1, PS2, and PSP games, which can be played over the cloud or locally.
The Premium tier also enables cloud streaming option for original PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS4 games included in the Extra and Premium tiers. These games can be streamed on a PS5, PS4, or a PC.
Additionally, there will be time-limited trial option, which will let users try select games for a limited amount of time before they decide to buy.
The PlayStation Plus Premium plan will go for $18 monthly, $50 quarterly, and $120 yearly. All existing PlayStation Now customers will be migrated to this plan for no extra cost. It will no longer be an independent service.
The PlayStation Plus Premium plan will only be available in regions that have cloud streaming. In other markets, Sony will be offering the PlayStation Plus Deluxe plan, which will be cheaper and without the cloud streaming component. Everything else will be identical to the Premium tier.
The new PlayStation Plus plans will be released in a phased manner. In June in Asia, the initial launch of PlayStation Plus will take place. Next, North America and Europe will follow. Sony plans to have all PlayStation Network territories to be on the new plans by the end of the first half of 2022.
More information will be released closer to launch.