Here’s Everything We Know About Sony’s PlayStation Plus Upgrade for the Summer

It was only a matter of time before Sony came up with something to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass is Microsoft’s subscription service that offers up a continually growing library of games, and honestly, it’s been a fantastic way to try a variety of titles (my current favorite being TUNIC).

Formally under the name Project Spartacus, Sony has unveiled its new subscription service plans for PlayStation Plus. Originally, PlayStation Plus would let gamers get things like two free monthly downloads to games, cloud storage for saved games, and other perks for $9.99 a month (or $59.99 a year). That plan will still exist with this upgrade, it’ll just be the lowest tier possible with two more tiers being created to give gamers even more perks.

According to the PlayStation Blog, PlayStation Plus is coming together with PlayStation Now (their cloud gaming subscription service). “When the new PlayStation Plus service launches, PlayStation Now will transition into the new PlayStation Plus offering and will no longer be available as a standalone service. PlayStation Now customers will migrate over to PlayStation Plus Premium with no increase to their current subscription fees at launch.” At launch, Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal will be available with more games planned for the future.

What comes with 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, and online multiplayer access.
• There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier.
• Price (in the U.S.): $9.99 monthly/$24.99 quarterly/$59.99 yearly

What comes with 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.
• Price (in the U.S.): $14.99 monthly/$39.99 quarterly/$99.99 yearly

What comes with PlayStation Plus Premium?

• Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers.
• Adds up to 340 additional games, including 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.
• Price (in the U.S.): $17.99 monthly/$49.99 quarterly/$119.99 yearly

The new PlayStation Plus will initially be released in several markets in Asia, followed by North America, Europe, and the rest of the world where PlayStation Plus is offered. The plan is for the launch to begin sometime in June of this year. “We aim to have most PlayStation Network territories live with our new PlayStation Plus game subscription service by the end of the first half of 2022. We also plan to expand our cloud streaming benefit to additional markets, and will provide more details at a later date.”  

Depending on what classic games are available, that Premium deal is pretty appealing to me. The PS2 is still one of my all-time favorite consoles, so I’m curious to see what titles will be in the catalog.

(Image: Sony)

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