Sony's PlayStation Plus has been around for more than a decade, however, the service received a full makeover in June 2022. Prior to this change, PS Plus granted subscribers access to online multiplayer, free monthly games, and a few other benefits like unique discounts on the PS Store. During this period, players could also subscribe to PlayStation Now to gain access to a library of PS4, PS3, and some PS2 games.
In 2022, Sony opted to combine these two services into a new version of PS Plus. Utilizing a tier system, this model has hundreds of games from across PlayStation's history, multiple price points, and a slew of other features. With the service picking up steam, it makes sense that a PS5 or PS4 owner might want a full breakdown of what they can expect if they decide to subscribe to PS Plus.
Rather than present a one-size-fits-all subscription, PS Plus lets users have their pick from three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Here is a brief summary of each level's offerings:
Ultimately, picking a PS Plus tier comes down to someone's needs. If a player will only be using the online multiplayer feature, Essential will suffice and there is little to gain from subscribing to one of the higher tiers.
Premium's central selling is its Classics Catalog, which adds hundreds of titles on top of the PS5 and PS4 games that are also available in the Extra tier. While this collection is grand, please note that PS3 games are played through Cloud Streaming and cannot be downloaded. Consequently, their performance is dependent on the user's internet connection.
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As there is quite a jump in price from one level to the next, a full breakdown of each tier's features and benefits might help someone decide whether they should go for Essential, Extra, or Premium.
Each PS Plus tier has its own price point to match the benefits included with the subscription.
The process to subscribe to PS Plus is quite straightforward, and there are a couple of avenues people can use to get there.
Newcomers to Sony's ecosystem will first need to create a PlayStation Network account as this is required to utilize any service, including buying games from the PS Store. An account by following this link.
The most convenient way to subscribe to PS Plus is through the PS5 or PS4 console.
It is also possible to subscribe to PS Plus directly from a web browser. Visit this playstation.com page and scroll down to the "Choose Your Membership Plan." From there, choose a tier and select "Add to Cart." After that, simply check out to complete the transaction.
There might come a time when someone might wish to cancel their PS Plus subscription. The process is quite uncomplicated:
Account Management's Subscription page also allows players to change their PS Plus tiers or payment frequency.
PS Plus Premium subscribers also have the option to stream games via the service's PC app. The library includes titles from both the Games and Classics Catalog, although it is not the full selection. Here are some things interested parties should know about this option:
PS Plus Premium's Cloud Streaming is compatible with the Games Catalog's PS4 games and all the titles found in the Classics Catalog. PS5 games cannot be streamed.
Sony has not specified a fixed date of when subscribers can anticipate new additions to the library, but history suggests that games will be added roughly halfway through a month.
Yes. If someone wants to move up to a higher PS Plus tier, they only need to purchase a new membership at their desired level. This upgrade will happen instantly, and the customer will be charged a prorated fee for the rest of the current month.
If a member wishes to downgrade their tier, they would need to visit their Sony account's "Subscription" tab to perform the change. This alteration will come into effect once the next payment is made.
While limited to one PS5 or PS4 console, certain PS Plus benefits are shared among the different accounts on the system. These include online multiplayer, access to Premium & Extra's libraries, downloaded monthly games, and games purchased using a PS Plus discount.
Current as of September 12, 2022.
The games library can vary from country to country.
Similar to the original version of PS Plus, this new model still cycles through a couple of games per month that are not available in the main library. Permitting someone has a subscription to any of the service's tiers, they can download and install these games within their month. After that point, the titles can be played at any time as long as a PS Plus membership is active.
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PlayStation 5 owners with any PS Plus tier subscription are granted access to a curated selection of PS4 games, some of which are not part of Premium and Extra's Game Catalog library.
Most subscribers will likely invest in PS Plus Extra as that tier contains more than enough PS5 and PS4 games to keep someone busy for a long time. Unless specifically interested in classic PS games or Cloud Streaming, there is not much reason to pick Premium over Extra. Still, subscribers of both tiers can download and install the following titles.
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PS Plus Premium celebrates PlayStation's past, bringing together titles released over the span of more than two decades. If a PS5 or PS4 owner wants to play some old favorites, this tier should deliver.
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Besides instant access to PS Plus's Game and Classics Catalogs, Premium subscribers can also try out a select few PS5 and PS4 titles for a limited time. Players can currently test out 15 games, and their trial periods vary in length.
Regardless of their chosen tier, PS Plus subscribers can download for free an array of DLC and packs from a selection of games. Here are a couple of examples:
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Taking into consideration the Game and Classics Catalogs along with other benefits like the PlayStation Plus Collection, there are over 500 games on Sony's service. Consequently, narrowing down the library to the cream of the crop can be tiring, and Sony's app does not make the search process all that straightforward. Along with checking out the master list covering the overall best games on PS Plus Premium & Extra, the articles below highlight stand-out titles per console (minus PSP).
Be it JRPGs, horror, or first-person shooters, PlayStation Plus covers almost every genre imaginable. Rather than focusing on individual consoles, players might prefer to try out something new in a genre they already love. These upcoming articles should help provide some guidance.
PlayStation Plus is an ever-evolving service. While this guide covers everything that most people need to know about Sony's platform, the below articles expand on a few points.