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Sony PlayStation Plus rebranded as an Xbox Game Pass competitor with cloud gaming and a 700-strong game library

PlayStation Plus will take on Xbox Game Pass this summer. (Image source: Sony)
PlayStation Plus will take on Xbox Game Pass this summer. (Image source: Sony)
Sony has announced a PlayStation Plus rebrand to bring it in line with Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass offering. Starting in June, PlayStation Plus will split into Essential, Extra and Premium tiers that cost up to US$119.99 annually. There will also be a Deluxe package for markets that do not support cloud streaming yet.
Gaming Console Business

Sony has outlined its plans to combine its PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services, effective June. Writing on the PlayStation Blog, Jim Ryan claims that the rebrand will deliver greater customer choice by offering three membership tiers globally. However, Sony has created a fourth subscription tier for markets without cloud streaming.

From June, the current PlayStation Plus subscription will be known as PlayStation Plus Essential and will remain at its existing price. Fundamentally, there will be no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members who remain at this tier. Sony is making no changes here, nor is it stripping out any features.

In comparison, PlayStation Plus Extra adds a catalogue 'of up to 400' PS4 and PS5 games. According to Sony's blog post, this library will include 'the most enjoyable...blockbuster hits from our PlayStation Studios catalogue and third-party partners'. Incidentally, Sony makes the point that these games will be downloadable for play.

Separately, PlayStation Plus Premium brings another 340 games to the table, including PS3 titles through cloud streaming. Moreover, the Premium tier features a PlayStation, PS2 and PSP catalogue that can be streamed or downloaded. Additionally, the Premium tier offers cloud streaming access in markets where PlayStation Now is available. Furthermore, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers will have to access to 'time-limited game trials', the details of which remain unknown at this stage.

Sony also mentions the PlayStation Plus Deluxe tier that it will offer in markets ineligible for cloud streaming. Apparently, the Deluxe tier will be cheaper than Premium and will sit above the Extra tier. Sony's pricing for the PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra and Premium tiers are as follows:

  • PlayStation Plus Essential

    • United States

      • US$9.99 monthly / US$24.99 quarterly / US$59.99 yearly

    • Europe

      • €8.99 monthly / €24.99 quarterly / €59.99 yearly

    • United Kingdom

      • £6.99 monthly / £19.99 quarterly / £49.99 yearly 

    • Japan

      • ¥850 monthly / ¥2,150 quarterly / ¥5,143 yearly

  • PlayStation Plus Extra

    • United States

      • US$14.99 monthly / US$39.99 quarterly / US$99.99 yearly

    • Europe

      • €13.99 monthly / €39.99 quarterly / €99.99 yearly

    • United Kingdom

      • £10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly 

    • Japan

      • ¥1,300 monthly / ¥3,600 quarterly / ¥8,600 yearly

  • PlayStation Plus Premium

    • United States

      • US$17.99 monthly / US$49.99 quarterly / US$119.99 yearly

    • Europe

      • €16.99 monthly / €49.99 quarterly / €119.99 yearly

    • United Kingdom

      • £13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly 

    • Japan

      • ¥1,550 – monthly / ¥4,300 – quarterly / ¥10,250 yearly

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 03 > Sony PlayStation Plus rebranded as an Xbox Game Pass competitor with cloud gaming and a 700-strong game library
Alex Alderson, 2022-03-29 (Update: 2022-03-29)