The All-New PlayStation Plus Has Arrived
The revamped PlayStation Plus arrives in North America today, here's a look at how it works and what games are available within each service tier.
PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now have come together in an all-new PlayStation Plus subscription service. Earlier today I was able to check out and test a few of the classic games, under the "Premium Tier" more of my impressions later. Starting today gamers will now be able to choose between three membership tiers, here is the pricing and what each offers:
PlayStation Plus Essential
Provides the same benefits that PlayStation Plus members are getting today, such as:
2x monthly downloadable games
Exclusive discount
Cloud storage for saved games
Online multiplayer access
There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier
The price for "PlayStation Plus Essential" remains the same as the current price for PlayStation Plus, here is how it breaks down across major international regions:
United States $9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $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
Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier
Adds a catalogue of up to 400 fan favourite PS4 and PS5 games - including blockbuster hits from PlayStation Studios catalog and third-party games. Games in the "Extra" tier are downloadable for play.
Here is how the price for "PlayStation Extra" breakdown internationally:
United States $14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $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
This tier provides all the benefits from "Essential" and "Extra" tiers
Adds up to 340 additional games, including: PS3 games available via cloud streaming
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 gamers can try select games before they buy.
Here's the pricing plan for "PlayStation Premium" internationally:
United States $17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $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
PlayStation Plus Deluxe (Select Markets)
For markets without cloud streaming, PlayStation Plus Deluxe will be offered at a lower price compared to Premium, and includes a catalog of beloved classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations to download and play, along with time-limited game trials. Benefits from Essential and Extra tiers are also included. Local pricing will vary by market. (PlayStation Blog)
Titles Included in the Higher Echelons of the Service
President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Jim Ryan went into a little more detail around the titles included with the new service: "The new Extra and Premium tiers represent a major evolution for PlayStation Plus. With these tiers, our key focus is to ensure that the hundreds of games we offer will include the best quality content that sets us apart. At launch, we plan 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." Let's take a look at what the revamped service has to offer:
PlayStation Plus 2.0's Impressive Lineup
Here are the games that will be available today under each tier. PlayStation.com will be updated with the game list when it launches in your region, so stay tuned!
For now, here's how each breaks down in North America.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers will have access to the following titles:
PlayStation Studios Titles
Alienation | Housemarque, PS4
Bloodborne | FromSoftware, PS4
Concrete Genie | Pixelopus, PS4
Days Gone | Bend Studio, PS4
Dead Nation Apocalypse Edition | Housemarque, PS4
Death Stranding and Death Stranding Director’s Cut | Kojima Productions, PS4/PS5
Demon’s Souls | Bluepoint Games, PS5
Destruction AllStars | Lucid Games, PS5
Everybody’s Golf | Japan Studio, PS4
Ghost Of Tsushima Director’s Cut | Sucker Punch, PS4/ PS5
God of War | Santa Monica Studio, PS4
Gravity Rush 2 | Japan Studio, PS4
Gravity Rush Remastered | Japan Studio, PS4
Horizon Zero Dawn | Guerrilla, PS4
Infamous First Light | Sucker Punch, PS4
Infamous Second Son | Sucker Punch, PS4
Knack | Japan Studio, PS4
LittleBigPlanet 3 | Sumo Digital, PS4
LocoRoco Remastered | Japan Studio, PS4
LocoRoco 2 Remastered | Japan Studio, PS4
Marvel’s Spider-Man | Insomniac Games, PS4
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Insomniac Games, PS4/PS5
Matterfall |Housemarque, PS4
MediEvil | Other Ocean, PS4
Patapon Remastered | Japan Studio, PS4
Patapon 2 Remastered | Japan Studio, PS4
Resogun | Housemarque, PS4
Returnal | Housemarque, PS5
Shadow of the Colossus | Japan Studio, PS4
Tearaway Unfolded |Media Molecule, PS4
The Last Guardian | Japan Studio, PS4
The Last of Us Remastered | Naughty Dog, PS4
The Last of Us: Left Behind | Naughty Dog, PS4
Until Dawn | Supermassive Games, PS4
Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection |Naughty Dog, PS4
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | Naughty Dog, PS4
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | Naughty Dog, PS4
WipEout Omega Collection | Clever Beans & Creative Vault Studios, PS4
Third Party Games
Ashen | Annapurna Interactive, PS4
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Ubisoft, PS4/PS5
Batman: Arkham Knight | WB Games, PS4
Celeste | Maddy Makes Games, PS4
Cities: Skylines | Paradox Interactive, PS4
Control: Ultimate Edition | 505 Games, PS4/PS5
Dead Cells| Motion Twin, PS4
Far Cry 3 Remaster | Ubisoft, PS4
Far Cry 4 | Ubisoft, PS4
Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition | Square Enix Co. LTD, PS4
For Honor | Ubisoft, PS4
Hollow Knight | Team Cherry, PS4
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy | Square Enix Co. LTD., PS4/PS5
Mortal Kombat 11 | WB Games, PS4/PS5
Narutoshippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., PS4
NBA 2K22 | 2K Games, PS4/PS5
Outer Wilds | Annapurna Interactive, PS4
Red Dead Redemption 2 | Rockstar Games, PS4
Resident Evil | Capcom Co., Ltd, PS4
Soulcalibur VI | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., PS4
South Park: The Fractured but Whole*** | Ubisoft, PS4
The Artful Escape | Annapurna Interactive, PS4/PS5
The Crew 2 | Ubisoft, PS4
Tom Clancy’s The Division | Ubisoft, PS4
Classic Games Catalog
For PlayStation Plus Premium / Deluxe subscribers a selection of original PlayStation and PSP classic games will available. Some of these games will see, "improved frame rates and higher-quality resolution compared to their original launch versions." Which is a pretty exciting development in the name of video game preservation. In addition, Sony has added a new user interface with menus that allow you to save your game at any time, or even rewind it if you wish.
The "Classic Games lineup" offers some personal favourites like Ape Escape and Syphon Filter. Sony is promising more retro titles are on the way, I am really hoping for classics like Metal Gear Solid to join the lineup. Here's is what will be on offer day one:
PlayStation Studios
Ape Escape | Japan Studio, Original PlayStation
Hot Shots Golf | Japan Studio, Original PlayStation
I.Q. Intelligent Qube | Japan Studio, Original PlayStation
Jumping Flash! | Japan Studio, Original PlayStation
Syphon Filter | Bend Studio, Original PlayStation
Super Stardust Portable | Housemarque, PSP
Third-Party Partners
Mr. Driller | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., Original PlayStation
Tekken 2 | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., Original PlayStation
Worms World Party | Team 17, Original PlayStation
Worms Armageddon | Team17, Original PlayStation
Classic Games Catalog – Remasters
PlayStation Studios
Ape Escape 2 | Japan Studio, PS4
Arc The Lad: Twilight of the Spirits | Japan Studio, PS4
Dark Cloud | Japan Studio, PS4
Dark Cloud 2 | Japan Studio, PS4
FantaVision | SIE, PS4
Hot Shots Tennis | Japan Studio, PS4
Jak II | Naughty Dog, PS4
Jak 3| Naughty Dog, PS4
Jak X: Combat Racing | Naughty Dog, PS4
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | Naughty Dog, PS4
Rogue Galaxy | Japan Studio, PS4
Siren | Japan Studio, PS4
Wild Arms 3 | SIE, PS4
Third-Party Games
Baja: Edge of Control HD | THQ Nordic, PS4
Bioshock Remastered | 2K Games, PS4
Borderlands The Handsome Collection | 2K Games, PS4
Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition | Gearbox Publishing, PS4
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning | THQ Nordic, PS4
LEGO Harry Potter Collection | WB Games, PS4
Original PS3 Games (via streaming)
PlayStation Plus Premium** Plan
The new PlayStation Plus will also offer PS3 games to stream and play on PS4, PS5 and PC. These are original, non-remastered versions of PS3 games and are available to PlayStation Plus Premium members where cloud streaming is available. Here is an early look at the selection of original PS3 games available:
PlayStation Studios
Crash Commando | Creative Vault Studios, PS3
Demon’s Souls | From Software, PS3
echochrome | Japan Studio, PS3
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds | Japan Studio, PS3
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational | Japan Studio, PS3
Ico | Japan Studio, PS3
Infamous | Sucker Punch, PS3
Infamous 2 | Sucker Punch, PS3
Infamous: Festival of Blood | Sucker Punch, PS3
LocoRoco Cocoreccho! | Japan Studio, PS3
MotorStorm Apocalypse | Evolution Studios, PS3
MotorStorm RC | Evolution Studios, PS3
Puppeteer | Japan Studio, PS3
rain | Japan Studio, PS3
Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty | Insomniac Games, PS3
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time |Insomniac Games, PS3
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus | Insomniac Games, PS3
Resistance 3 | Insomniac Games, PS3
Super Stardust HD | Housemarque, PS3
Tokyo Jungle | Japan Studio, PS3
When Vikings Attack | Clever Beans, PS3
Third Party Partners
Asura’s Wrath | Capcom Co., Ltd., PS3
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 | Konami, PS3
Devil May Cry HD Collection | Capcom Co., Ltd., PS3
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West | Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., PS3
F.E.A.R. | WB Games, PS3
Lost Planet 2 | Capcom Co., Ltd., PS3
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 | Koei Tecmo, PS3
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare |Rockstar Games, PS3
Time-Limited Game Trials
(PlayStation Plus Premium/Deluxe Plan)
Time-limited game trials will be available to PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe members. Sony brings the "try before you buy" feature to select titles for Premium/Deluxe subscribers. What this means is you will get a two-hour demo of select games before you decided to fully purchase the title. The 2 hour counter only kicks in during playtime and all save progress will carry-forward if you purchase the game.
PlayStation Studios
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection | Naughty Dog, PS5
Horizon Forbidden West | Guerrilla, PS4/PS5
Third-Party Partners
Cyberpunk 2077 | CD Projekt, PS5
Farming Simulator 22 | Giants Software GmBH, PS4/PS5
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland | 2K Games, PS4/PS5
WWE 2K22 | 2K Games, PS4/PS5
New Games Added Monthly
Along with the titles outlined above Sony has also promised the following timeline for titles in each tier:
PlayStation Plus Essential
A monthly refresh will occur on the first Tuesday of the month for the PlayStation Plus Essential plan (and both higher tiers), with new PS4 and PS5 games added to the service – same as what PlayStation Plus members get today.
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe
An additional monthly refresh will occur in the middle of each month with new games across the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe plans. The number of games refreshed will vary per month.
Ubisoft+ Coming to PlayStation
Along with all the first and third party titles announced for PlayStation Plus, Ubisoft also got in on the action. The publisher revealed that Ubisoft+ is coming to the PlayStation platform along with Ubisoft+ Classics. Classic will further bolster the new PlayStation Plus lineup with 27 Ubisoft games added to the service with more than 50 coming by the end of the year.
Here are the confirmed Ubisoft+ Classics titles so far:
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
For Honor
The Crew 2
Child of Light
Eagle Flight
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Far Cry 3 Remaster
Far Cry 4
Legendary Fishing
Risk: Urban Assault
South Park: The Fractured but Whole
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Space Junkies
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
STEEP
The Crew
The Division
Trackmania Turbo
Transference
Trials Fusion
Trials of the Blood Dragon Game
Trials Rising
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Watch Dogs
Werewolves Within
ZOMBI
The New PlayStation Plus: Coming to a PlayStation/PC Near You
The rollout of the new PlayStation Plus is coming in different stages to different regions. To start the service will will hit Asia on May 24th followed by Japan on June 2nd. North and South America will see the new service go live on June 13th, followed by Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on June 23rd.
Building greater value
This new restructuring of PlayStation's subscription services comes as Sony looks to compete with Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass and EA's Origin Access. While both of those services offer access to a library of games. Existing PlayStation Plus members will automatically be upgraded to the new service's "PlayStation Plus Essential" tier.
Classic Video Game Preservation
With this announcement, it is clear that Sony is committed to making PlayStation the best place to game. These changes to their subscription services give gamers more value for their money and provide more options for how they want to game. What's more is the fact that Sony is bringing classic titles from multiple eras of PlayStation gaming. It's exciting to see the return of original PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PSP titles coming to the PS4, PS5 and PC. Whether you're a fan of multiplayer games, want access to a library of games to play on demand, Sony has you covered.
What are your thoughts on the new PlayStation Plus, will you be upgrading today? Let me know in the comments below!