Sony Reveals New PlayStation Plus Service Playstation

[David76]

Sony is announcing new versions of its PlayStation Plus subscriptions today, its long-rumoured answer to Xbox Game Pass. PlayStation Plus is now a combination of Sony's two current subscription services, PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. Two new PlayStation Plus subscription options will include access to multiplayer gaming alongside a catalogue of select PlayStation games to install or stream.

These new tiers will start to become available in June in Asia, followed by North America, Europe, and the rest of the world. As part of the launch, PlayStation Now will no longer be available as a standalone service.

PlayStation Plus Essential is priced at $9.99/£6.99/€8.99/¥850 monthly and will include the same PlayStation Plus benefits that exist today with online multiplayer access, two monthly downloadable games, discounts, and cloud storage for saved games. This tier of PlayStation Plus will effectively remain the same, and at the same price.

PlayStation Plus Essential​

Benefits

• Provides the same benefits that PlayStation Plus members are getting today, such as:
  • Two monthly downloadable games
  • Exclusive discounts
  • Cloud storage for saved games
  • Online multiplayer access
• There are no changes for existing PlayStation Plus members in this tier.

Price* for PlayStation Plus Essential remains the same as the current price for PlayStation Plus.

• 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​

Benefits

• Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier
• Adds a catalogue of up to 400* of the most enjoyable PS4 and PS5 games – including blockbuster hits from our PlayStation Studios catalogue and third-party partners. Games in the Extra tier are downloadable for play.

Price*

• 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**​

Benefits

• Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers
• Adds up to 340* additional games, including:
  • PS3 games available via cloud streaming
  • A catalogue 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*

• 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 catalogue 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.

At launch, Sony plans to include games like Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal. Sony isn't promising to make all of its upcoming exclusive PlayStation games available on launch day through this subscription service, though.

 

[David76]

Sony has said it does not plan to release its PlayStation-exclusive games on day one to its revamped PlayStation Plus service.

Speaking with GI.biz, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said the reason has to do with how the company currently releases its games.



"We feel like we are in a good virtuous cycle with the studios where the investment delivers success, which enables yet more investment, which delivers yet more success," said Ryan. "We like that cycle and we think our gamers like that cycle.

"[In terms of] putting our own games into this service, or any of our services, upon their release... as you well know, this is not a road that we've gone down in the past. And it's not a road that we're going to go down with this new service. We feel if we were to do that with the games that we make at PlayStation Studios, that virtuous cycle will be broken.

"The level of investment that we need to make in our studios would not be possible, and we think the knock-on effect on the quality of the games that we make would not be something that gamers want."

However, nothing is set in stone, according to Ryan, who said this was just the approach the firm is taking in the "short term."

"The way our publishing model works right now, it doesn't make any sense. But things can change very quickly in this industry, as we all know," he said.

 

[John Steed]

There weren't any unwelcome surprises in that announcement, everything costs pretty much what I expected it to and the fact that regular Plus stays the same price with no changes is alright.

I'm quite tempted by the sound of the middle tier, curious to see what's in the catalogue for it. If it's mostly indie stuff I'll give it a miss but I'd definitely bite if they offer a decent selection of full-priced titles.

 

[David76]

Sony is busy sending out emails regarding the overhaul of PlayStation Plus. For the most part, the included information is nothing new — the email just goes over what the new tiers have to offer — but Sony does outright confirm that games will be added to PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium on a monthly basis. Titles can be removed from the catalogue as well.

The email reads: "New games will be added to the Game Catalogue every month while others may leave the service." The Game Catalogue itself will comprise of "up to 400" PS5 and PS4 games and is the main selling point for PS Plus Extra. Of course, this same catalogue is included as part of PS Plus Premium, the most expensive tier, which also gives you access to loads of PS1, PS2, and PSP games (via download or streaming), as well as PS3 titles (via streaming only).

While we're still waiting to find out which games are actually included with the new tiers, we at least have a better idea of how Extra and Premium are going to operate. Hopefully, Sony keeps the information coming ahead of the PS Plus relaunch in June.

 

[David76]

Sony will require some PlayStation game developers to create trial versions of their games as part of changes coming to its PlayStation Plus subscription service, according to a new report from Game Developer. Those trial versions will reportedly be required to last at least two hours long, if the game being sold costs $34 (€33 in Europe, ￥4000 in Japan, £27 in UK) or more.

The news comes after Sony announced it would be revamping its PlayStation Plus service and adding new subscription tiers in June. A new tier of that service, named PlayStation Plus Premium, offers time-limited game trials in addition to classic games from multiple PlayStation console generations.

Sony will reportedly give developers up to three months after a game's launch on the PlayStation Store to release a timed trial. If developers would like to submit a demo in lieu of a trial version, then Sony will reportedly approve those games on a case-by-case basis. Game Developer, citing development sources, says the requirements are not retroactive and do not apply to new PlayStation VR titles.

 

[Tom]

The first batch of games have been confirmed for the "all-new" PlayStation Plus, with some big headliners like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut.

Announced back in March, the new, revamped PlayStation Plus launches next month, June 22 (for Europe, anyway). The selection detailed in this post isn't as big as you might expect, though the post does note that this is an "early look at some of the games that will be included during the launch time frame."

PS4 and PS5 Game Catalogue - PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium**/Deluxe Plans

• 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 Games, 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
• Ashen | Annapurna Interactive,PS4
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla*** | Ubisoft, PS4/PS5
• Celeste | Maddy Makes Games, PS4
• Cities: Skylines | Paradox Interactive, PS4
• Control: Ultimate Edition | 505 Games, PS4/PS5
• Dead Cells| Motion Twin, PS4
• Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition | Square Enix Co. LTD, 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
• The Artful Escape | Annapurna Interactive, PS4/PS5
• The Crew 2*** | Ubisoft, PS4

Classic Games Catalogue – Original PlayStation and PSP

• 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
• 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 Catalogue – Remasters

Players who have previously purchased the digital version of select games from the original PlayStation and PSP generation will not have to make a separate purchase or sign up to PlayStation Plus to play these titles on PS4 or PS5. When these titles are released for PS4 and PS5, players can head to PlayStation Store and download a version for the consoles at no extra cost if they already own the digital version of the title. Some of the titles will also be available for individual purchase.

• 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
• 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 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.

• 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
• 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

The time-limited game trial benefit will enable you to try select games before you buy. After downloading a trial of the full game, you can play it for two hours for most games – the playtime counter only counts while you are in the game. It's a great way to try games before you decide to buy, and any trophies and game save data from the trial period will carry forward if you purchase the game. Here are some of the titles that will be part of the time-limited game trials.

• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection | Naughty Dog, PS5
• Horizon Forbidden West | Guerrilla Games, PS4/PS5
• 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

*** This title is available to PlayStation Plus Extra members as part of Ubisoft+ Classics. Access to Ubisoft+ Classics games is a benefit for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members.

****Cloud streaming requires a minimum internet speed of 5mbps (15 mbps for 1080p). Streaming may not be available for certain games.

As well as this, Ubisoft announced a new subscription service called Ubisoft+ Classics that will be bundled with the Extra or Premium tiers, which will include games like Far Cry 4 and Watch Dogs when the new service rolls out. Read more in the post below.

 

[Tom]

Ubisoft+ Classics will launch bundled with the PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Plus Premium subscription tiers on May 24 in Asia (June 2 in Japan), June 13 in North and South America, and June 23 in Europe.

Ubisoft+ will come to PlayStation in the future, bringing access to more than 100 titles, additional content packs, and rewards to the platform. The subscription service is currently available on PC, Stadia, and Amazon Luna, offering players day-one releases, classic games, and premium editions, and ultimately will be available on PlayStation and Xbox.

Ubisoft also revealed that beginning May 24, it will launch a new Ubisoft+ subscription for PlayStation Plus called Ubisoft+ Classics. Ubisoft+ Classics on PlayStation is a curated selection of popular games, including top-selling Assassin's Creed Valhalla, The Division, and For Honor, as well as beloved classic games like Child of Light, Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, Watch Dogs, Werewolves Within, and more. The Ubisoft+ Classics catalogue for PlayStation Plus will launch with 27 titles and will grow to 50 by the end of 2022 – check out the full list of Day 1 games below:

• 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

"With Ubisoft+ Classics, we're providing PlayStation players with another way to enjoy Ubisoft games on their consoles," said Chris Early, Ubisoft's senior vice president of partnerships. "This is just the beginning, as we will ultimately make Ubisoft+ available to PlayStation owners as we continue to build our vision and provide players with more options to access their favourite games, wherever they are."

 

[Deleted member 26]

I'm happy with the current PS Plus offering so I'll be sticking with the Essential tier.

If I didn't have such a backlog (600+ on PS3/PS4/PS5 consoles alone) perhaps the additional offerings might be tempting, but I have enough games to keep me going for several years, and the additional expense just isn't feasible for me.