Sony has released an upgrade to the PlayStation Plus program. The new version of the program offers a number of features and benefits that are sure to appeal to parents and gamers alike. In this article, we will discuss all the details of the new PlayStation Plus program so that you can decide if it is right for your family. We will cover topics such as price, content, and how the program works. So whether you are already a PlayStation Plus member or are just considering signing up, read on for all the information you need!
PS+ has been around since 2010. During that time it has delivered a ton of free games and discounts to subscribers.
The program has always been optional, but it was a requirement for anyone who wants to play online multiplayer games on their PlayStation console. The vast majority of PS+ members are happy with the service and don’t mind paying $60/year for it, but there are some that feel like they’re being forced into it. Forced or not… PS+ is a key part of the PlayStation ecosystem so you need to know how it works in order to make the most out of your console.
- Classics Catalog
- Game Trials
- Cloud Streaming
PlayStation Plus is divided into three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium.
| PlayStation Plus Essential | PlayStation Plus Extra | PlayStation Plus Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Games | Monthly Games | Monthly Games |
| Online Multiplayer | Online Multiplayer | Online Multiplayer |
| Exclusive Discounts | Exclusive Discounts | Exclusive Discounts |
| Exclusive Content | Exclusive Content | Exclusive Content |
| Cloud Storage | Cloud Storage | Cloud Storage |
| Share Play | Share Play | Share Play |
| PlayStation Plus Collection | PlayStation Plus Collection | PlayStation Plus Collection |
| Game Help | Game Help | Game Help |
| Game Catalog | Game Catalog | |
| Ubisoft Classics | Ubisoft Classics | |
| Classics Catalog | ||
| Game Trials | ||
| Cloud Streaming |
PlayStation Plus Essential
“Enjoy all the core PlayStation Plus benefits: join your friends in online multiplayer, add new games to your collection every month, get incredible deals from PlayStation Store, and more.”
- Monthly Games
- Online Multiplayer
- Exclusive Discounts
PlayStation Plus Essential also includes:
- The PlayStation Plus Collection*
- Share Play
- Game Help*
- Cloud Storage
- Exclusive Content
PlayStation Plus Extra
“Get all the great benefits included in the PlayStation Plus Essential plan, as well as access to the Game Catalog, featuring hundreds of games from genre-defining blockbusters to innovative indies, with new titles added regularly.”
- Game Catalog
- Ubisoft+ Classics
PlayStation Plus Extra also includes:
- Monthly Games
- Online Multiplayer
- Exclusive Discounts
- The PlayStation Plus Collection*
- Share Play
- Game Help*
- Cloud Storage
- Exclusive Content
PlayStation Plus Premium
“Enjoy all the core PlayStation Plus benefits, hundreds of games in the Game Catalog, as well as exclusive benefits like game trials, cloud streaming, and the Classics Catalog.”
PlayStation Plus Premium also includes:
- Game Catalog
- Ubisoft+ Classics
- Monthly Games
- Online Multiplayer
- Exclusive Discounts
- The PlayStation Plus Collection*
- Share Play
- Game Help*
- Cloud Storage
- Exclusive Content
How Much Does PlayStation Plus Cost?
| 1 Month | 3 Month | 12 Month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus Essential | $9.99 | $24.99 | $59.99 |
| PlayStation Plus Extra | $14.99 | $39.99 | $99.99 |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | $17.99 | $49.99 | $119.99 |
Advice
If you own a PlayStation 5 and want to play games online (with a few exceptions like Fortnite), then you’ll need to buy one of the plans to do so.
At that point, it is just a matter of choosing which of the three plans you want to buy into. The Essential plan works just like the PSPlus did at launch. It grants access to online play, discounts, two free games a month (determined by Sony), the PlayStation Plus Collection, and a few other minor benefits.
The Extra plan is an extra $5 a month (or $40/year). That extra cost gives you everything from the Essential package but includes access to a catalog of PS4 and PS5 games at no extra charge.
The Plus Premium plan is only a few dollars more a month and adds access to the classics catalog. This is a collection of older PlayStation titles like Dark Cloud and Ape Escape. This is a great move if you have nostalgia for these older PlayStation titles, but have gotten rid of your older PlayStation consoles.
Other Guides
There are a ton of other premium video game services out there so we wrote guides for all of them. Take a look below:
A Parent’s Guide to Xbox Live Gold
A Parent’s Guide to Xbox Game Pass
A Parent’s Guide to PlayStation Now
The new PlayStation Plus program is definitely worth a look if you are in the market for a gaming subscription service. With its low price and wealth of content, there is something for everyone in this program. Not to mention, the added features make it an even more appealing option for families. Be sure to check out all the details on Sony’s website so that you can decide if PlayStation Plus is right for you! And don’t forget to let us know what you think about the new program in the comments below.
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Update – 08/14/2022
About The Author
I subscribed to ps4+ but how can I make my kids have access to ps4+ as well
Hi! Thanks for the comment.
You could create Child accounts for them under your account. They the PS+ benefits would extend to them:
Instructions on how to do that are here:
https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2017/10/06/how-to-use-the-new-parental-controls-and-family-accounts-features-on-ps4/
I have a similar question. We got my 11-year-old son the PlayStation Plus as part of his Christmas gift and redeemed it on his account. Since he can only access the games below teen, is there a way for me to access the games for an older audience member on my account, or did I mess that up?
If I have 2 PS4 consoles, do I need 2 PS+ accounts?
You can log into your PS+ account on both PS4s and take advantage of the same benefits. You don’t need to purchase it twice.
This is a great question. Thanks for asking. I’ll add it into the FAQ above.