Have you heard about the major changes coming to PlayStation Plus? As your resident gaming enthusiast, let me bring you up to speed on everything there is to know about PS Plus―the history, features, game libraries, membership tiers, and more!
Whether you‘re a prospective first-time subscriber or looking to get the most out of an existing membership, I‘ll break it all down in this comprehensive guide.
A Brief History of PlayStation Plus
First, let‘s quickly cover the origins of PlayStation Plus and its recent evolution…
PlayStation Plus (commonly shortened to PS Plus or PS+) first launched over a decade ago in June 2010 as a premium subscription service. Early features included:
- Free monthly PlayStation games
- Exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store
- Early access to new game demos and betas
- Online multiplayer gaming capabilities
- Cloud storage for game saves
Since inception, incremental updates were slowly introduced over the years:
- June 2012 – Instant Game Collection debuted, providing 11 free PS3 games initially
- November 2012 – PlayStation Plus expanded to cover PlayStation Vita
- January 2019 – Cloud storage increased from 10GB to 100GB
But 2022 marks the most expansive overhaul of PlayStation Plus yet…
Flexible New PlayStation Plus Tiers
In June 2022, an all-new three tiered PlayStation Plus membership structure debuted:
| Tier | Price (Yearly) | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $59.99 | Online multiplayer, monthly games, store discounts, cloud storage |
| Extra | $99.99 | Essential benefits + game catalog (400+ PS4/PS5 downloads) |
| Premium | $119.99 | Extra benefits + 700+ game catalog, classic PS1/PS2/PSP games, cloud streaming, game trials |
This introduced greater flexibility for subscribers. Let‘s explore what each level specifically offers.
PlayStation Plus Essential
The Essential tier inherits the original benefits of classic PlayStation Plus:
- Online Multiplayer – Play supported PS4 and PS5 games online
- Monthly Games – Get 3 PS5 and PS4 free games each month
- Store Discounts – Access special sales and deals
- Cloud Storage – Store game saves with 100GB cloud storage
At only $59.99 yearly ($9.99 monthly), this base option sticks to the PlayStation gaming essentials.
PlayStation Plus Extra
Extra packs on a huge games catalog spanning PS5 and PS4 downloads:
- 400+ Game Catalog – Download & play PS5 and PS4 games as long as your membership is active. New games introduced monthly.
- PlayStation Exclusives – Top first party games like Marvel‘s Spiderman, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Third Party Hits – Huge PS4/PS5 hits such as Red Dead Redemption 2, NBA 2K22, Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla and more
Pricing bumps up accordingly to $99.99 yearly ($14.99 monthly). But with unlimited access to so many amazing games, the value is unmatched!
PlayStation Plus Premium
At the premium tier, members unlock the full monty including 700+ games, streaming access and classic PlayStation titles:
- 400+ Extra Catalog Games
- 300+ Classic Games – Download or stream PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 game classics
- Game Trials – Limited time previews of new releases
- Cloud Streaming – Stream games across PS4, PS5 & PC
Pricing understandably peaks at $119.99 annually ($17.99 monthly) to reflect the most robust overall offering.
The PlayStation Plus Games Lineup
I know what you must be wondering next – exactly what games can I play?! Game catalogs likely have the biggest influence over which PlayStation Plus tier offers the best value. Let‘s explore the options…
All three membership tiers provide a selection of free downloadable PS5 & PS4 games each month. Typically around 3 PS5 and 9 PS4 games enter the monthly lineup.
To name just a tiny sample of popular freebies from 2022 so far:
- Tony Hawk‘s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (PS4/PS5)
- NBA 2K22 (PS5/PS4)
- Star Wars Squadrons (PS4)
- Biomutant (PS4)
These rotate out monthly, so be sure to add them to your library!
At the Extra and Premium tiers, your game access expands tremendously.
Extra & Premium Shared Catalog
The Extra and Premium memberships unlock a shared catalog of 400+ PlayStation console games spanning PS5 and PS4.
You can freely download any of these games locally to your console and play offline indefinitely as an active member. New games get added on a monthly basis, while some titles do rotate out periodically.
This encompasses PlayStation exclusives, AAA third party blockbusters, critically acclaimed indies, and more. For example, you‘ll gain unlimited access to games such as:
- Marvel‘s Spider-Man (PS4)
- Death Stranding (PS4)
- God of War (PS4)
- Marvel‘s Guardians of the Galaxy (PS5/PS4)
- Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4)
- Control: Ultimate Edition (PS5/PS4)
Again, take advantage of downloading your favorites for offline gameplay!
Classics Catalog (Premium Only)
Solely Premium members gain one extra major benefit―access to a catalog spanning beloved PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games remastered for modern consoles.
We‘re talking all-time classics, iconic PlayStation exclusives, and timeless masterpieces from the ‘90s and ‘00s.
You can play over 300 classics either natively on PS4 or PS5 consoles, or stream through cloud gaming technology to PS4, PS5 or PC. For example:
- Metal Gear Solid 2 (PS2)
- Siphon Filter (PS1)
- Crash Team Racing (PS1)
- Tekken 2 (PS2)
- Super Stardust (PSP)
Unfortunately PS3 game access remains limited to cloud streaming only at the moment. But streaming flexibility across console and PC access offers awesome portable potential!
Cloud Gaming & Device Support
Speaking of streaming flexibility, PlayStation Plus Premium in particular unlocks cloud streaming access for a library of PS4, PS2, PS1 and PSP games.
Premium members can stream games through an internet connection across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC. That means potential access on the go from phones, tablets, laptops…anything with internet!
For reference, Sony recommends internet speeds above 5 Mbps for smooth cloud gaming. But aim for 10+ Mbps connections ideally. I suggest testing your home WiFi speeds in advance if planning to stream over mobile data.
Of course, console users with Game Catalog access can always skip streaming and conveniently download any PS4 or PS5 games locally. This grants indefinite offline access on that PS4 or PS5 system specifically as an active PlayStation Plus member.
Cloud gaming simply offers flexibility―play on console, PC and mobile without hogging storage space.
How PlayStation Plus Compares to Xbox Game Pass
At this point, you may be wondering how PlayStation Plus stacks up against competitor Xbox Game Pass. Let‘s quickly contrast the two popular subscription services.
Both Xbox Game Pass and the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium tiers provide broad access to hundreds of downloadable games spanning current and last gen consoles.
However, some key differences emerge:
- Game Pass emphasizes its ever expanding library of current gen games, while PlayStation Plus splits focus between modern and legacy catalogs.
- Game Pass makes Xbox first party games available on day one, while PlayStation Plus builds its first party portfolio over time.
- Game Pass rotates its third party library frequently while PlayStation Plus enables indefinite access to specifically downloaded games. PS Plus also grants permanent ownership of monthly freebies.
In the end, Xbox Game Pass offers greater emphasis on early access and new releases within its Xbox/PC ecosystem. PlayStation Plus better serves PlayStation console loyalists with a combination of modern hits and nostalgic classics spanning generations.
Both represent strong overall value targeting different console preferences.
PlayStation Fans Sound Off on PlayStation Plus
In online PlayStation communities, gamers express mostly positive sentiments while offering some constructive criticisms regarding PS Plus:
- Many wish for certain legacy PS1 and PS2 games to allow downloads rather than remain stream only. Backwards compatibility challenges remain obstacles.
- Some note dated social/multiplayer components on PlayStation consoles compared to Xbox ecosystem advancements.
- Fans crave additions like Family Sharing or Account Merging features seen on competitors.
- Minor quibbles exist around renewal practices and certain regional availability gaps.
Despite room for improvements, the majority seem thrilled by catalog additions and clear value over previous PlayStation Plus iterations. In fact, over 50% of polled PlayStation fans planned upgrades to higher tiers shortly after the revamped service launched.
So while Xbox may dominate media coverage, PlayStation Plus quietly wins over its fanbase by catering directly to their console preferences.
Answering Common PlayStation Plus Questions
Let me wrap up by providing concise answers to some frequently asked questions about PS Plus:
What devices can I play PlayStation Plus on?
PlayStation Plus supports PS5 and PS4 consoles. Premium adds cloud streaming extensions for mobile, tablets and PC browser access.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my membership tier freely?
Yes, you can change tiers at any time through your PlayStation account management settings.
If my membership expires, do I lose access to monthly free games?
Yes, maintaining an active subscription remains necessary for accessing any redeemed monthly PlayStation games.
As an existing PlayStation Now user, what changes with the transition?
Active PS Now subscribers have automatically converted to the PlayStation Plus Premium membership tier and billing. So you instantly gain the broader Premium benefits!
Why can‘t I download certain classic PlayStation 1/2 games?
Unfortunately select PS2 and PS1 games currently remain playable exclusively through cloud streaming due to console backwards compatibility limitations. We hope downloads expand in the future!
Give PlayStation Plus a Shot!
Hopefully this guide served as your quintessential PlayStation Plus deep dive! I aimed to provide everything you could want to know in an optimistic yet informational tone.
Given the incredible and expanding game access ranging from nostalgic classics to modern hits, competitive pricing, and streaming flexibility, PlayStation Plus offers tremendous value for PlayStation gamers.
The tiered structure welcomes both casual and hardcore gamers. I suggest trying at least a month of Extra or Premium to experience the perks firsthand!
Let me know if you have any other PS Plus questions. Enjoy next-gen gaming!
