Every New PlayStation Plus Tier Option Explained

PlayStation owners just got some amazing news. Sony is planning a drastic change-up with how its online service, PlayStation Plus, will work and what it can offer players. While some have been expecting this announcement for quite some time, all players definitively had were rumors and speculation. Now, Sony's cut through all the guesses and hypotheses to formally announce the new PlayStation Plus fans will get to experience this June.

There's not just one sweeping change coming to PlayStation Plus, but a new way of delivering the feature that offers players different tiers of service. Thankfully, players that don't want any more than what they already have won't be forced into a higher price bracket, but for those looking to get a little more out of Sony's extensive gaming library, the option is now there. Here's every new tier of PlayStation Plus explained and what's available to players in each option.

PlayStation Plus Essential should be familiar to any players who've used the PlayStation Plus service in the last few years. This entry-level tier retains the same price ( $10/month or $60/year) that PlayStation Plus always has been, and still offers all of the same benefits. For those who haven't subscribed to PlayStation Plus in the past, the service offers access to online multiplayer in addition to a few other perks: two free games a month (so long as players remain subscribed), expanded cloud storage for game saves,67jk and exclusive discounts on select items sold through the PlayStation Store.

While fans aren't required to upgrade their service to a higher tier, it is worth noting that those who had subscriptions to PlayStation Now in addition to PlayStation Plus will find themselves grandfathered into a PlayStation Plus Premium membership for no additional cost (assumedly until the original PlayStation Now subscription lapses). Sony said, "When the new PlayStation Plus service launches, PlayStation Now will transition into the new PlayStation Plus offering and will no longer be available as a standalone service. PlayStation Now customers will migrate over to PlayStation Plus Premium with no increase to their current subscription fees at launch."

PlayStation Plus Extra is where things start to become different from what players have experienced in the past. In addition to all the normal benefits that come along with a PlayStation Plus Essential subscription, PlayStation Plus Extra begins making use of some of the PlayStation Now features that were absorbed into the service. Subscribers will gain access to a huge catalog of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles — up to 400 — that can be downloaded as opposed to streamed. 

While PlayStation 5 owners are likely to get the most out of this option (because not every PS5 title will be compatible on PS4), those without Sony's newest hardware will still find a sizable library of games to explore and play through. That said, it seems like Sony has plans to give PlayStation plus the Xbox Game Pass treatment and regularly update the titles on offer. Sony said, "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. We're working closely with our imaginative developers from PlayStation Studios and third-party partners to include some of the best gaming experiences available with a library that will be regularly refreshed."

PlayStation Plus Extra will cost $15 a month, $40 a quarter, or $100 for a yearly subscription.

PlayStation Plus Premium will be the highest tier of PlayStation Plus available and it will include everything found in previous tiers in addition to some long-requested features. On top of the 400 or so PS4 and PS5 titles coming via the PlayStation Plus Extra tier, Premium members will also gain access to a library of classics. Starting with a selection of an additional 340 games, players will be able to go back and enjoy titles that first made their splash on the original PlayStation or even the PSP. A PlayStation Plus Premium membership will allow players to stream PlayStation 3 titles and provide the option for streaming or downloading available titles from prior platforms (PSX, PS2 and PSP).

As if that wasn't good enough news for PlayStation fans desperate for a way to replay their favorite classics, many of the titles will be available to stream on PC. Of course, the PlayStation Plus Premium membership is the key that opens this door, but the added feature is an altogether nice option — especially considering how well Xbox Game Pass has done on PC. The membership will also include time-limited game trials — something not completely foreign to Sony — which will allow players a chance to try before they buy.

PlayStation Plus Premium will cost $18 a month, $50 a quarter, or $120 for a year of service.