PlayStation’s answer to Xbox Game Pass will evolve into 3 tiers

In an effort to set itself apart from competitor Xbox’s Game Pass, PlayStation has unveiled its new tiered system of game subscription services, evolving its console membership service PlayStation Plus into three versions and ending things for game streaming service PlayStation Now.

On Tuesday, the gaming giant confirmed what we thought was coming and announced it will be restructuring its subscriptions into three tiers: PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium.

“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,” read PlayStation’s announcement. “PlayStation Now customers will migrate over to PlayStation Plus Premium with no increase to their current subscription fees at launch.”

PlayStation didn’t specify all the games that will be included in the service, but said the game library will be regularly refreshed and on launch will include major titles like Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal.

The new PlayStation Plus offerings will be rolled out in a “phased regional approach,” according to the company, with the aim to be fully live by the end of the first half of 2022. Several markets in Asia will launch in June, followed by North America and Europe, then all other countries where PlayStation Plus is offered. The company also said it plans to expand its cloud streaming to more markets, with more details promised for a later date.

So, what are the new Playstation Plus tiers?

PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now will be combined into a new PlayStation Plus subscription service across three membership tiers:

PlayStation Plus Essential

This tier includes what PlayStation Plus members currently get, including two games a month, discounts, cloud storage for saved games, and online multiplayer access. The price will stay the same as what PlayStation Plus members pay now.

U.S.

$9.99 monthly / $24.99 quarterly / $59.99 yearly

Europe

€8.99 monthly / €24.99 quarterly / €59.99 yearly

UK

£6.99 monthly / £19.99 quarterly / £49.99 yearly 

Japan

¥850 monthly / ¥2,150 quarterly / ¥5,143 yearly

PlayStation Plus Extra

This comes with everything from the Essential tier above but throws in a catalogue of over 400 PS4 and PS5 games that you can download and play.

U.S.

$14.99 monthly / $39.99 quarterly / $99.99 yearly

Europe

€13.99 monthly / €39.99 quarterly / €99.99 yearly

UK

£10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly 

Japan

¥1,300 monthly / ¥3,600 quarterly / ¥8,600 yearly

PlayStation Plus Premium

This is the big spender one. You get everything in the tiers above, but with 340 extra games including PS3 games (through cloud streaming) and a whole catalogue of PlayStation, PS2 and PSP games to stream and download, as well as game trials that come with a time limit. You also get cloud streaming access for PlayStation, PS2, PSP and PS4 games (if you’re in a place where PlayStation Now is currently available — so, U.S., Canada, Japan, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

U.S.

$17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly

Europe

€16.99 monthly / €49.99 quarterly / €119.99 yearly

UK

£13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly 

Japan

¥1,550 – monthly / ¥4,300 – quarterly / ¥10,250 yearly

One more: PlayStation Plus Deluxe

If you’re somewhere cloud streaming isn’t available there’s another tier option, PlayStation Plus Deluxe, which will be priced at a lower point and vary by market. This tier includes everything from the Essential and Extra tiers, time-limited game trials, and a catalogue of classic games from the original PlayStation, PS2 and PSP generations.

So, there you have it. And here’s what we actually think.