Are you tired of paying more for less? Do you feel like Sony is taking advantage of your loyalty as a PlayStation gamer? If so, you’re not alone. Many PlayStation fans are outraged by the recent announcement that PlayStation Plus subscriptions will be getting a significant price hike starting in September.
PlayStation Plus is the service that allows you to play online multiplayer games on your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. It also gives you access to two or three free games every month, which you can download and keep as long as you remain a subscriber.
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Sounds like a decent deal, right? Well, it’s not so much of a deal anymore. In this article, we’ll explain why this decision is unjustified and how it affects you as a gamer.
A completely unjustified increase
Sony has decided to increase the annual price of PlayStation Plus by up to $40, depending on the tier you choose. That means someone who just wants to play online will soon have to shell out $80 a year for the Essential tier, which is $20 more than the current price.
But what are you getting for this extra money? Nothing, really. Sony claims that this price adjustment will enable them to continue bringing high-quality games and “value-added benefits” to your PlayStation Plus subscription service. But let’s be honest, the quality and value of the monthly games are inconsistent.
Sometimes you get amazing titles like God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn, but other times you get mediocre or disappointing games like Saints Row (2022) or Generation Zero. And don’t even get us started on the Extra and Premium tiers, which offer dubious benefits like cloud storage, exclusive discounts, and early access to some games.
Xbox Game Pass is a better value
Meanwhile, Microsoft (their main competition) is offering a much better deal with its Xbox Game Pass service. It’s a service that gives you access to well over a hundred games, including same-day AAA releases like Halo Infinite or Starfield, for only $16.99 a month for the Ultimate.
That’s a little over $200 a year, but you’re getting way more bang for your buck than the $160 you’ll spend with PlayStation Plus Premium. Plus, if you only play on a console and don’t care about online, you can get Game Pass for console for $131.88 a year – cheaper than both PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate comes with another benefit. You can play those games on your PC or mobile device as well, thanks to cloud streaming. This may not be significant for a lot of people, but it is potentially a game-changer for anyone who travels a lot.
This is not to suggest that Xbox Game Pass is perfect. Microsoft has clearly released a lot of clunkers, including games like Redfall, but it was already a better value than PlayStation Plus even before this price hike.
A tough decision for PlayStation gamers
So, what can you do as a PlayStation gamer? Well, you can vote with your wallet and cancel your PlayStation Plus subscription before the price hike takes effect.
You can also voice your dissatisfaction on social media and let Sony know that they are losing your trust and support. Or you can switch to PC gaming and enjoy a cheaper gaming experience. Whatever you do, fans shouldn’t let Sony get away with this unfair and unjustified price hike.
We expect that Sony will share more details related to this price hike in the future. Maybe we’ll see new free games monthly or maybe a system like Game Pass from Sony where they release first-party games on PS Plus. We just don’t have high expectations at this point.
