Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed its plans to overhaul its PlayStation Plus service. It aims to launch in select markets in Asia on May 23, before expanding to Japan on June 1. The new tier is expected to arrive in the Americas on June 13, followed by Europe on June 22.
Additionally, SIE is opening up access to cloud streaming in Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. People in these and 19 other countries where PlayStation Now is currently available will be able to sign up for PS Plus’ premium tier at launch.
Sony announced the long-rumored PS Plus retooling in March. The current version of PS Plus will soon be the lowest tier of the update service. More or less like now, PS Plus Essential will offer access to online multiplayer games, cloud storage, PSN store discounts, and two monthly claimable games (down from the usual three).
The middle tier is PlayStation Plus Extra, which adds a library of 400 PS4 and PS5 games that players can download to their consoles.Initially, these are expected to include Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11 and PS5 exclusive return the goods.
At the top end is PlayStation Plus Premium, which includes access to an additional 340 titles from PlayStation, PS2, and PSP games that you can stream or download. PS3 games will be available via cloud streaming. Premium will also offer limited-time game trials and cloud gaming on PC.
In countries where cloud streaming is not yet available, Sony will offer a premium tier alternative called PS Plus Deluxe. This will be a bit cheaper than the premium version and includes downloadable PS1, PS2 and PSP games and everything from the base and extra tiers.
US pricing for PS Plus Essential is $10 per month, $25 per quarter, or $60 per year. Additional costs are $15 per month, $40 per quarter, or $100 per year. As for the premium version, you’ll pay $18 per month, $50 per quarter, or $120 per year for access. PlayStation Now will be merged into the new PS Plus, and subscribers to the service will be moved to the premium tier.
Unlike Microsoft’s Game Pass, none of the tiers will provide access to first-party PlayStation games on launch day. However, a year of PS Plus Premium costs $60 less than standard-priced 12-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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