PlayStation Plus: everything you need to know about Sony's subscription service

PlayStation Plus, or PS Plus, received a comprehensive overhaul before it launched in the UK and is now heavily advertised to owners of a PlayStation 5 console.

Following the enormous success of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service, Sony’s offering is competitive, but not exactly the same as its rival. But what does it actually do? Read on for a full breakdown of each membership tier, what they’ll cost you, and what games are included.

PlayStation Plus Essential

What is it?

PS Plus Essential is the entry-level tier of the service, and gets you two different free games to download each month that will remain yours as long as you continue to subscribe to PS Plus. It also comes with exclusive discounts, cloud saves, and online multiplayer access for any game that offers it. Bear in mind that for free-to-play online games, a PS Plus subscription isn’t a requirement.

What does it cost?

You can pay for your PS Plus Essential subscription monthly, quarterly or annually. PS Plus Essential is priced at $9.99/£6.99 /monthly, $24.99/£19.99 quarterly (three months), or $59.99/£49.99 yearly. Get PS Plus Essential now.

PlayStation Plus Extra

What is it?

The first all-new tier offers, as you’d expect, everything you get from an Essential subscription as listed above, as well as up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games, split between first and third-party titles.

What does it cost?

PS Plus Extra is priced £10.99 / $14.99 monthly, £31.99 / $39.99 quarterly, or £83.99 / $99.99 yearly. Get PS Plus Extra now.

PlayStation Plus Premium

What is it?

Hey big spender. If you’re after the all-you-can-eat buffet of PlayStation Plus subs, this is the one to go for. On top of all the PS Plus Essential and Extra benefits, you’re getting up to 340 additional games, which are made up of a selection of classic games from the PS1, PS2 and PSP console generations, as well as a number of PS3 games.

PS3 games are streaming-only at launch, while PS1, PS2 and PSP games can be downloaded or streamed. The Premium tier also offers streaming access for PS4 games included in the Essential and Extra tiers in markets where PlayStation Now was previously available, with games streamable on the PS4 and PS5, as well as PC.

Lastly, the most expensive tier also offers time-limited game trails for select titles, with progress carrying over should the user choose to purchase the game through the PlayStation store at the end of the trial.

What does it cost?

PS Plus Premium is priced £13.49 / $17.99 monthly, £39.99 / $49.99 quarterly, or £99.99 / $119.99 yearly. Get PS Plus Premium now.

What about the games?

Each PS Plus tier entitles you to a different offering of free games, from the rotating two monthly titles included in an Essential membership, to hundreds of games spanning the whole history of PlayStation. But again, who gets what is needlessly confusing, so allow us to explain.

Every PS Plus subscriber has access to monthly downloadable games that are yours to keep unless you cancel your subscription.

These change every month, but have included God of War (PS4), Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (PS4), Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PS4), FIFA 22 (PS4/PS5), and Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (PS4/PS5).

Game Catalogue

The Game Catalogue is available to PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium members only. It includes up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games that can be downloaded or streamed if you’re a Premium member.

Unlike on Xbox Game Pass, first-party PS4 and PS5 titles will not be added to the catalogue at launch as standard, but relatively recent console exclusives such as Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will be included from launch.

This library will change and evolve over time, with Sony’s website listing the current A-Z library in full.

Classic Games Catalogue

Games in the Classic Games Catalogue are available to PS Plus Premium members only. All included games can be downloaded except PS3 titles, which are streaming-only. Some of the games will be remasters, and some original games will feature improved frame rates and resolutions. Select PS1 and PSP games will have rewind and save anywhere functionality too, but this won’t always be the case.

About

I'm fascinated by all things tech, but if you were going to leave me on a desert island, I'd probably ask for my Nintendo Switch, a drone, and a pair of noise-cancelling cans to block out the relentless seagull racket. When I'm not on Stuff duty you'll probably find me subscribing to too many podcasts, playing too many video games, or telling anyone who will listen that Spurs are going to win a trophy this season.