We live in a world of services, and it is no surprise that we have been subscribing to several of them for many years now. In the gaming world, online gaming required a service, and in the blink of an eye, PlayStation Plus has been around for 15 years. And what started as a service to play online has grown to have a total of 3 tiers, access to games, and much more. And surprisingly, for Sony, this has meant long-term engagement and profitability.
The path of PlayStation Plus
Launched 15 years ago, on June 29, 2010, PlayStation Plus began as a $50 annual subscription to play online with a few monthly games for PS3, PSP, and even some classic PS One games. Although the service has changed over the years, it hasn’t taken steps backwards but has more options, delivering titles for PS4 and PS5 in the current generation. And yet, it still seems like yesterday when we had the biggest transformation in 2022, when Sony restructured the service with three different tiers:
- Essential ($60/year): Online multiplayer, cloud saves, and monthly games
- Extra ($100/year): Everything in Essential, plus a catalog of PS4 and PS5 games
- Premium ($120/year): All of the above, plus access to classic PS1, PS2, PSP, and some PS3 games (via streaming)
And even though these prices have gone up, PlayStation has revealed that the number of subscribers has grown, and not just in Essential, but in its highest tier, Premium, with 18% growth in the past year alone.
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The most recent price increase was in 2023, when Essential went to $60, Extra to $135, and Premium to $160 in the United States. At the time, Sony argued that these increases included an “additional value” to what was previously offered.
Looking ahead: price, value, and strategy
Although Sony has remained steadfast in its decision not to offer its blockbuster first-party games on day one, the company is experimenting with select third-party day-one launches, such as FBC Firebreak. According to PlayStation VP Nick Maguire, this strategy aims to balance excitement with sustainability and will be subject to change depending on opportunities.
As it celebrates its 15th anniversary, PlayStation Plus remains central to Sony’s evolving ecosystem. The service has grown significantly from offering just a handful of games to providing a library with billions of hours of playtime—and so has the cost. Going forward, the challenge will be to keep the perceived value in line with the expanding price tag.
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