Image: Push Square
The list of all PS Plus games – which currently covers over 800 games if you pay for PS Plus Premium – is quite shocking. Sony promised about 700 games before the release of its redesigned subscription, so we already had an idea of what to expect, but the fact that everything is on display in the PS Store opens our eyes. For an annual fee of £ 99.99 / $ 119.99 – approximately twice the price of the marginal mandatory PS Plus Essential – you get a lot of money for your money here. Is this the best deal in the games? Well, let’s not go that way.
Indeed, it would be easy to make comparisons with Team in Green’s powerful subscription strategy, and we have no doubt that the comments will turn in that direction, regardless of what we write here. But it’s important to remember that Sony has a different approach to its subscriptions: PS Plus is essential to the organization’s business, but it’s not the only focus – it’s moving in a different direction from its competitors. For this reason, we prefer to look at the new levels for what they are, rather than what they are not – ultimately, users will determine the success of the PlayStation.
PS Plus Extra proves the importance of catalogs
And there is no doubt that PS Plus Extra is especially excellent value for money – especially if you are a new owner of PS5 or PS4. While its game catalog of approximately 414 games shares many similarities with the now defunct PS Now, the library has been redesigned in the right way. Sony didn’t include brand new games like Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7, but added bestsellers like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut – popular first-rate editions that still perform well at retail.
It is this inclusion of main names that elevates the service above PS Now and makes it more attractive in general. Like Returnal and Demon’s Souls, two exclusive PS5s that drew frowning eyebrows for $ 69.99 / £ 69.99 will find new fans as part of the PS Plus Extra – and you only pay £ 33 / $ 40 on your traditional PS Plus Essential subscription to access them (and hundreds of others) for the whole year. Obviously in this age of rising gas prices, it’s still a significant amount of money, but we really think Sony has pricing right here – it’s a somewhat clear bidding.
Image: Push Square
To be honest, if you’re the enthusiast type who visits a site like Push Square, you may find that the library is less convincing as a result of buying many of the main titles on the first day at full price. And this is an area where the new levels of PS Plus are not enough, because Sony has already said that big exclusives like God of War Ragnarok will not be released. But it is absolutely imperative to remember that not all gamers invest this seriously in their consoles; most players buy only a few new editions each year.
And here the importance of catalogs comes in the equation. There is undeniable appeal in the first editions, but there is also the inherent value of a fascinating library of games that you can enjoy on demand – and Sony has achieved this. Whether it’s Death Stranding, Red Dead Redemption 2 or God of War, there are dozens and dozens of major titles that you can play in the new level of PS Plus Extra – with the promise of adding more every month. Consider the old basic products like the monthly games PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Collection and it’s hard to complain.
PS Plus Premium will need reinforcement
Things are getting less fascinating is in the PS Plus Premium, which is messily assembled. There are a number of additional advantages here, ranging from cloud streaming to classic games, but it lacks cohesion at the level of PS Plus Extra. For example, Sony decided to include remasters here, such as The Last of Us Remastered, which makes it a bit confusing overall. The promise of emulation of PS1 and PSP is certainly attractive, but the results are mixed, and the choice is insignificant at the moment – everything seems a bit out of place.
Image: Push Square
Sony, of course, also still pays for the mistakes it made more than 15 years ago with the PS3’s cumbersome architecture; while chair analysts say it’s possible to emulate the latest-generation PS5 console, the reality is that it hasn’t made it yet, so a cloud streaming is needed to play titles like Tokyo Jungle and Ratchet & Clank: A Crack on time. Although it was one of the first manufacturers in the cloud streaming space – it was a huge success for Google Stadia – it has now been largely abandoned by technology giants. Nevertheless, the quality of cloud streaming has improved recently and is quietly stable these days – although your mileage may vary.
Perhaps the key detail here is that the PS Plus Premium is only £ 16 / $ 20 more than the PS Plus Extra and adds another 388 games to play, which is ultimately an impressive value. This is another example of Sony getting the right prices; Increasing sales is fairly easy, and while we don’t fully recommend the top tier until the classic catalog expands, it won’t break the bank if you’ve already paid for PS Plus Extra to move to the top tier. Ultimately, we believe that Sony will have great success in bringing the involved PS Plus Essential members to higher levels, because the value is hard to argue.
The PS Plus upgrade is just beginning
Of course, it is important to remember that what is here today as we write this article is just the beginning. Apparently, Sony has made a huge effort to merge its subscriptions and transition members, respectively, but the real work begins now. The library is strong at the moment – but it needs to have a clear roadmap and rhythm. We would like to see the PS Plus Premium, and in particular its classic catalog, find more identity – there must be a consistent flow of add-ons in all older PlayStation consoles (including PS2) to make this level more attractive as whole.
And while we appreciate that the Japanese giant adopts a different strategy than its rivals, the PS Plus Extra should have value beyond the older games you may have already played. The confirmation that the expected indie Stray will be added at launch is a strong start and we would like to see more of that from the company in this first year; adding expected, exciting indie and smaller editions on the first day will increase the value of the overall catalog, which is already large and full of quality content.
However, this new dawn for PS Plus feels welcome. Sony’s subscriptions, while always a value for money, have begun to stagnate – especially in the face of intense competition. The refocused approach was overdue and now it has finally arrived, we are excited to see it mature. Clearly, for many PlayStation PS Plus fans, it is one of the most important products the manufacturer offers. With this update, we hope that it will bring renewed focus and investment in the service and its various levels, which can only express good news for members – both new and old.
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If you are not sure what to play, you can find a list of the best PS Plus games via the link. We also have a complete guide for all PS Plus memberships: All three levels are explained. And, of course, we want to hear your feedback in the comments section below. Are you happy with this restart or are you trying to see the value? Cough in the comments section below.
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