In 2022, Sony opted to combine these two services into a new version of PS Plus. Utilizing a tier system, this model has hundreds of games from across PlayStation’s history, multiple price points, and a slew of other features. With the service picking up steam, it makes sense that a PS5 or PS4 owner might want a full breakdown of what they can expect if they decide to subscribe to PS Plus.
What Are PlayStation Plus’s Tiers?
Rather than present a one-size-fits-all subscription, PS Plus lets users have their pick from three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. Here is a brief summary of each level’s offerings:
Essential – The core PS Plus benefits as they were prior to the 2022 relaunch. Subscribers gain access to online multiplayer, monthly games, exclusive discounts, and a few other benefits. Extra – Essential tier benefits + a catalog of downloadable PS5 and PS4 games. Premium – Essential & Extra tiers benefits + a catalog of classic PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP games.
Ultimately, picking a PS Plus tier comes down to someone’s needs. If a player will only be using the online multiplayer feature, Essential will suffice and there is little to gain from subscribing to one of the higher tiers.
Premium’s central selling is its Classics Catalog, which adds hundreds of titles on top of the PS5 and PS4 games that are also available in the Extra tier. While this collection is grand, please note that PS3 games are played through Cloud Streaming and cannot be downloaded. Consequently, their performance is dependent on the user’s internet connection.
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PS Plus Essential, Extra, & Premium: A Rundown Of Each Tier’s Benefits
As there is quite a jump in price from one level to the next, a full breakdown of each tier’s features and benefits might help someone decide whether they should go for Essential, Extra, or Premium.
How Much Is PlayStation Plus?
Each PS Plus tier has its own price point to match the benefits included with the subscription.
PS Plus Essential
1-Month Subscription: $9. 99 3-Month Subscription: $24. 99 12-Month Subscription: $59. 99
PS Plus Extra
1-Month Subscription: $14. 99 3-Month Subscription: $39. 99 12-Month Subscription: $99. 99
PS Plus Premium
1-Month Subscription: $17. 99 3-Month Subscription: $49. 99 12-Month Subscription: $119. 99
How To Subscribe To PlayStation Plus?
The process to subscribe to PS Plus is quite straightforward, and there are a couple of avenues people can use to get there.
Directly From A PlayStation Console
The most convenient way to subscribe to PS Plus is through the PS5 or PS4 console.
Log into the home screen. Navigate to the PlayStation Plus panel Select " Subscribe " Pick Essential, Extra, or Premium Pick a Payment Plan
From A Web Browser
It is also possible to subscribe to PS Plus directly from a web browser. Visit this playstation.com page and scroll down to the “Choose Your Membership Plan.” From there, choose a tier and select “Add to Cart.” After that, simply check out to complete the transaction.
How To Cancel A PlayStation Plus Subscription?
There might come a time when someone might wish to cancel their PS Plus subscription. The process is quite uncomplicated:
On a web browser, head to the Sony Network’s Account Management page. From the menu’s PlayStation Network options, select " Subscription . " Select " Cancel Subscription " near PlayStation Plus.
What Is PlayStation Plus On PC?
PS Plus Premium subscribers also have the option to stream games via the service’s PC app. The library includes titles from both the Games and Classics Catalog, although it is not the full selection. Here are some things interested parties should know about this option:
The DualShock 4 is the only confirmed compatible controller . That does not mean other controllers will not work, just that they are not guaranteed by Sony. PS Plus On PC is not currently available in every country that has the main streaming service. PS5 games cannot be streamed. A PS5 or PS4 is not needed to subscribe to PS Plus on PC. Sony recommends a Broadband wired internet connection of a minimum of 5 Mbps .
Can PS Plus Premium Subscribers Stream PS5 Games?
PS Plus Premium’s Cloud Streaming is compatible with the Games Catalog’s PS4 games and all the titles found in the Classics Catalog. PS5 games cannot be streamed.
When Are New Games Added To PS Plus Premium & Extra?
Sony has not specified a fixed date of when subscribers can anticipate new additions to the library, but history suggests that games will be added roughly halfway through a month.
Can Subscribers Switch Tiers?
Yes. If someone wants to move up to a higher PS Plus tier, they only need to purchase a new membership at their desired level. This upgrade will happen instantly, and the customer will be charged a prorated fee for the rest of the current month.
If a member wishes to downgrade their tier, they would need to visit their Sony account’s “Subscription” tab to perform the change. This alteration will come into effect once the next payment is made.
Can PS Plus Benefits Be Shared?
While limited to one PS5 or PS4 console, certain PS Plus benefits are shared among the different accounts on the system. These include online multiplayer, access to Premium & Extra’s libraries, downloaded monthly games, and games purchased using a PS Plus discount.
What Games Are On PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, & Premium?
Current as of December 15, 2022.
December 2022’s Free PS Plus Essentials Games
Available from January 3, 2023
PS Plus Essentials is starting 2023 with a relatively big line-up of free games. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order blends the iconic sci-fi franchise with Souls-like gameplay, crafting an experience that does justice to both spheres. As Fallen Order’s sequel is expected to drop on March 17, 2023, this is the perfect time for newcomers to jump into the 2019 game. Axiom Verge 2 is a side-scrolling Metroidvania with impressive retro visuals and a fascinating world. Lastly, Fallout 76 is an online RPG that garnered quite a bit of criticism during its launch. The game has improved since then.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS5/PS4) Fallout 76 (PS4) Axiom Verge 2 (PS5/PS4)
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PS Plus Essentials’ Previous Monthly Free Games
As PlayStation Plus rarely repeats its free games, the service’s previous freebies are unlike to feature again in the future, at least when it comes to monthly giveaways. That said, they might be added to Extra or Premium at some point, as has proven to be the case with Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Here are all the PS Plus Essentials free games that have been chosen since Sony launched the new subscription model in June 2022.
The PlayStation Plus Collection (PS5 Users Only)
PlayStation 5 owners with any PS Plus tier subscription are granted access to a curated selection of PS4 games, some of which are not part of Premium and Extra’s Game Catalog library.
Batman: Arkham Knight Battlefield 1 Bloodborne Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – Zombies Chronicles Edition Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Days Gone Detroit: Become Human Fallout 4 Final Fantasy 15 Royal Edition God of War (2018) Monster Hunter: World inFAMOUS Second Son Ratchet and Clank (2016) Resident Evil 7 The Last Guardian The Last of Us Remastered Mortal Kombat 10 Until Dawn Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
What Games Are On PlayStation Plus Extra & Premium?
Most subscribers will likely invest in PS Plus Extra as that tier contains more than enough PS5 and PS4 games to keep someone busy for a long time. Unless specifically interested in classic PS games or Cloud Streaming, there is not much reason to pick Premium over Extra. Still, subscribers of both tiers can download and install the following titles.
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PS5 Games
PS4 Games
What Classics Are On PlayStation Plus Premium?
PS Plus Premium celebrates PlayStation’s past, bringing together titles released over the span of more than two decades. If a PS5 or PS4 owner wants to play some old favorites, this tier should deliver.
PS4 Games (Including Remasters Of PS3, Vita, & PSP Games)
PS3 Games (Cloud Streaming)
PS1, PS2, & PSP Classics Games
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Games Coming Soon To PS Plus Extra & Premium
So far, Sony has announced PS Plus’s monthly additions roughly a week ahead of time, although things may vary in the future. Typically, all the games are announced at once, but there can be exceptions.
For January 2023, Sony added WWE 2K22 at the beginning of the month, and the wrestling game was joined by 10 PS5 and PS4 titles along with 3 classics a few weeks later. The latter additions cover a respectable range of genres, including multiplayer shooters, hack and slash, fighting, and open-world. Premium subscribers were granted access to three PS1 titles, expanding PS Plus’s relatively limited selection of games when it comes to that console.
Every Game Added To PS Plus Extra & Premium Since July 2022
The following table keeps a record of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium’s monthly additions since July 2022. Please note that some of these titles might be removed from the service at a later date.
Games Leaving PS Plus Extra & Premium
PS Plus’ Last Chance section highlights which games will be leaving the service in the near (or distant) future. To ensure that subscribers do not miss out on a departing title they are interested in, they should keep an eye on which PS Plus games are coming and going. Since the service’s launch, only a few games per month have been removed.
Game Trials
Besides instant access to PS Plus’s Game and Classics Catalogs, Premium subscribers can also try out a select few PS5 and PS4 titles for a limited time. Players can currently test out more than 20 games, and their trial periods vary in length.
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative (1 Hour) Biomutant (2 Hours) The Cruel King and the Great Hero (2 Hours) Crusader Kings 3 (3 Hours) Cyberpunk 2077 (5 Hours) Dying Light 2 Stay Human (3 Hours) Elemental War 2 (2 Hours) Elex 2 (2 Hours) Ghostwire: Tokyo (1 Hour) Horizon Forbidden West (5 Hours) Hot Wheels Unleashed (2 Hours) Hunting Simulator 2 (2 Hours) The Last of Us Part 1 (2 Hours) LEGO City Undercover (2 Hours) LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (1 Hour) Little League World Series Baseball 2023 (2 Hours) MLB the Show 22 (4 Hours) MotoGP 22 (2 Hours) MX vs ATV Legends (2 Hours) NBA 2K23 (2 Hours) NHRA Championship Drag Racing: Speed For All (2 Hours) Olli Olli World (1 Hour) Phoenix Point (2 Hours) Relayer (2 Hours) Rims Racing (2 Hours) Rollerdrome (1 Hour) Soul Hackers 2 (2 Hours) Spellforce 3 Reforced (2 Hours) Steelrising (2 Hours) Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (2 Hours) Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (2 Hours) Vampire The Masquerade Swansong (2 Hours) WWE 2K22 (2 Hours)
PS Plus Exclusive Packs
Regardless of their chosen tier, PS Plus subscribers can download for free an array of DLC and packs from a selection of games. Here are a couple of examples:
Brawlhalla (Bonus Pack 4) Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Combat Pack - Motorpool) H1Z1 (Bandit Pack) Smite (Kukulkan Skin) Warface (Rime Pack)
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Premium & Extra: Best PS5 Games
Premium & Extra: Best PS4 Games
Premium: Best PS3 Games
Premium: Best PS2 Games
Premium: Best PS1 Games
Highest Rated Games On Metacritic
Short Games On Extra
Short Games On Premium
Anime
FPS
Horror
Local Co-Op & Split-Screen
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op
Open-World
Racing
RPGs
Souls-LIke
Stealth
Survival
How to Upgrade to PS Plus Extra & Premium
PS Plus Tier Prices In Various Regions
Complete Easter Egg Challenge for Rewards