PS Plus 12-month subscriptions get a price increase, monthly free games announced for September: details
PlayStation Plus is getting a price increase soon. Sony has confirmed plans to increase prices for its PS Plus annual subscriptions in all three tiers starting September 6th. The news was buried under their monthly blog post, which details the new free games available for the service. As D-Day approaches, the basic PS Plus Essential plan will cost $79.99 (about Rs.6,611) for a 12-month subscription, which is an increase from the current price of $60 (about Rs.4,959). . However, due to regional pricing, prices should be significantly lower in India – currently an annual plan of PS Plus Essential costs Rs. 2,999 in the country. The increase was not announced in INR. To get a good estimate, I think it’s best to compare it to the Japanese cost, which will soon rise to 6,800 JPY (about Rs. 3,850).
“This price adjustment will allow us to continue offering high-quality games and value-added benefits to your PlayStation Plus subscription service,” the blog post reads, adding that prices remain for the 12-month subscription compared to a discounted purchase of the one-month subscription – and three-month plans over the course of a year. It’s currently unclear if Sony plans to increase the prices of its short-term memberships, although fans aren’t happy with the increase, with some expressing disappointment cancel their current subscriptions.
Regardless, here are the new prices for the annual PS Plus memberships (as mentioned, see Japanese prices for an accurate estimate of Indian prices):
PS Plus Essential 12 Month Subscription
$79.99/ 71.99 EUR/ 59.99 GBP/ 6,800 JPY (about 3,850 rupees)
PS Plus Extra 12 month subscription
$134.99/ 125.99 EUR/ 99.99 GBP/ 11,700 JPY (approx. 6,620 rupees)
PS Plus Premium/Deluxe 12 Month Subscription
$159.99/ 151.99 EUR/ 119.99 GBP/ 13,900 JPY (approx. 7,850 rupees)
For those already subscribed to a 12-month plan, the price changes will not take effect until their next renewal date, which is on or after November 6th. That is, any changes to the existing membership made on or after September 6th – such as upgrades, downgrades, or the purchase of additional time – will be reflected to show the new prices. The PlayStation price increase comes just months after Microsoft increased the cost of its monthly Xbox Game Pass subscription. Sure, both companies offer largely the same benefits when it comes to free gaming and online multiplayer access, but Xbox has a slight advantage by making its first-party exclusives available on the service from day one.
PS Plus games in September 2023
Meanwhile, Sony has not sufficiently justified its price increase. While the higher-tier PS Plus subscription gives you an hour or two to try out new games, the past few months have been missing the free titles it gives out each month. Starting September 5th, all PS Plus members can download the new Saints Row game for free – a smooth restart of Deep Silver’s street crime series, set in the fictional wasteland of Santo Ileso and filled with outlandish characters, neon-filled locations, and explosions galore . It was poorly received upon release, being uninspired and full of groundbreaking glitches. So you can already imagine why the members won’t be so enthusiastic about it.
Other entries this month include the sandbox MMO Black Desert and Generation Zero, which sees you battling deadly machines in a hostile 1980s open-world playground. The three free games are available for download until October 2nd. After that, you’ll need to keep your PS Plus subscription to continue accessing it.
PlayStation Plus subscription in India starts at Rs. 499 per month for Essential, Rs. 749 per month for Extra plan and Rs. 849 per month for Premium Deluxe membership. The monthly free games are included in all three tiers.
