What Is PlayStation Plus

Sony’s PlayStation Plus is a well-known brand with a long history, but the service received a substantial makeover in 2022. Combining the original version with PS Now, the platform adopted a tiered system that seemed designed to offer something equivalent to Xbox Game Pass, with the higher levels containing extensive libraries of games that are updated monthly.

Although not without its controversies or criticisms, PS Plus has stabilized by this point, making it a consistently valid option for PS5 and even PS4 owners. As the service offers a lot of content along with different price points and features, here are the major things everyone should know about PS Plus.

Updated on November 29, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The PS Plus Essential games for December 2024 have been revealed, along with a couple of PS2 classics. Also, the titles leaving the service in December have been announced.

All The PlayStation Plus 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 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.

Which PS Plus Tier Should You Buy?

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 Does PS Plus Cost?

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:
  $79.99

• 1-Month Subscription:
  $14.99
• 3-Month Subscription:
  $39.99
• 12-Month Subscription:
  $134.99

PS Plus Premium

• 1-Month Subscription:
  $17.99
• 3-Month Subscription:
  $49.99
• 12-Month Subscription:
  $159.99

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.

Newcomers to Sony’s ecosystem will first need to create a PlayStation Network account as this is required to utilize any service, including buying games from the PS Store. An account by following this link.

How To Subscribe To PS Plus Using The PS5

The most convenient way to subscribe to PS Plus is through the PS5 or PS4 console.

1. Log into the home screen.
2. Navigate to the PlayStation Plus panel
3. Select ”
   Subscribe
   ”
4. Pick Essential, Extra, or Premium
5. Pick a Payment Plan

How To Subscribe To PS Plus Using 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 PS Plus Subscription?

There might come a time when someone might wish to cancel their PS Plus subscription. The process is quite uncomplicated:

1. On a web browser, head to the Sony Network’s
   Account Management
   page.
2. From the menu’s PlayStation Network options, select ”
   Subscription
   .”
3. Select ”
   Cancel Subscription
   ” near PlayStation Plus.

Account Management’s Subscription page also allows players to change their PS Plus tiers or payment frequency.

What Is PS 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
  ​​​​.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

Which PlayStation Plus should I Get?

Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference. If someone only intends to play PS5 and PS4 games, there is little reason to subscribe to Premium.

PS Plus Essential Free Games For December 2024

It Takes Two (PS5/PS4); Temtem (PS5); Aliens: Dark Descent (PS5/PS4)

• 	It Takes Two	Temtem	Aliens: Dark Descent
  Released	2021-03-26	2020-01-21	2023-06-20
  Developer(s)	Hazelight Studios	Crema	Tindalos Interactive
  Genre(s)	Action, Adventure	Adventure	Real-Time Strategy
  ESRB	T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language	E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Language, Mild Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol	M for Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence

With the holiday season here, Sony has revealed the final PS Plus Essential lineup for 2024. While not the most exciting on paper, the selection is arguably well-rounded and should offer something for most players. It Takes Two is one of the best co-op games on the PS5, and the emphasis is on “co-op” since the campaign requires two players. No solo alternative, which will automatically disqualify Hazelight’s project as an option for a percentage of subscribers. Still, if someone has a partner, they should give this one a try.

Aliens: Dark Descent is all about colonial marines taking the fight to Xenomorphs, one strategic battle after another. Presented from an isometric angle, the game takes quite a few pages from X-COM‘s playbook, which is not a bad thing. Strategy games are an acquired taste, but this release is relatively accessible thanks to its IP. Finally, there is Temtem, one of the better alternatives to Pokemon. Players will catch creatures, build a team, level up, take on dojos, and grind. The formula works pretty well.

• Current as of November 28, 2024

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.

PS Plus’ game library can vary from country to country.

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.

Every PS5/PS4 Game Only On PS Plus Premium (Including Remasters Of PS3, Vita, & PSP Games)

Every PS3 Game On PS Plus Premium

Every PS1, PS2, & PSP Game On PS Plus Premium

Every PS VR2 Game On PS Plus Premium

• Before Your Eyes
• Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord
• Job Simulator
• Kayak VR: Mirage
• Pistol Whip
• Synapse
• Synth Riders
• The Last Clockwinder
• Vacation Simulator
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapters 1 & 2
• Walkabout Mini Golf

GTA, Dying Light 2, Resistance, & More

PS Plus Extra and Premium’s November 2024 games cover quite a wide gamut of genres, themes, gameplay styles, and priorities. The lineup has first-person action, open-worlds, multiplayer, life sims, racers, tactics, co-op, shooters, and melee brawlers. It is quite a full package, one that should contain something to suit most desires. Hopefully, everyone finds something that sparks some excitement within them.

The month focuses quite a bit on open-world games, with arguably the three biggest titles falling within that genre. GTA 5 is, obviously a big deal, although Rockstar’s game was already part of PS Plus before being removed. So, this is just a re-release rather than a fresh revival. Dying Light 2 is an easy recommendation for any action fans looking to parkour through an urban landscape while occasionally drop-kicking zombies from rooftops. Like a Dragon: Ishin is a spin-off that drops familiar Yakuza faces in Japan’s late Edo period, blending fiction and history in the process.

Moving beyond open-world games, Chivalry 2 is a contender for the month’s best game. The multiplayer medieval battle sim has depth to spare, and few projects capture the feeling of engaging in large-scale warfare as well as this epic. Chivalry 2 comes with a bit of a learning curve, but the effort is worth it. Overcooked! All You Can Eat replaces the original Overcooked 2. Although a bit divisive, Digimon Survive should be checked out by fans of the franchise.

The Premium tier is also receiving some exclusive goodies, and they are unfailingly great. Synapse is one of the best PS VR2 games and just all-around awesome. Blood Omen and its sequel are PlayStation classics that need to be available to as wide of an audience as possible, especially with the Legacy of Kain remaster compilation releasing in December 2024. Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 are two of the best exclusives of the PS3 era, and it is a shame they can only be streamed on PS Plus.

While the full December lineup has yet to be announced, Sony has announced ahead of time that Sly 2, Sly 3, and Jak and Daxter will be available to PS Plus Premium subscribers, and these are the PS2 versions.

Games Leaving PS Plus In December 2024

Stranger of Paradise, Mega Man, Dead Island, & More

For the final departures of 2024, PS Plus subscribers are saying goodbye to quite a few great games. Even though Dead Island and Riptide are fairly old and accessible, their departures are still a big hit for the service’s zombie line-up. Capcom’s Mega Man is December 2024’s pick for franchise removal, with the full-numbered series being removed. Judgment is also a pretty big deal since that means the only Yakuza representation on PS Plus is Ishin.

After one year on PS Plus Extra and Premium, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Tinykin, Moonscars, Prodeus, Gigabash, Grime, and Metal: Hellsinger will be leaving the service, and they are all fun games in their own right. At this point, there is enough evidence to suggest that most PS Plus contracts are for one-year runs, at least for third-party games.

PS Plus 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 60 games, and their trial periods vary in length.

Check out the below article to see a list of PS Plus Premium game trials.

Sony Pictures Core

A little-known feature available to Premium subscribers, Sony Pictures Core is a steaming service that contains over 2000 movies that can be rented or bought. Anyone can create an account, but people who have a Premium subscription have access to a range of movies.

Most of the biggest recent titles will need to be purchased, but the selection has a couple of older titles that can keep someone entertained for a few hours when they do not feel like playing a game. The Sony Pictures Catalogue also includes anime content from Crunchyroll.