Playstation Plus subscription to rise 33% in Septemeber

[Tweaky]

I got a heads up that Sony is suddenly raising the yearly Playstation plus subscription rate by 33% on the 6th of September......EDIT: Its just been confirmed, see link below for details on how it will kick in.

 

https://press-start.com.au/news/playstation/2023/08/31/heres-the-increased-playstation-plus-pricing-for-australia/

 

That will take the PS+ Essential yearly price from the current $79.95 to $95.95, Extra from $134.95 to $169.95 and Deluxe from $154.95 to $196.95

 

I always buy my yearly subscription when they have it price reduced, which is usually twice a year, and which I did in June......I expect the next time it will be reduced will be around November.

When I do it I usually buy them so my subscription in paid up so its several years in advanced [currently paid up to June 2026]

 

I don't have a official reason why the very sudden, and un-forewarned price hike, but I'm guessing the latest figures showing that game sales have plateaued for both Playstation and Xbox would have something to do with it.

TBH I wouldn't be surprised if the next round of figures on game sales actually showed a considerable fall.

 

Anyway, if your subscription is due shortly, or you want to save yourself a few bucks, buy a year subscription NOW, or several is my recommendation.

 

There are also murmurings that Sony will be reducing the the current 3 free games per month you get with the Playstation Essential level subscription, down to 1 game per month, I suppose to get people to buy into the next Playstation EXTRA or Premium level subscriptions.

How true this is I don't know,.

It would be pretty underhanded if Sony did do this IMHO, but I wouldn't be that surprised if this occurred TBH.

You can always raise you already paid for yearly subscription tier at a later date [ I think it usually works out at a discount if you do it this way ]

Edited August 31, 2023 by Tweaky

[Guest]

I used to be a hardcore online multiplayer gamer, now just an occasional one. If this increase is true, I will cancel my subscriptions and focus solely on single player games with good narrative (which even now gets occasional use) 

Same with online video streaming - you raise the price for no apparent reason and I quit. Too much arrogance in these corporate times where they assume we will complain, but ultimately accept these price hikes. I'll vote with my wallet!

[Tweaky]

2 minutes ago, Hydrology said:

I used to be a hardcore online multiplayer gamer, now just an occasional one. If this increase is true, I will cancel my subscriptions and focus solely on single player games with good narrative (which even now gets occasional use) 

Same with online video streaming - you raise the price for no apparent reason and I quit. Too much arrogance in these corporate times where they assume we will complain, but ultimately accept these price hikes. I'll vote with my wallet!

Well if you let your subscription run out you will lose the use of any free PS+ games you have downloaded [they become playable again if you restart you subscription, that's if using the same PS ID ]Much like you, I play offline 99.99% of the time now days.

The main reason I keep my subscription up is for the free games, and to still be able to play the PS+ games I already have, which must be close to 250 across my PS3/4/5

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

Well if you let your subscription run out you will lose the use of any free PS+ games you have downloaded [they become playable again if you restart you subscription, that's if using the same PS ID ]Much like you, I play offline 99.99% of the time now days.

The main reason I keep my subscription up is for the free games, and to still be able to play the PS+ games I already have, which must be close to 250 across my PS3/4/5

 

Couldnt care what I "lose" when there are principals at stake.

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by Hydrology

[Tweaky]

1 minute ago, Hydrology said:

 

Couldnt care what I "lose" when there are principals at stake.

 

Well I suppose its if you still see there being value for your money.

Getting 3 free games per month for the subscription cost [even when it rises] still seems like a OK deal to me........If it drops down to 1 games a month for the Essential level subscription, as rumored, then probably not if you are a NEW subscriber and don't play online, you wouldn't have the built up PS+ game library to lose use of.

[Guest]

Some people will see this as an opportunity to save money. Fair enough.

I see it as a blatant rip off as Sony clearly knows those with a big collection of PSPlus collections will be forced to suck it up.

Either way, thanks for the heads up 

[Tweaky]

2 hours ago, Hydrology said:

Some people will see this as an opportunity to save money. Fair enough.

I see it as a blatant rip off as Sony clearly knows those with a big collection of PSPlus collections will be forced to suck it up.

Either way, thanks for the heads up 

 

I've just seen confirmation for the heads up,plus official Aus prices

https://press-start.com.au/news/playstation/2023/08/31/heres-the-increased-playstation-plus-pricing-for-australia/

 

The price hike starts next week, 6th September.

 

One tip with the PStore generally, don't pay with a credit card, add funds to your account with a pre paid card bought from JB or the likes or a debit card, then pay.

Reason being Australia uses a mirror of the UK PStore, and if you use a credit card it will charge in UK sterling , add the currency conversion, plus you'll attract fees from your bank for international a transaction.....a TOTAL rip off for Aus/NZ Playstation owners that has been going on for years.

 

Just to add insult to injury, SONY has named the 3 free games for September, and IMHO they are pretty awful as far as monthly offering go.

 

Saints Row ; Of the 3 games at least it can be played off line, but its not clear which version it is, the original, which was at least some fun [ and which was a free PS+ game on the PS3 ] or the 2022 version, which is reportedly terrible.

 

Black Desert – Traveler Edition: A Online only multiplayer medieval / fantasy fighting game.

 

Generation Zero : A FPS that has a IGN score of 4/10 due to being a glitch and bug fest of a game.

 

Thanks SONY...[sarcasm ]

 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Tweaky

[LoveKnight]

Thank you for the tip about buying and paying games by pre-paid cards. I just canceled the subscription but still have about nearly 1 year left. I did not know about the rising price and suddenly checked my bank account and saw the charged fee was nearly $200. Oh my god were the words in my mind at that time then I decided to unsub. Still buying and collect games but I have to think that about Sony Playstation online services as they charge more money but the games and benefits they provide are not as good as I think they would. In the future I want to come back to play PC games more. 

[Tweaky]

4 hours ago, LoveKnight said:

Thank you for the tip about buying and paying games by pre-paid cards. I just canceled the subscription but still have about nearly 1 year left. I did not know about the rising price and suddenly checked my bank account and saw the charged fee was nearly $200. Oh my god were the words in my mind at that time then I decided to unsub. Still buying and collect games but I have to think that about Sony Playstation online services as they charge more money but the games and benefits they provide are not as good as I think they would. In the future I want to come back to play PC games more. 

WTF ! It seems you have chosen the PS+ Premium level subscription, and by mistake it would appear, as I wouldn't have recommended it.

I just have the same bog standard  Playstation Essentials subscription that I've always had, and that now costs $95.95 pa

The next level is Playstation Plus Extra, at $169.95 pa

And finally Playstation Plus Deluxe, at $196.95 pa

https://www.playstation.com/en-au/ps-plus/#subscriptions

 

You have to keep a eye on the PStore sales, as usually twice a year they have a price reduction on all the subscription rates [That's when I buy them for the next couple of years]

 

Fist go into your PS4/5 system settings > playstation plus subscriptions > automatic recharge and turn it OFF.

You can change the subscription level at any time, but if you move down subscriptions levels from Deluxe to Essentials, you will lose use of the games you got whilst at the Deluxe level, but keep the ones that were included at the Essentials level subscription [usually 3/4 games pm]

 

Since you have already been charged for yet another year of the Deluxe level, you might as well take advantage of it and play as many of the free games offered you before your subscription runs out, then just renew your subscription manually at the lower level.

 

That's what I absolutely hate about subscription models on software and services, you can suddenly get slugged on your credit card for something that you haven't used in ages and had meant to cancel, but forgot .

Or even worse, had thought you had cancelled a service, but get slugged for it anyway by some dodgy company that says you didn't