The New PS Plus Tiers – Everything You Need To Know

It was announced in March 2022, after months of speculation, that PlayStation’s PlayStation Plus subscription service would be revamped. Predicted features of both PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now will be incorporated into three separate tiers, and the service will compete directly with other game streaming services like Xbox Game Pass.

Not in India: PlayStation Plus “Premium”

While PlayStation Now game streaming is already available in some areas, PlayStation Plus is only available in those areas. To put it another way, Indians can’t get their hands on backwards compatible PlayStation 3 games like inFAMOUS and Sly Cooper if they sign up for the service at the highest level.

However, PlayStation Plus Deluxe will be available as an alternative.

If you don’t have access to game streaming, you’ll be able to get most of the benefits of Premium, but without the ability to play games. Classic games from the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PSP eras will be available to subscribers, but not the coveted PlayStation 3 tier.

Additional markets for cloud streaming appear to be under consideration, but no further information has been provided by PlayStation.

What are the tiers of the new PlayStation Plus service?

The three new tiers for PlayStation Plus are as follows, per the PlayStation Blog:

Essential

Provides the same benefits that PS Plus currently includes:

• Two monthly downloadable games
• Exclusive sale discounts
• Cloud storage for saved games
• Online multiplayer access

Extra

Provides all the benefits of Essential and additionally:

• Adds a catalogue of 400 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games, including titles from PlayStation Studios and other third-party partners – these will be downloadable

Premium

Provides all the benefits of the Essential and Extra tiers – but will not be available in Australia. It includes:

• 340 additional games, including PlayStation 3 games available via cloud streaming and a catalogue of original PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PSP games for streaming or download
• Offers cloud streaming for all games as long as you’re in a market with access to PlayStation Now
• Subscribers can streaming games using PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, as well as PC
• Time-limited game trails are also offered in this tier so you can ‘try before you buy’

Deluxe

Deluxe is a replacement for Premium in all regions where PlayStation Now is not available. It will be offered for a reduced price and include the following benefits:

• All benefits offered in the Essential and Extra tiers
• A catalogue of original PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PSP games for download
• Access to time-limited game trials

How much do the new PlayStation Plus tiers cost in India?

• PlayStation Plus Essential: Rs. 499 per month
• PlayStation Plus Extra: Rs. 749 per month
• PlayStation Plus Deluxe: Rs. 849 per month

When will all-new PlayStation Plus launch?

The all-new service launched across the globe in June 2022. Here’s when it happened:

• Asia (excluding Japan) – 23 May 2022
• Japan – 1 June 2022
• Americas – 13 June 2022
• Europe and Australia – 22 June 2022

Those who are already regular PlayStation Plus subscribers will be automatically transferred to the Essential tier on this date. If you’d like to upgrade, you can pay the difference – although you will need to pay for the entirety of your subscription period. That means if you’ve got months or years stored up, you’ll need to pay for each month’s worth of upgrade (between $7-10 per month subscribed).

What PS4 and PS5 games are included in PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe tiers?

The PS Plus Extra and Deluxe Tiers will give you access to a selection of PS4 and PS5 back catalog games from PlayStation’s library. Some of the highlights include:

• Returnal
• Marvel’s Spider-Man
• Bloodborne
• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Death Stranding
• Demon’s Souls
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• God of War
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
• Tetris Effect Connected

…and much more. To see all the games available, take a look at the full list of PS4 and PS5 games available for PS Plus Extra and Deluxe.

What PlayStation Classics games – PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP – are included in the PlayStation Plus Deluxe tier?

For those subscribing to the highest ‘Deluxe’ tier of PlayStation Plus, you’ll have access to a variety of games from PlayStation’s history. These include PS1 classics like Ape Escape and Syphon Filter and PS2 games like Dark Cloud and Jake & Daxter.

Unfortunately for Indians, they won’t get access to the full suite of PS3 games available in other countries via cloud streaming. What is available however, is the remastered versions of certain PS3 games like Bioshock and Batman Arkham City that were subsequently released on the PS4.