If you haven’t used PlayStation in a while, PlayStation subscription services may not look exactly like you remember them. Sony revamped its gaming subscriptions last June, making some big changes and merging its two previous memberships – PS Plus and PS Now – into one multi-layered service. If you have been trying to get your hands on the elusive PS5, do not worry. We’ve broken down the different options below to help you understand how things have changed and find the right membership level for you – and get a decent deal on a PlayStation Plus subscription.
Deals have been pretty far and few between in the months since the service was redesigned, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely non-existent. Below you’ll find pretty much the only PlayStation Plus deal available right now, but we’re hoping to see more deals and offers for the updated PS Plus service start to appear in the coming weeks and months, so be sure to check back here often for the best prices available. For even more savings, you can check out our list of the best deals on PlayStation hardware and accessories.
What has changed?
Before the update, PlayStation offered users two different subscription services. PlayStation Plus was a $10 per month service similar to Xbox Live Gold which allowed users to play games online and participate in multiplayer matches. PlayStation Now was a $10-a-month cloud gaming service that gave players access to a huge library of classic PS2, PS3, and PS4 titles. The new PS Plus has essentially combined both memberships into one service with multiple subscription levels. Three different membership packages are available, combining different features and benefits of the two previous subscriptions.
PS Plus Essential
At $10 per month, $25 for three months, or $60 for a year, PlayStation Plus Essential is essentially no different from the previous PS Plus subscription. It offers all the same features, including access to online play, two monthly games for free, cloud storage and exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store. If you had a PS Plus membership before the update went live, it will automatically convert to an Essential membership.
PS plus extra
At $15 per month, $40 for three months, or $100 for the year, the mid-range PlayStation Plus Extra subscription is somewhat similar to Game Pass Ultimate membership offered to Xbox users. It includes all the benefits and features of an Essential membership, but also gives you access to a catalog of up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. The selection includes many hit titles such as God of War, Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima.
PS Plus Premium
PlayStation Plus Premium membership is the highest level available and costs $18 per month, $50 for three months, or $120 for a full year. In addition to all the benefits of both the Essential and Extra subscriptions, it gives you access to a massive library of more than 700 games. This includes the latest PS4 and PS5 hits from the Extra subscription, but also a catalog of more than 300 classics from the PS1, PS2 and PS3 eras (similar to the previous PS Now subscription). It also lets you stream many of those classic titles, so you don’t have to worry about them eating up your precious storage space. You also get access to time-limited game trials, so you can try out new games before committing to a purchase. If you had a PS Now subscription before the update went live, it will automatically convert to a PlayStation Plus Premium membership.
PS Plus deals
Things were pretty chaotic before the update, with people snapping up discounted memberships and racking up hundreds of savings before Sony figured out the loophole. It’s been closed for a while now and we haven’t seen too many chances to save on service since then. Sony and retailers seem to have pulled all remaining membership codes to the now-discontinued PS Now service, but if you’re only interested in the Essential level membership, there are still a few fallback deals for the original PS Plus.




Sony
There are quite a few deals available for the updated PS Plus right now, so if you’re looking to save some cash, this is your best bet. This offer is technically for an original PS Plus subscription from before the upgrade, which will automatically convert to an Essential membership. We haven’t had a chance to test this deal ourselves, but several reviewers said they had no problem redeeming one of these older codes. The basic membership is usually $60 for the year, which is already 50% off the price of the monthly plan. But right now at CD Keys, you can get an annual subscription for $50, which brings the monthly cost down to just over $4. You won’t get access to the huge library of games, but you will be able to play online and get two free games every month.