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 January 17, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Sony has revealed the month’s PS Plus Extra and Premium games. Consequently, this information has been added to the article.

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 January 2025

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (PS5); The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (PS5/PS4); Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered (PS4)

• 	Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League	The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe	Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
  Released	2024-02-02	2022-04-27	2020-11-06
  Developer(s)	Rocksteady Studios	Crows Crows Crows	Criterion Games
  Publisher(s)	Warner Bros. Interactive	Crows Crows Crows, Galactic Cafe	EA
  Genre(s)	Open-World, Action, Adventure	First-Person, Simulation, Mystery	Racing

The PS Plus Essential January 2025 games will be available from January 7 to February 3.

Starting the new year on a polarizing note, PS Plus Essential’s January 2025 lineup might be its most divisive yet, primarily due to the main attraction being among 2024’s most disappointing games. Still, like with every other month, this selection has its positives, with every title warranting at least an addition to a library.

In theory, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is the perfect PS Plus game. A major AAA title that has been around for less than a year should be extremely exciting, particularly when Rocksteady is attached. Its mixed reception could have caused some people who were interested to hold off, paving the way for them to try the game risk-free now that it is on a subscription service. That said, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League does not generate much excitement, especially since it has received a few deep sales in the last few months.

The other two freebies are pretty good too, although they are based on games that have been around for more than a decade. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is closer to a classic racer than the franchise’s modern open-world romps, and it is a fun arcade-style option. The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is rightfully regarded as an indie masterpiece and arguably the best game of this PS Plus Essential lineup. While revisiting the 2013 original, the 2022 version includes changes that go beyond just a visual upgrade.

• Current as of December 30, 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

This section includes PS4 versions of classic PS1 and PS2 games.

Every PS VR2 Game On PS Plus Premium

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

God of War Ragnarok, Atlas Fallen, Like a Dragon, and More

PS Plus Extra and Premium’s January 2025 games seem to be picking up the slack for Essential’s selection, offering an impressive range of projects across a spectrum of genres. Although hardly the only exciting addition, God of War Ragnarok is far and away the month’s biggest game, with Santa Monica’s highly regarded sequel making its long-awaited debut on the subscription service. With the 2018 entry already being on PS Plus, Ragnarok‘s arrival completes Kratos’ Norse mythology saga, along with serving as a satisfying conclusion to the character’s legacy if he does not return as a protagonist in the future. The base game looks and plays great, all the while telling an over-the-top story that culminates in the eponymous event. The Valhalla mode is also brilliant and should be played after the story.

The rest of Extra’s lineup consists of niche but mostly good games. Citizen Sleeper is an immersive RPG that focuses on dialogue and player choice, taking a lot of inspiration from tabletop games. Atlas Fallen is an open-world action RPG with a fun combat system built around momentum. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is classic Yakuza, albeit with a short story that can be completed within about 15 hours. SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a serviceable hack-and-slash game with plenty of fanservice for fans of the mecha franchise.

The Premium tier’s January 2025 lineup consists of two games: MediEvil 2 and Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings. These are both fun titles from yesteryear, with the former being a PS1 cult classic and the latter an enjoyable PS2 release.

Games Leaving PS Plus In January 2025

Resident Evil 2, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Just Cause, & More

As exciting as new PS Plus arrivals are, they consistently coincide with departures, with a similar number of games leaving the service. 2025 will not change this trend, and Sony has revealed which games will be saying goodbye to the Extra and Premium tiers roughly halfway through January. More departures could be announced at a later date, but so far, 11 titles are set to end their tenures.

The biggest departing name is arguably Resident Evil 2, the 2019 remake that modernized an all-time great PS1 classic. A strong argument could be made that this entry represents the franchise at its peak, and any horror fans owe it to themselves to play through both campaigns. Dragon Ball FighterZ is also leaving PS Plus Extra, which is a shame as it is among the best fighting games on the subscription service. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is also leaving.

A few IPs will also be losing some entries. Life is Strange and Before the Storm are two pretty great adventure games, with the former being particularly highly regarded. Just Cause 3 and 4 are just fun, dumb open-world romps that excel at unfiltered chaos. Legend of Mana and Secret of Mana are based on beloved action JRPGs, and they will be missed. Even Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a worthwhile niche option.

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.