Sony’s PlayStation Plus service is growing at its fastest rate ever, according to a new update from a senior executive. Most users now prefer the more expensive subscription tiers, especially the $160-per-year Premium plan, which saw an 18% increase in users over the past year.
Nick Maguire, PlayStation VP and Head of Subscriptions, shared the news in a recent interview. He also confirmed that over 81% of PS Plus subscribers now own a PlayStation 5, showing strong ties between the service and Sony’s newest console.
Three-Tier Strategy Is Working
Sony changed the PlayStation Plus model in 2022, splitting it into three tiers:
- Essential – $80/year
- Extra – $135/year
- Premium – $160/year
Maguire said this move exceeded expectations and helped attract a wider audience. Nearly 40% of subscribers are now on the Extra or Premium plans, while 60% remain on the basic tier.
Price Hikes Didn’t Hurt Growth
Despite a price increase in 2023, PlayStation Plus subscriptions kept growing. Sony’s CEO, Hideaki Nishino, said users still see value in the service. While another price hike isn’t ruled out, Sony says its main goal is to keep investing in the platform.
No Day-One Games Yet
Sony does not plan to release brand-new games on PS Plus on launch day, unlike Xbox Game Pass. Instead, the focus remains on offering recent games, without hurting sales of new titles.
Sony hasn’t revealed exact subscriber numbers but shared that users played over 2 billion hours of games in the past year.
