We’ve created a PlayStation Plus explainer that’s better than Sony’s [Updated]

[Update: Added tables outlining what types and quantities of games are available at each tier.]

Ever since Sony announced its upcoming transition to a new, tiered PlayStation Plus subscription service in March, the company has tried to explain the many benefits of this service using thousands of (sometimes confusing) words in two blog posts and an FAQ. We’ve tried to break down these benefits with our own posts, which span thousands of (hopefully less confusing) words.

However, since we were struggling to understand the new offerings, we wanted a more concise, readable summary that breaks down each tier of the new PlayStation Plus at a glance. And we figured if we want that kind of quick reference, some of our readers might as well.

So enjoy this breakdown of the new PlayStation Plus, as clear and concise as possible, without missing anything important. We’ll try to keep this post updated as Sony adds or explains new features.

Summary of Prizes/Benefits

	Essential	extra	bonus
Monthly price	$9.99	$14.99	$17.99
quarterly price	$24.99	$39.99	$49.99
Annual price	$59.99	$99.99	$119.99
Two monthly downloadable games	X	X	X
Cloud saves	X	X	X
Online multiplayer access	X	X	X
PlayStation Plus Collection (on PS5)	X	X	X
Downloadable PS4/PS5 games		X	X
Ubisoft+ Classics game offering		X	X
Downloadable PS1/PS2/PSP Games			X
Streamable PS3 games			X
Streaming access to PS1/PS2/PS4/PSP games			X
Time-limited trial versions			X

Included games

The tables below detail the type and number of games available for download and/or streaming through the various PlayStation Plus subscription levels. Downloadable games can be played on a PS4 (excluding PS5 exclusives) or PS5. Streamable games can be streamed to a PS4, PS5 or PC.

Eventually, according to Sony, Extra could include access to “up to 400” titles from the PS4/PS5, while Premium will add access to an additional “up to 340” from classic systems.

All three tiers (including Essential) also include two specific downloadable games per month. The two higher tiers also include access to 27 games via Ubisoft+ Classics. See below for more information on both.

types of games

original console	extra	bonus
PS1		DL/Stream
PS2		DL/Stream
psp		DL/Stream
PS3		electricity
PS4	DL	DL/Stream
PS5	DL	DL

Number of games (previously announced)

original console	Essential	extra	bonus
PS1			9
PS2			18
psp			1
PS3			29
PS4	19*	59+19*	59+19*
PS5		3+9**	3+9**

* – 19 PS4 games are only available on PS5 as part of the PlayStation Plus collection
** – Sony has announced three PS5 exclusive games and nine enhanced PS5 games for the higher PlayStation Plus tiers

Significant Tier Perks

Two monthly downloadable games

• This is for two specific games chosen by Sony each month and you must subscribe and claim them within that month in order to add them to your library.
• These are usually PS4 games these days, sometimes with PS5 enhancements
  • Since early 2020, PS Plus has been offering 11 PS5 Exclusives and 5 PSVR Exclusives
• You can access these games as long as you keep your subscription

Cloud saves

• 100 GB cloud storage per console for PS4 and PS5
• Limit of 1,000 save files for PS4

Online multiplayer access

• For free-to-play games such as B. No subscription is required Fourteen days.

PlayStation Plus Collection (on PS5)

• A collection of 19 “classic” PS4 games playable on the PS5
  • Not available on the PS4
  • The full game list, which hasn’t changed since 2020, is available here

Benefits of the extra level

Downloadable PS4/PS5 games

• 62 titles have been announced so far, “up to 400” was promised in the original announcement
  • 50 exclusive PS4 games (playable on PS5)
  • Nine PS4 games with “extended” PS5 versions
  • Three PS5 exclusives
  • 38 own titles, 24 third-party titles
  • The full list of titles announced so far is available here

Ubisoft+ Classics games lineup

• This is not the full Ubisoft+ line of 100 games launched in 2019; It’s a stripped down version for PlayStation Plus owners
• The “Classics” plan will start with 27 titles and expand to 50 by the end of 2022, says Ubisoft
• The full list of titles announced so far is available here

Premium Tier Benefits

Downloadable PS1/PS2/PSP Games

• 28 titles have been announced so far, with “up to 340” (including streamable PS3 games) promised in the original announcement
  • 19 first-party, nine third-party titles
  • Nine PS1, 18 PS2, 1 PSP titles
  • The full list of titles announced so far is available here
• “Some” classic games will “have improved frame rates and higher quality resolution compared to their original launch versions.”
• “Some” PS1/PSP games will also have a new user interface and save and rewind features
• Previously announced PS2 games will be “remastered”, although the exact meaning of this is unclear at the moment

Streamable Games

• Stream to a PS4, PS5 or PC
• Streaming is currently available in 19 countries, plus 11 more coming June
  • Full list of streaming availability by country available here (scroll down)
• So far, 29 streamable PS3 titles have been announced
  • 21 first-party, eight third-party titles
  • Not remastered
  • No downloadable versions for PS3 games
  • The full list of titles announced so far is available here
• Streaming for available PS1/PS2/PS4/PSP games was mentioned in Sony’s March blog post but not specifically mentioned in its latest update
  • The fine print says “Streaming may not be available for certain games”.
• PlayStation Now currently has a much broader list of streamable PS2/PS3/PS4 games

Time-limited trial versions

• Six titles announced so far
  • Two first-party providers, four third-party providers
  • Two PS5 exclusives, four PS4 titles with PS5 enhancements
  • The full list of titles announced so far is available here
• The trial versions last two hours “for most games”.
• Trial version trophies/save data will be carried over when you purchase the game

More information

• Remaining PlayStation Plus subscriptions will be converted to Essential subscriptions
• Remaining PlayStation Now subscriptions will be converted to Premium subscriptions
• If you have both PS Plus and PS Now subscriptions, you will be converted to a Premium subscription for the duration of the longer remaining subscription.
• Some PS1/PSP games purchased as download are free to download on PS4/PS5 even without a PlayStation Plus subscription

Planned Transition Date

• Asia (excluding Japan): May 24
• Japan: June 2nd
• America: June 13th
• Europe, Australia, New Zealand: June 23