We made a PlayStation Plus explainer that’s better than Sony’s – Ars Technica

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

Since Sony announced its upcoming transition to a new, multi-tiered PlayStation Plus subscription service in March, the company has tried to explain that service’s many benefits with thousands of (sometimes confusing) words across two blog posts and an FAQ. We have tried to break down those benefits with our own posts comprising thousands more (hopefully less confusing) words.

As we’ve struggled to make sense of the new offerings, though, we’ve found ourselves wanting a more concise, readable summary that breaks down each tier of the new PlayStation Plus at a glance. And we figured if we wanted that kind of quick reference, some of our readers might, too.

So please enjoy this breakdown of the new PlayStation Plus, as clear and concise as we could make it without leaving anything important out. We’ll try to keep this post updated as Sony adds or clarifies new features.

Pricing/benefits summary

Included games

The below tables outline the type and quantity of games available for download and/or streaming via the various PlayStation Plus subscription tiers. Downloadable games can be played on a PS4 (except for PS5 exclusives) or PS5. Streamable games can be streamed to a PS4, PS5 or PC.

Sony says Extra could eventually 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 through Ubisoft+ Classics. See below for more info on both of those.

Types of games

Number of games (announced so far)

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

Essential tier benefits

Two monthly downloadable games

• This is for two specific games chosen by Sony each month, and you have to subscribe and claim them within that month to add them to your library.
• These are usually PS4 games these days, sometimes with PS5 enhancements
  • Since the beginning of 2020, PS Plus has offered 11 PS5 exclusives and 5 PSVR exclusives
• You can access these games for as long as you maintain your subscription

Cloud saves

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

Online multiplayer access

• No subscription is needed for free-to-play games like Fortnite.

PlayStation Plus Collection (on PS5)

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

Extra tier benefits

Downloadable PS4/PS5 games

• 62 titles announced so far, “up to 400” were promised in the original announcement
  • 50 PS4 exclusives (playable on PS5)
  • Nine PS4 games with PS5 “enhanced” versions
  • Three PS5 exclusives
  • 38 first-party titles, 24 third-party titles
  • Full list of titles announced so far available here

“Ubisoft+ Classics” game lineup

• This isn’t the full 100-game Ubisoft+ lineup launched in 2019; it’s a cut-down version for PlayStation Plus owners
• The “Classics” plan will launch with 27 titles and expand to 50 by the end of 2022, Ubisoft says
• Full list of announced titles so far available here

Premium tier benefits

Downloadable PS1/PS2/PSP games

• 28 titles announced so far, “up to 340” (including streamable PS3 games) were promised in the original announcement
  • 19 first-party, nine third-party titles
  • Nine PS1, 18 PS2, 1 PSP title(s)
  • Full list of titles announced so far 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 new UI and save-anywhere/rewind capabilities
• PS2 games announced so far will be “remastered,” though the specific meaning of that is unclear at the moment

Streamable games

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

Time-limited game trials

• Six titles announced so far
  • Two first-party, four third-party
  • Two PS5 exclusives, four PS4 titles with PS5 enhancements
  • Full list of titles announced so far available here
• Trials will last two hours “for most games”
• Trophies/save data from the trial carry over if you buy the game

Other notes

• 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 remaining, you’ll be converted to a Premium subscription for the length of the longer remaining subscription.
• Some PS1/PSP games purchased as downloads will be downloadable for free on a PS4/PS5, even without a PlayStation Plus subscription

Planned transition timing

• Asia (except Japan): May 24
• Japan: June 2
• Americas: June 13
• Europe, Australia, New Zealand: June 23