Sony has announced a significant price increase for its PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) subscription service, impacting over 20 countries worldwide. This multi-tiered online service, which offers various gaming benefits to subscribers, will see notable price hikes for its Essential, Extra, and Premium plans. The announcement went unchallenged until April 9, when it directly impacted Canadian subscribers as of April 16.
The countries joining the boom during this current price spike are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and multiple other emerging economies in Latin America and Southeast Asia. So in Canada, the price of the Essential 12-month subscription has gone up from $95 to $110. Even the Extra tier has jumped up, with its price going from $155 to $190. The Premium subscription recently experienced its largest price hike ever. It’s gone up to $225 for each. Which is a huge increase considering it’s going from 190 to 225.
Some Canadian PS Plus subscribers got emails from Sony outlining these changes. Pricing changes under Sony’s reign mark the continued efforts to match subscription pricing according to the swings of the market from region to region. Notice of the new prices was sent to Canadian subscribers last week and are scheduled to go into effect within 30 days in the other impacted countries.
The fare hike mostly affects 15 other countries across Latin America and five countries in Southeast Asia. It is South Korea and Australia in miniature. Perhaps the most important thing to focus on is that the price increase is not accompanied by any new value for subscribers. This explosive decision has left alarm bells ringing all across the gaming world. With these increased costs, many are re-evaluating the worth of the service at this incrementally more expensive price.
Sony is indeed making moves to cut its operational losses. This strategy is designed to ensure the corporation remains a player in the highly competitive gaming industry. Gaming is certainly changing at a rapid pace, as subscription models are on the rise. In reaction, businesses including Sony are constantly reviewing their price models and ensuring ongoing sustainability and profit.