Now Loading...Is the PS Plus Price Increase Justified?

In what might be the most shocking and most unwelcome news this week, Sony has announced that the subscription price of PlayStation Plus will increase starting September 22 to the following amounts: For a 12-month subscription, the price will go from $49.99 USD/$49.99 CAD to $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD, while the 3-month subscription will go from $17.99 USD/$17.99 CAD to $24.99 USD/$29.99 CAD. Finally, the 1-month subscription is staying at $9.99 USD, but will increase to $11.99 CAD.

Needless to say — and understandably so — a lot of our readers had something to say about it (seriously, there’s almost 300 comments in that thread). Of course, the PlayStation LifeStyle staff had to weigh in on this big issue as well, and we do in this latest Now Loading entry! Are we in outrage? Completely OK since it hasn’t increased in price in years? Expecting better games out of the monthly lineup? Check the staff responses in the gallery below.

Don’t forget, there’s nothing stopping you from loading up on yearly subscriptions now while it’s cheaper. Heck, there’s a good chance you can find deals online that will give you yearly memberships at a lower rate than what’s there now. Having said that, Sony hopefully steps up its game when it comes to the monthly free PlayStation games, no?

PlayStation LifeStyle readers, what do you think? Are you mad about that $10 increase per year (which works out to what? 80+ cents per month?), expecting better games? Are you considering cancelling your subscription as your way of protesting? Are you scared that this might be the return of “arrogant Sony?” Same as always, share your thoughts in the comments and let’s get this discussion going.

Now Loading is a recurring staff-driven feature where PlayStation LifeStyle discusses anything video game-related under the sun (yes, even non-Sony platforms)

Essential Reading:

Now Loading...PS+ Price Increase

Now Loading...Is the PS+ Price Increase Justified?
Cameron Teague

@Cameron_PSLS

I think with the value we have gotten from PS+, an increase of $10 is nothing.
Michael Briers

@briersytweets

It's likely Sony's way of bracing for the arrival of new hardware over the next few months -- be it PSVR, Slim and/or PS4 Neo. That, and the fact that the total number of subscribers has ballooned since 2013 (around 21 million currently), meaning Sony surely has to shell out more money to convince developers to add their games onto the IGC, and a $10 price hike isn't all that bad.
Stephen Bitto

@SteveOneder

I'm not sure that now is the best time to increase the price of PS Plus. People would have been more receptive to it last year. If it was coming down the pipe, they could have also waited until they had a fan pleasing PS Plus lineup or a big update like PSN name changes to announce. It's important to note that newer subscribers haven't seen the crazy return on investment many of us longtime subscribers have cashed in on. Personally, I'm happy to pay the extra $10 but newer subscribers will not be.
Keri Honea

@crunchychocobo

Eh, so now it's the same as my Xbox Gold subscription. Doesn't bother me at all
Zarmena Khan

@Zarmena

I haven't subscribed to PS Plus in nearly a year. That thing exists?
Chandler Wood

@FinchStrife

In the grand scheme of things, $10 is barely anything. Xbox Live Gold had always been $60, and originally didn't come with any additional benefits. $60 a year is still a fraction of what we pay for other subscription services, and that's simply the cost of business.

I'm not going to try to pretend I know what they do or don't use the money for, or why the increase was needed at all. I do think that gamers are going to flip out a little bit, go into panic mode, instantly call Sony all sorts of unfair names based on their own thoughts and assumptions about it, but the truth is, we weren't in those meetings to determine that increase, and don't have the spreadsheets that show all the details.

For the sake of supporting new hardware like PlayStation VR, and continuing to push technological initiatives, firmware updates, and a better network, I'll happily pay an extra $10 a year. Or I'll stock up on a couple more year's worth of subscriptions at $50. Either way Sony gets my money.
Alex Co

@excaliburps

I'm not a fan of the price hike, but at the end of the day, $10 isn't all that bad. I mean, it hasn't risen in price in what? Five years or something? And as some people will undoubtedly point out, it's now at par with Xbox Live. Sure, some might say that XBL is better, but we pay for it to play online (well, for me, mostly) and for the "free" games.

I understand if people are annoyed, but Sony could also be increasing the price to fund PSVR and other costs surrounding the PlayStation brand. It's not always due to "we greedy slobs want to!" and such.

That said, Sony needs to ramp up its PS+ free games though. If they release better games every month, then this is something that people will forgot fast.
Mack Ashworth

@GamingWithMack

Hmm, not sure the service is deserving of a $10 increase, what with how unstable it's been. However, we've had some decent "free" games recently, so I guess we shouldn't complain too much...