Number of PlayStation Plus subscribers worldwide 2023, by tier
PlayStation subscription services - change with the times
Originally launched in 2010, PlayStation Plus has long since been a mainstay of the online gaming experience as it was a must-have to access online multiplayer gaming on PlayStation. Other features include exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store, as well as free monthly games available for download. Up until mid-2022, players could also subscribe to a separate cloud gaming service, PlayStation Now, in order to access a library of PlayStation games that could either be streamed or downloaded to PC or PS consoles.In June 2022, Sony combined its PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now gaming services, and the revamped PlayStation Plus service now features a three-tier subscription model. The existing service became PlayStation Plus Essential, with higher-priced tiers, PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Premium, adding access to downloadable and streamable gaming titles, which were formerly available under PlayStation Now. These changes were not universally well received at launch, as the PS Plus subscriber count dipped to its lowest figure since September 2020 before recovering at the beginning of 2023.