PlayStation Plus: Everything you need to know

PlayStation Plus is almost a necessary subscription service for any PlayStation console if you want to play online with your friends. There are tons of other perks well worth it, but for most people the main reason they get a PlayStation Plus subscription is the ability to play with others online.

But even if you don’t enjoy playing online, PlayStation Plus may be worth it. In this in-depth article, we’ll go over all of the benefits so that you can decide whether to buy it or not.

What is PlayStation Plus?

PS Plus is a subscription-based service from PlayStation that allows players to play online multiplayer games, download free monthly games and take advantage of exclusive discounts. In addition, there is exclusive access (sometimes even early access) to some pre-orders, demos, beta trials, and game content from the PlayStation Store.

You also have access to 100 GB of cloud game save storage and Share Play. Share Play allows you to play multiplayer and co-op games with a friend, or enjoy single player adventures that you own but don’t.

Connected: Sony PlayStation 5 Review: A beautiful, quick upgrade from last generation

The free monthly games that you have access to include two PS4 games and a bonus game. For the past few months, this bonus game has been a PS5 exclusive. Of course, this exclusive PS5 will only show up if you own a PS5. The other two free PS4 games are usually great tips.

The service originally started on June 29, 2010. The concept of PS Plus hasn’t really changed since then. For those more familiar with Microsoft’s Xbox ecosystem, it’s essentially the same as Xbox Live Gold.

How does it work?

All you have to do is purchase a PS Plus subscription and you’re good to go. You can purchase a PS Plus membership directly from the PlayStation Store, or you can enter a coupon code when purchasing a subscription card from Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.

Also read: Finally a new PS5? Here are 7 things you should do first

To activate the subscription, all you have to do is enter the code on the Sony PlayStation official website or in the PlayStation Store on your console. Both are quick and easy.

Once your membership is activated, you will have access to the free monthly games and can download them instantly. You also have immediate access to exclusive discounts and all other benefits.

What does PlayStation Plus cost?

There are 3 different payment options for a PS Plus membership. First, you can pay $ 9.99 every month for an ongoing subscription. Second, you can pay $ 24.99 every three months. With this option, it would work out to around $ 8.33 per month. Or third, you can pay $ 59.99 for an annual plan, which is an average of $ 5 per month.

Connected: PS5 Buying Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Sony’s PlayStation 5

Of all these payment options, the annual plan is objectively the best. With the $ 9.99 monthly plan, you pay twice as much as an annual plan. A credit or debit card or linked PayPal account is required for the monthly plan. So you need to remember that unless you cancel the subscription, this fee will apply every month.

Is PlayStation Plus worth it?

Yes, PlayStation Plus is totally worth it. It’s worth paying the annual fee up front rather than paying double for the monthly plan. For that $ 59.99 fee, all you get is a bargain.

Think of it this way: If you pay the annual fee of $ 59.99, you’ll get at least 24-36 free games per calendar year. The subscription fee is easily paid for through free games, not to mention all of the other perks you get and the ability to play online with your friends.

If you buy a PS5 now and get PS Plus, you will have access to the PlayStation Plus collection, which contains tons of legendary PS4 generation games. Some of these games include God of War, The Last of Us Remastered, and Bloodborne.

PlayStation Plus games

The free games available with PS Plus spin so you only have a limited amount of time to download the monthly games. Once the game has been downloaded to your library, you can keep it.

Since the PS5 launched, PlayStation has released some gems for free through PS Plus. Here is a quick summary:

• November 2020: Bugsnax (PS5 exclusive), Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition and Middle-earth: Shadow of War
• December 2020: Only Cause 4, Rocket Arena and Worms Rumble
• January 2021: Greedfall and Shadow of the Tomb Raider

See also: Things we want to see from PlayStation in 2021

February games that are currently available for free include Control: Ultimate Edition, Concrete Genie, and Destruction AllStars (PS5 exclusive). With a PS Plus subscription you can download Destruction AllStars for free until April 5, 2021. Control: Ultimate Edition and Concrete Genie are only available until March 1, 2021.

As mentioned above, if you own a PS5 and purchase a PS Plus subscription, you’ll have access to all of the great, game-changing PS4 games in the PS Plus collection. Here is the full list of games in the PS Plus Collection:

What are the functions of the mobile app like?

There is no dedicated PS Plus app. Instead, there is a PS Plus screen in the PlayStation app. In the PlayStation app, you can click PS Store Tab below. Then when you see the navigation headers at the top (Recent, Collections, etc), swipe right and click Subscriptions.

Also read: The best PlayStation 5 accessories you can buy

This will take you to where you can see which games are included for the month. You can add them to your library right from your phone. Once you’ve activated it and activated your PlayStation console, you can even download the games from your phone to your console.

This screen is also where you can browse the games to pre-order and see discounts for PS Plus subscribers.

PlayStation Plus alternatives

There is no direct alternative to PS Plus. Xbox consoles require an Xbox Live Gold membership to play with your friends online. This is the most comparable alternative to PS Plus, but it is on a completely different console.

If you’re just looking at PlayStation subscription services, there’s PS Now too. PS Now is like a Netflix for video games. You can download or stream some of the games. Overall, however, you have a rotating library of games to play as long as you pay the monthly or annual fee to access those games. It’s basically the same as Xbox Game Pass, but for PlayStation consoles.

Also read: PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which Next Generation Game Console Should You Buy?

However, you don’t need PS Now to play with your friends online. PS Now all you have to do is access tons of other great games for one cheap price, but no need to play with friends online. It’s still a fantastic service, but not as necessary as PS Plus for gamers.

Other FAQs

Q: Can I keep all the downloaded games if I no longer use the service?
ON: You will only have access to the games that you downloaded for free through the PS Plus service while you are a PS Plus member. If you cancel your membership, you will not be able to play free games that you received through your PS Plus subscription. If you decide to renew at a later date, you can re-download any games that you got for free on PS Plus and that were previously added to your library.

Q: Are the games leaving PlayStation Plus?
ON: Yes, the free games available through PS Plus are only available for a limited time, typically around a month. As soon as this time has expired, the old games offered free of charge will be exchanged for new games.

Q: Can I still download a free game from PlayStation Plus before the period ends?
ON: No, unfortunately you only have a limited window to add the free games offered on PS Plus to your library. If you’ve added the game to your library and haven’t downloaded it yet, you can download it. However, if you never added the game to your cart and checked it out to add to your library, you will not be able to retrospectively download this free game.

Q: Does PlayStation Plus contain free full games?
ON: Yes! All of the games available to PS Plus members for free each month are full games. You also have access to free early access demos for some games, but these are separate from the free PS Plus games each month.

Q: Does PlayStation Plus include PlayStation Now?
ON: No, PS Plus is a separate subscription service from PS Now. PS Plus gives you free monthly games, exclusive discounts and the ability to play with friends online. PS Now gives you access to a large library of games that you can either download or stream depending on the game.

Q: Can I share my PS Plus subscription?
ON: Yes, if it’s under a family account on the same console. The sub-accounts under your main account on your primary console can take advantage of your PS Plus subscription. You can also access and play any free games that you have downloaded. The games must be added to the shopping cart and downloaded through the main account. After that, anyone with a profile on the console can play them.

Continue reading: The best PS5 games you can buy