Sony’s Spartacus is a PlayStation Plus refresh and offers 700 games
PlayStation Sony has revealed its new-look PlayStation Plus service, with subscribers able to access free monthly games and other added benefits once it launches in June.
Sony has officially revealed its refreshed PlayStation Plus (formerly known as Project Spartacus), a new tiered subscription service poised to challenge Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass while also adding features including extended game demos and backward compatible titles.
According to the PlayStation Blog, the new version of PlayStation Plus, which starts at £6.99/$9.99 per month, will offer the same features as it does right now under the PS Plus Essentials name.
The second tier will add over 400 PS4 and PS5 titles that include the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, God of War, and plenty more. Finally, the most expensive tier will add PS1, PS2, and PSP titles, as well as the option to stream PS3 and PS4 titles.
Santa Monica Studios, PlayStationPlayStation Plus tiers explained
The new version of PlayStation Plus will offer a trio of subscription options, each with its own features and pricing.
PS Plus Essentials will cost $9.99/£6.99 a month, $24.99/£19.99 for three months, or $59.99/£49.99 a year.
It includes online multiplayer, cloud storage for saved games, as well as discounts in the PlayStation Store. It’ll now add two monthly games, rather than the usual three.
PS Plus Extra costs $14.99/£10.99 per month, $39.99/£31.99 for three months, or $99.99/£83.99 per year.
It offers the benefits of PS Plus Essentials, while also adding a collection of 400 PS4 and PS5 titles that include first and third-party titles like Returnal, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Death Stranding. These can be downloaded, but the full game list is yet to be revealed.
Housemarque/PlayStationFinally, PlayStation Plus Premium will cost $17.99/£13.49 per month, $49.99/£39.99 for three months, or $119.99/£99.99 for an annual membership.
This tier will add 340 additional games on top of the prior membership benefits. These include PS3 games available through cloud streaming, as well as PlayStation 1, PS2 and PSP titles that can be streamed or downloaded. Subscribers will also have access to “time-limited game trials” on selected titles.
In markets where game streaming isn’t available, players will be able to subscribe to PlayStation Plus Deluxe, which offers the same as PlayStation Plus Premium but without streaming benefits and at a cheaper price point.
According to Sony’s blog post, PlayStation Now will no longer be available as a standalone service. Users will be moved onto the Premium tier subscription with no change to the cost.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said “we have combined subscription numbers in excess of 50 million now, and we’re happy with that. That’s a good number.”
“But we really do feel that we can do better in the way that we offer these services to our gamers and subscribers. For example, 75% of those who subscribe to PlayStation Now also subscribe to PlayStation Plus. We think we should be doing better by those people. And that’s just one example.”
For more on PlayStation Plus, be sure to check out all we know about April’s free games here.