What Does PlayStation Plus Do? The Complete Guide

PlayStation Plus is a paid subscription service from Sony that unlocks a range of features and benefits for PlayStation users. In its most fundamental form, PlayStation Plus is required for online multiplayer gaming on the vast majority of games that are purchased on the PlayStation Store or on disc. However, it offers far more than just the ability to play online with friends. Think of it as an all-access pass to a richer PlayStation experience, complete with exclusive content, cloud storage, and a rotating library of games. Essentially, it’s Sony’s answer to Xbox Live Gold, providing a comprehensive suite of services designed to enhance your gaming. The core value proposition revolves around accessing online play, gaining access to free monthly games, cloud saves, and exclusive discounts.

Unpacking the Benefits of PlayStation Plus

The impact of a PlayStation Plus subscription goes beyond just online gaming. Here’s a closer look at what you get:

Access to Online Multiplayer

This is the primary reason many players subscribe to PlayStation Plus. If you enjoy playing games online with friends or competing with others around the world, a PlayStation Plus subscription is almost always mandatory. While a select number of free-to-play games, such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty Warzone, do not require a membership for online access, most titles that you purchase or download will. This feature allows you to experience the full potential of many games, enabling you to join communities, team up, and engage in multiplayer battles.

Free Monthly Games

Every month, PlayStation Plus subscribers get access to a selection of free games that can be downloaded and played for as long as they maintain their active subscription. These titles span a variety of genres and include both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games. For example, in May 2023, subscribers got Grid Legends, Chivalry 2, and Descenders. While the specific games change each month, this is a great opportunity to discover new titles and enjoy a constantly updated library. However, these are no longer accessible if your subscription lapses.

Cloud Storage for Game Saves

PlayStation Plus also provides 100 gigabytes of cloud storage specifically for your game saves. This is extremely useful if you need to switch between consoles or want a secure backup of your progress. This is an automatic feature meaning you can be confident that if anything happens to your local save data, your game progress is always safe and readily available on the cloud, this works on both PS4 and PS5.

Exclusive Discounts

PlayStation Plus subscribers receive exclusive discounts on select games and add-ons from the PlayStation Store. These discounts can range from small percentage reductions to much more significant price cuts, which can save you a good amount of money over the year if you are purchasing multiple games on the PS Store.

Game Catalogue Access

Depending on your subscription tier (more on that below), you can also gain access to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue. This is a library of up to 400 titles that can be downloaded and played as long as they remain in the catalogue. Note that games leave the catalogue every month and are replaced with new titles. This adds another layer to what PS Plus offers.

PlayStation Plus Premium Benefits

The highest tier of PlayStation Plus, Premium, unlocks additional features, including:

• Game streaming of PS5 titles. Stream a selection of titles from the game catalog to your PS5.
• Access to select titles from your own personal collection purchased from the PlayStation Store that may be streamable on-demand to your console.

Understanding PlayStation Plus Tiers

PlayStation Plus offers three main subscription tiers:

• PlayStation Plus Essential: This is the base tier and includes the basic features like online multiplayer, free monthly games, and cloud storage.

• PlayStation Plus Extra: In addition to the Essential benefits, this tier provides access to the Game Catalogue, expanding your library of games available to download and play.

• PlayStation Plus Premium: This is the most comprehensive tier and includes all the benefits of Essential and Extra, plus the ability to stream games and access a selection of classic titles.

PlayStation Plus vs PlayStation Now

It’s important to distinguish PlayStation Plus from the now-discontinued PlayStation Now service. While PlayStation Now focused primarily on offering a large library of streamable games, PlayStation Plus is the comprehensive service for all online multiplayer and gaming needs. PlayStation Now is now bundled into PlayStation Plus Premium. In other words, PlayStation Plus is the essential subscription, while PS Now was a separate (now deprecated) offering, the features of which are now included in the Premium Tier.

Is PlayStation Plus Worth It?

The value of PlayStation Plus depends on your gaming habits. If you regularly play games online, the subscription is essentially a must-have. The free monthly games, cloud saves, and exclusive discounts also add significant value. For many, the benefits far outweigh the cost, especially considering the price of individual games and the importance of online connectivity. If you’re playing on a new PS5 and haven’t experienced past generations of PlayStation consoles, it’s also considerably cheaper than buying used consoles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I need PlayStation Plus for free-to-play games?

No, you do not need PlayStation Plus for free-to-play multiplayer games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch 2. These games allow you to play online without an active subscription.

2. Are PlayStation Plus games permanent?

Games you download as part of the monthly games selection are playable as long as your subscription remains active. However, once your PlayStation Plus subscription ends, content you previously downloaded at no cost will no longer be available. Games downloaded from the Game Catalogue will also become inaccessible once they leave the service or once your subscription ends.

3. How often are PS Plus games added?

New games are added every month. The monthly games typically arrive on the first Tuesday of each month, while games are also added to the Game Catalogue in rotation throughout the month.

4. Can I share PlayStation Plus with a friend?

You can share your PlayStation Plus benefits with accounts on one PS5 console with Console Sharing and Offline Play activated and on your primary PS4 console. However, you cannot share your subscription with friends on multiple different consoles.

5. How long do games stay on PS Plus Extra?

The games available in the PS Plus Extra and Premium catalogs rotate every month. That means some games leave the service every month, but new games are added to replace them.

6. Can I still play my PS Plus Extra and Premium games after they leave the service?

No, unlike the games available in the Essentials library, once PS Plus Extra and Premium games leave the service, they are no longer accessible.

7. How much does PlayStation Plus cost?

PlayStation Plus Premium is an ongoing subscription with a recurring fee of $17.99 charged automatically every month. There are also other subscription options available, please refer to the PlayStation website for the most up to date pricing.

8. What games are included in PlayStation Plus May 2023?

The PlayStation Plus Games Catalog line-up for May 2023 included titles such as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Watch Dogs Legion, Humanity, and more. For the month of May 2023, the PS Plus free monthly games were Grid Legends, Chivalry 2, and Descenders.

9. What if my wallet does not have enough to auto renew?

If your PSN wallet does not have enough funds the subscription fee will be automatically funded from your default payment method.

10. Do you lose your games if you cancel PlayStation Plus?

Yes, once your subscription ends, content you previously downloaded at no cost as part of the subscription (such as monthly games) will no longer be available.

11. Does PlayStation Plus have a family plan?

There is no specific family plan for PlayStation Plus. However, if you are a family manager and share a console with child family members, you can subscribe to PlayStation Plus and share some of the main benefits with family members on one PS5 console and one PS4 console.

12. What does PlayStation Plus Premium do?

PlayStation Plus Premium allows streaming of PS5 titles from the game catalog, along with access to select titles that you’ve purchased on the PlayStation Store and access to a selection of classic games.

13. Can you have 2 PS5s on the same account?

Yes, you can use the same PSN account on up to 5 consoles, but not at the same time.

14. How many games are on PlayStation Plus?

The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog includes up to 400 titles.

15. Can I share my PS Plus with 2 friends?

No, you can share your PS Plus subscription with one other account on another PlayStation console but not with another user on the same PlayStation.