To say that the nature of gaming is changing, would be a massive understatement. The advent of streaming has adapted the way in which game’s are played. Subscription service has become the oppressive basis for many in the console industry, restraining player autonomy with an autocratic reliance of dedicated premium services, just to access online content that should be free. As someone that prefers to own my game’s, rather than rent them, I hate that the industry has propagated the expansion of this utility as some kind of lavish alternative to extortionate malfeasance of physical media. Perpetuating the false narrative that a subscription is the only prospective approach to affordable gaming, despite dictating the ecology and being the subsequent beneficiaries of it. And it seems Sony are doubling down on this philosophy with their new and “improved” PlayStation Plus service.

Sony has confirmed in an announcement last week, that their long rumoured amendment, that merges PS Plus – a necessary requirement to play online games – and PlayStation Now – a supplementary service with mediocre portfolio of games – will be amalgamated into one user friendly service. The transition will consist of 3 tiers, each providing access to specifics benefits to accomadate individual needs. With the lowest tier operating as an equivalent to the current PS Plus subscription. And the highest comprised of a myriad of unspecified PS1 – PS5 titles. The natural consolidation of these two services is a proposal I’ve advocated for some time – provided that price is affordable.

Though this amalgamation certainly affords more compatability, as well as an appreciable benefit than just a simple composite of these two seperate entities, the price doesn’t reflect service you’d be getting. £13.49 for the premium tier may seem respectable on its own, but becomes an obscene amount comparatively when measured against the rising cost of living that will cripple most families. Even if you purchase a 1 year subscription for £100, that’s still a sizeable amount of disposable income that many of us would be reluctant to part with. Though it is worth noting that a Sony first party title is at launch, in excess of £70! So perhaps a premium subscription isn’t as comparatively extortionate, despite my preferential desire for game ownership.

This Playsation Plus overhaul has been flaunted by some – idiots I presume- as a direct competitor to Microsoft’s Gamepass, which it isn’t. Sony simply does not possess the financial leverage wielded by Microsoft, that makes Gamepass such a dominant force. What Sony is proposing is rather more adjascent than competitive. With a strong back catalogue and regular, revolving door of selected quality titles, PlayStation Plus could generate a dedicated, very loyal audience. But at it’s current pricing and the thriving competition, even the most ardent of PlayStation fans will struggle to justify such a steep cost.

What do you think of Sony’s revamped Plus subscription? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.