PlayStation 4 news and updates: $10 hike in PlayStation Plus subscription expected in September
Japanese gaming giant Sony has officially announced a $10-hike of its PlayStation Plus subscription service fee starting Sept. 22. The subscription includes access to thousands of free games on PlayStation Plus' virtual shelf.
The increase, however, does not come with any additional features. Following the subscription fee increase, users on annual subscription are now expected to pay $59.99.
"This marks the first time that PS Plus membership prices will increase in the U.S. and Canada since the launch of the service in 2010. The new pricing reflects the current market conditions while enabling us to continue providing exceptional value to our members," the company said per official blog release.
Despite the $10-increase for 12-year access, monthly subscriptions remain at $10. As the official post reads, the price hike is reflective of the existing market conditions. The decision is not exactly illogical from a business standpoint. After all, Xbox Live's annual subscription has been priced at $60 since the introduction of Microsoft's Xbox 360 in 2010. If a user's subscription ends on or after Sept. 22, subscribers will then be asked to renew the service reflecting the price increase.
The price hike, however, will not affect the PlayStation Plus subscription service in Europe. Per Game Spot report, the region had already seen an increase in the service fee last year. It is unlikely that Sony will increase the cost this year. With the $10-increase, PlayStation Plus is now on par with rival Xbox Live on price level as the console makers charge their users almost the same price for paid access to free games and multiplayer titles.
In another related development, Sony is set to launch two refreshed versions of their fourth-generation PlayStation console in September. The first one will be a high-end 4K gaming variant of the device. The other model is a slimmer version of the standard model intended to attract budget-conscious buyers per Tech Times update.
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