A visit to the PlayStation store in Canada shows that the price for a 1-year subscription has increased to $109.99 CAD for the base Essential plan. The Extra Plan that includes access to Ubisoft+ Classics and the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog has risen to $189.99 CAD for a year. Lastly, the Premium Plan, that adds the Classics Catalog, Game Trials, and Cloud Streaming, is now $224.99 CAD for 12 months.

Just got an email from Sony two days ago telling me the fee for the standard playstation plus subscription will now cost $94.99 CAD from $69.99 CAD. To justify this price hike they said, "This price adjustment will enable us to continue bringing high-quality games and benefits to your PlayStation Plus subscription service". Which to me translates to " We are raising it because we can, and think you'll continue to pay for it". I was in awe a couple of months ago when I was playing Darkstalkers on the ps3 I bought last year, and while I was in training mode it was connecting me to people online to play matches! No subscription or anything! What the f**k? A game that's over a decade old letting me enjoy all the features it came with, because I already bought and own the game. Why are we paying to play our games online? I could barely justify it at 70 dollars and would always wait for price drop offers, Now though whenever there's a new price drop it will just be its original price I'm sure. Do people care about this? I'd imagine if Steam implemented some paywall for pc players even if it was like 20 dollars would be crucified immediately. Also I've heard there are some games on playstation where the developers pretty much bypass playstation plus and people who own the game can just play online because why shouldn't you? I switched to PlayStation 4 from xbox when it came out and paying for online was just normal coming from xbox. Were people okay back then when they found out Sony would start charging a subscription fee to play online when they didn't on PlayStation 3?

Recently, I decided to purchase a PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) subscription and was surprised to see the price increase from $60 to $80 for a 12-month subscription. The last time I purchased PS Plus was a few years ago, and I didn’t even use it much, as I wasn’t playing console games frequently at the time. I’ve been gaming since the PlayStation 2 era and have experienced the evolution of the gaming industry firsthand. While I understand that inflation has caused price increases across various sectors, I find myself questioning the value of this subscription.

Beyond enabling online multiplayer gameplay, PS Plus doesn’t hold much appeal for me. The additional features, such as free monthly games, don’t align with my gaming habits. I’ve been familiar with subscription models for years. After the PS2, I transitioned to the Xbox 360 instead of the PlayStation 3, PS3 did not required a subscription for online play, while Xbox Live, despite also requiring a subscription, offered a significantly superior online experience. Features like Xbox Live’s party chat system were groundbreaking at the time and set a gold standard for online gaming.

Now, as an adult, I carefully evaluate where I spend my money. It’s not that I can’t afford the PS Plus subscription, but I need to see tangible value before committing to a purchase. Frankly, I’m unsure about what PS Plus offers beyond online multiplayer and party chat, which are the only features I need. Even if they provide additional perks like movies or streaming services, I wouldn’t use them on my console.

I consider myself a dedicated gamer. I don’t rush through games or switch between multiple titles in a short span. I prefer mastering one game before moving on to the next. For instance, during the lifespan of Destiny 1, I dedicated myself entirely to the game on PS4, managing three PlayStation accounts and nine characters to maximize my gameplay each week. The extra games included with PS Plus are of little use to me, as I don’t find the selection appealing or relevant to my interests. My primary need from a subscription is access to multiplayer gaming and party chat.

This raises an important question: If developers and publishers already maintain their game servers, why should I pay Sony for PS Plus to access multiplayer features? Sony already takes a 30% cut from the games sold on their platform, which should cover their operational costs. If, hypothetically, I had to pay a developer like Bungie directly—say, $5 per month to access multiplayer features for Destiny 2—I’d find that reasonable. After all, Bungie is directly responsible for maintaining the game’s servers.

The subscription model in general is frustrating. It’s become so lucrative that every company seems intent on turning products into services. My dislike for this model started with Adobe Creative Cloud, which moved its software to a subscription-only basis. Today, even car manufacturers are offering subscription-based heated seats—features that should be a one-time purchase. Unfortunately, consumers have largely accepted these practices, which has only encouraged companies to continue implementing them.

For me, subscriptions are the exception, not the rule. The only service I pay for regularly is internet access. I’m not opposed to spending money on gaming or entertainment, but the value has to make sense.

I’d like to hear from others, particularly those in game development or publishing, to understand if there’s more to this than I realize. Am I overlooking some critical aspects of these subscription services? Or is this simply a cash grab disguised as a value-added offering?

For the record, I do have an excellent gaming PC, but I prefer playing on consoles for reasons I can’t quite explain. The only PC game I play consistently is League of Legends, which I’ve been playing since 2014. Every time I return to League, all I need to do is connect to the internet, and I’m ready to play without any additional fees. Perhaps console gaming could learn something from this model.

I’m open to constructive feedback and insights, especially from those familiar with the intricacies of the gaming industry.

I am probably beating a dead horse, y’all keep paying it keep growing, wonder how much it gonna be in 10 years from now, and what excuses Sony will bring up. I know it being a while since the price increase but i just can’t eccept it.

Just got an email the price is going up to $109.99 (from $94.99) for essential. Starting June 24th 2025.

Premiums going from $189.99 to $224.99 (thanks u/MrTreezx)

I wish there was a way to add time.

We want to let you know about an upcoming price change to your PlayStation®Plus subscription.

The price for your current PlayStation Plus Essential 12 month subscription will be increased to CAD 109.99. This price adjustment will enable us to continue bringing high-quality games and benefits to your PlayStation Plus subscription service.

This price increase will not take effect until your next payment date that occurs on or after June 24, 2025. However, any membership changes you make prior to your next payment, such as upgrades, downgrades or buying additional time, will update your plan based on the new prices. You can change or cancel your subscription at any time, details here . Please find the PlayStation Plus Usage Terms here.

Thanks for your continued support,

PlayStation

So just got a ps5 for xmas

Umm am i seeing that right? A dollar 73 a month for the next year for ps premium? Or am i tripping?