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.

Is the $160 yearly subscription for PlayStation Plus worth it?

It looks I went past the break even point after I got the platinum for Animal Well back in March. Thanks for PS Plus I have 20 new games added to my platinum/100% mosaic.

I still have 5 more months to go and I can work on bringing down the average rental price down.

I have saved so much from PS Plus.