It’s been over two years since Sony rolled out its tiered system for PS Plus subscribers, dividing the once-holistic service into three distinct categories: Essential, Extra, and Premium. In that time, Sony did a lot to build up the game catalogs on PS Plus Extra and Premium, setting itself up as a fine competitor to Xbox Game Pass.
Beyond that, however, Sony hasn’t really rocked the boat with PS Plus much in 2024. Certain practices have shifted, but for the most part, its biweekly reveal/release pattern, its emphasis on PS Plus Extra, and the overall simplicity have remained. It would be interesting to see how Sony could really shake this up if the company wanted to, but for the most part, fans should expect a simplistic, similar approach in 2025 as they’ve seen over the past two years. That’s certainly not a bad thing, though, given the sheer quality of PS Plus and its offerings.
PS Plus Essential in 2025
Essential is today what PS Plus has always been: the key offerings and appetizers to PS Plus. With three standard PS Plus games every month, fans can get a little treat as well as access online services. The best thing PS Plus Essential has done, in terms of appealing to a mass market, is standardize the approach. In the past, fans have seen months with two games, with very clear patterns, and an “anything goes” mantra. The introduction of Plus Essential has kept it to a consistent three games a month. That standard and consistency helps fans know the bare minimum expectations of PS Plus each month. As such, if nothing else, PS Plus Essential will likely end 2025 the same way it began.
If PS Plus Essential is the appetizer, then PS Plus Extra is the main course. What’s been clear since the early days of PS Plus’ tier system is that Extra was the one being pushed. This makes sense from a business perspective. Essential is supposed to be simple and appealing enough to bring in and keep subscribers, while Extra should give subscribers a reason to pay for the higher tier. That’s why, to this day, it receives the most games every month. It’ll be interesting to see what Sony does once the game catalog of PS Plus Extra hits its capacity, in terms of being able to keep up 10+ additions every month, but fans can expect the company to continue pushing PS Plus Extra, perhaps with a few new tricks, throughout the new year.
If there is any space PS Plus subscribers should watch for change in 2025, it’s PS Plus Extra. But not so much so that any subscription choice should be made prematurely, nor would I really bet on it.
PS Plus Premium in 2025
To carry the metaphor forward, PS Plus Premium is dessert. Since its launch, Sony has seemed cognizant that this higher price point would be a harder sell. It receives less support every month than the other two, but its classics game catalog is a nostalgia play for long-term PS Plus fans. Eventually, perhaps even in 2025, I think Sony will push PS Plus Premium harder than it does PS Plus Extra. To do so, it’ll need to diversify its Premium offerings beyond classic games, the odd modern inclusion, and game trials, but what that diversification looks like remains to be seen. By adding even mroe to PS Plus Premium, its price point will be as appealing, if not more so, for current PS Plus Essential and Extra subscribers.
Again, though, whether Sony expands and diversifies PS Plus Premium in 2025 or not is up in the air. It could go either way: remaining more or less the same as Essential or Extra OR slowly adopting new diversification tactics to make it appeal more. It’s hard to say right now, but without any major clear trendsetters on the horizon (PS5 was big for PS Plus, so the PS6 would be too, as an example), it’s more or less expect the same in 2025.
PS Plus Predictions for 2025
Managing expectations in the game industry is always important, especially with subscription services. For the most part, PS Plus subscribers know what to expect from 2025 because they are already subscribed. I wouldn’t expect major changes because that is an inherent strength for all subscribers, something that’ll keep them subscribed in the long run – as long as the overall quality persists. That means expectations should remain the same, as echoed throughout this article, and that major changes (like Sony adding day one first-party games to PS Plus) seem unlikely.
Overall, however, I think there are two reasonable expectations beyond more of the usual. First, Sony will no doubt look to maintain PS Plus to keep subscribers, but it’ll need to find new ways to invite late PS5 adopters or bring on more newcomers. As children age, that’s a new self-feeding market for Sony, but finding more ways to acquire new subscribers beyond basic PS Plus sales feels like something Sony should already be doing, more than it is at least.Secondly, two important trends developed in 2023: most subscribers were on PS Plus Extra and Premium, while the overall number of subscriptions fell. Combine this trend with 2024 market pressures, as seen with Sony expanding its first-party games to PC, and I expect Sony will make PS Plus (at least related perks and offerings) more available outside the PS4 and PS5 ecosystem. I don’t mean to expect PS Plus on Xbox consoles or the Nintendo Switch, but since PS Plus can already be used to stream games on PC, I’d expect to see PS Plus Premium develop more PC-related perks. If not by the end of 2025, in the next few years at least.
Either way, PS Plus has always been a premium service for a premium gaming experience, and that won’t change any time soon.