PlayStation Plus Price Increase to Bring New Features? Community Manager Answers Questions from Twitter Users
Will the Price Hike Deliver Changes to the Free Game Format of PlayStation Plus?
With the looming price increase in the PlayStation Plus subscription in the US and Canada, what would this entail to the end users? Would this price hike shake things up with changes in the free game lineup?
PlayStation Plus Price Hike
For the first time since its introduction in 2010, PlayStation Plus will be enacting a price increase across its different plans in the US and Canada regions. The three-month subscriptions will now cost $24.99 in the US and $29.99 in Canada. The twelve-month subscription plan will be costing $59.99 and $69.99 in the US and Canada, respectively. The Canadian market will however see the monthly plan to be increased to $11.99, with the US fee of $9.99 will remain the same.
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Sony attributes the previously reported price increase as the reflection of the current market conditions in both regions, as the EU region has already suffered the hike last year. Those who would be subscribing to PlayStation Plus before the September 22 window will not be affected by the price increase yet.
Change in Format?
In light of the price hike, many users and gamers are clamoring for an update for a key feature of PlayStation Plus. Since its inception, one of the iconic services of PlayStation Plus is the monthly rolling out of free games to its subscribers. The Instant Game Collection service gives players access to new games that are renewed monthly. Subscribers have the option to save keep the older games in their collection.
The format of this service has always been to release six games monthly—two for PlayStation 4, two for PlayStation 3, and two for the PS Vita, Sony's latest handheld gaming device. However, with the price increase underway, subscribers to the gaming service expected for more free games to be released as part of the September collection.
Players took their sentiments to social media with some even directly calling out PlayStation Plus figures on Twitter. User Matt McKiddy tweeted PlayStation Plus Community Manager for the EU region Frannifer about the issue, to which the latter responded:
@TheFrannifer so the line up will remain 2 ps4, 2 ps3 and 2 vita?
— matt mckiddy (@AcesHighFlush) August 24, 2016
@AcesHighFlush yeah, we haven't announced any other changes to PS Plus. — Frannifer (@TheFrannifer) August 24, 2016
She then goes on to confirm that the price increase is exclusive to the US region, although Canada was left out from her tweet.
@AcesHighFlush hello, the price increase is for the US only, and EU already had a price increase this time last year.
— Frannifer (@TheFrannifer) August 24, 2016
September Lineup
Finally, one of the most anticipated aspects of the service is the free games released monthly. Asked about the ones to be released on September, here's what Frannifer said:
@TheFrannifer Hello again :) another month incoming.... what do u think of PSN free games in sep. will they be good and better than august?
— TheGamerBeast (@TheGamerBeast) August 25, 2016
@TheGamerBeast haha unfortunately I can't comment on the monthly games :) — Frannifer (@TheFrannifer) August 25, 2016
Users are anticipating for the September lineup to once again include AAA titles after August's lackluster games. Titles such as "Watch Dogs" and "Killzone Shadow Fall" are rumored fan favorites among players.
