Upcoming titles such as The Outer Worlds 2, priced at £69.99, may provide justification for potential subscription price increases.

Despite Xbox Game Pass offering a broader library for $20 a month, PS Plus remains a crucial revenue stream for Sony, thanks to its extensive console user base.

In the US market, the Premium tier costs $160 per year, the Extra tier is $135, and the Essential tier is priced at $80, reflecting recent adjustments.

The yearly costs for the Essential, Extra, and Premium subscriptions rose from $59.99 to $79.99, $99.99 to $134.99, and $119.99 to $159.99, respectively, while monthly and three-month plans remained unchanged.

As hardware sales yield lower margins, revenue from online services like PS Plus is becoming increasingly essential for console manufacturers.

Nishino highlighted that the recent price adjustments are linked to the enhanced value provided to players through quality content and improved features.

PlayStation Plus offers three subscription tiers—Essential, Extra, and Premium—providing access to online titles, monthly games, and a rotating game catalog.

Sony is considering a potential price increase for PlayStation Plus to boost profitability, following a notable rise in subscriber numbers, particularly in its higher tiers.

The subscriber base for the Extra tier grew from 16% to 22% and for the Premium tier from 13% to 17% between fiscal years 2022 and 2024.

Currently, 38% of subscribers opt for the more expensive Extra and Premium tiers, indicating a significant shift in consumer preferences according to Sony's president and CEO, Hideaki Nishino.

The competitive landscape of console gaming encourages players to subscribe to services like PS Plus, contrasting with PC gaming where users only incur internet costs.

This subscriber growth occurred even after a significant price hike in September 2023, where yearly subscription costs increased by up to 35% in certain regions.