Sony’s online service PlayStation Plus, which offers online multiplayer, exclusive discounts and free games to paying customers, will be asking those customers to shell out a bit more starting in September. Announced ever-so-sneakily in an update to this month’s free PS+ games article, Sony revealed that, starting on September 22, a yearly subscription for the service will increase from $49.99 USD/$59.99 CAN to $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAN. Likewise, a three-month subscription will grow from $17.99 USD/CAN to $24.99 USD/$29.99 CAN. The one-month price tag will remain at $9.99 for US consumers, though the Canadian price will be increasing to $11.99. Sony attributed this price hike to changes in “current market conditions,” though they were quick to point out that PS+ members will continue to enjoy exclusive services like online save game storage.
Now, if you’ve been on the fence about getting in on PlayStation Plus, you have one last chance to get in on the service at the existing price. Any subscriptions started before September 22 will still enjoy the current price. On the other hand, if you’re an existing member and want to avoid having to pay the increased fee, make sure to turn off the auto-pay function before the big day comes. Personally, I’ve been a PS+ member for a number of years now, and paying the equivalent of $5 a month now isn’t a huge drop in my bucket. However, I can see why several loyal customers might be angered by this new development, especially when some critics feel that the free games offered each month can be of pretty varying quality. With that said, if you want a taste of the service, August has been a pretty good month for it, with SEGA’s Yakuza 5 available for free on PS3, Rebel Galaxy on PS4 and Patapon 3 on Vita.
