Sony raises short-term PS Plus prices; annual rate unchanged

Sony will raise fees for short-term subscriptions to its base PS Plus plan on May 20, 2026. One-month subscriptions will increase to $10.99/£7.99 and three-month subscriptions to $27.99/£21.99. Annual memberships will remain at their current rates.

The change applies to new customers and lapsed accounts that sign up for the one- or three-month options; customers on existing monthly rolling subscriptions will keep their current price for now. The previous prices were $9.99/£6.99 for one month and $24.99/£19.99 for three months. Sony plans to implement the new fees globally on May 20, 2026.

The company has described a strategy to increase revenue from its installed base to offset rising costs. Sony’s CFO Lin Tao last year described plans to offset surging costs by “monetising the install base.” The company has also stated that paid online services fund network infrastructure, security and platform features.

Some users criticized the change in comments on the company’s announcement, with one user writing, ‘Blaming market conditions is insane. It should be free to play online games without paywalls in 2026.’ Other commenters referenced Sony’s recent financial results, noting roughly $3 billion in operating income in the prior fiscal year.

Observers pointed to platform differences, noting several multiplayer titles recorded larger sales or engagement on PC, where platform subscriptions are not required. Popular free-to-play games such as Fortnite do not require a PlayStation subscription.

Annual subscribers and customers on existing rolling plans will remain at their current rates. The new prices affect only new or lapsed one-month and three-month subscriptions beginning May 20, 2026.