The all-new PlayStation Plus is set to launch this summer, with a whole slew of benefits packed in for those who are willing to pay a little more. It’s effectively a combination of PS Plus and PS Now as we currently know it, but with a few extra features to boot. For example, the new Premium tier of the service will have over 700 games to play, stream, and download after the launch in June.
But, what happens to our current PS Plus memberships? There are plenty of PlayStation fans who have years of PS Plus or PS Now already stacked up, and some might even want to upgrade to the new Extra or Premium tiers as well. Well, have no fear, because we’ve got all the answers right here. Moreover, there’s even some new info to check out when it comes to using pre-paid PS Plus or Now vouchers after the new service launches.
PlayStation Plus: It’s Essential for Current Members
In case you missed it, there are three tiers for the new PS Plus. Essential, Extra, and Premium. Essential is what the service is today, including multiplayer access, free monthly games, discounts, and cloud storage. So, it’s an easy transition for current members of PS Plus, you’ll simply be moved over into the Essential tier at launch. The Essential tier will also cost the same as the current PS Plus, so you won’t be paying any more either.
Stacking Memberships Is Currently Disabled
Sony has confirmed it’s stopped PS Plus and PS Now code stacking for existing members prior to the new PS Plus launch. If you’ve purchased a code and haven’t been able to activate it, you’ll need to wait until your membership expires, or when the new PS Plus launches.
If you want to redeem the voucher then, whether you let your PS Plus expire, or you are now a Premium or Extra member, Sony has provided new information for converting these codes, which will be based on the “monetary value of the voucher you are redeeming.” For example, if you become a PS Plus Premium member but want to redeem a code for 12-months of standard PS Plus, this will therefore be converted to about 6-months instead. We’ve included a breakdown chart of these conversion rates across all PS Plus tiers below as well.
IGN: PS Plus and PS Now Voucher Conversion Info.
How to Upgrade to PS Plus Premium and Extra
So once the new service launches and you become a PS Plus Essential member, you may be wondering, how do I get all the new features? To do that, you’ll need to upgrade to PS Plus Extra, or PS Plus Premium. Each tier will bring new benefits, so make sure you read up on the new PS Plus before committing.
To upgrade to another tier, Sony’s PS Plus FAQ page states: “You will be charged a pro-rated fee to level up the remaining time on your existing membership to the desired level.”
So breaking this down, if you’ve got any time left on your PS Plus membership, you will have to pay the difference in cost to upgrade to the more expensive tiers. For example, if you paid for 12-months of PS Plus ($59.99/year), and you want to upgrade to PS Plus Premium ($119.99/year), you’ll have to pay another $60 to complete the upgrade and so forth.
PS Now Members Will Get a Premium Upgrade
When the new PlayStation Plus launches, all PS Now members will be rolled into the new Premium tier for the remainder of their subscription time. This is the tier with the most benefits, and it’s also the most expensive tier available.
When this was first announced, a few PlayStation users did quickly take advantage and effectively secured themselves PS Plus Premium for half price. But, this loophole has since been shut down.
What About Those with Both PS Plus and PS Now?
Sony has confirmed that PlayStation users who currently have both a PS Now and PS Plus membership will also get upgraded to PS Plus Premium when it launches. The length of this membership will then be equal to the longest subscription you own.
So, for example, if you have PS Now subscribed up until August 2022 and an active PS Plus membership until September 2025 – that means you’ll be upgraded to PS Plus premium until September 2025. This is probably the best deal possible, as you won’t have to pay any upgrade fees.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.