As an avid PlayStation gamer and PS Plus subscriber for over 5 years, I‘ve gotten plenty of value from online multiplayer, free monthly games, and exclusive discounts. However, with budgets getting tighter, even I‘ve considered whether it‘s worth $60 annually.
Before you pull the plug on your membership, hear me out: downgrading to the Essential plan instead of fully canceling can save you money without losing key benefits. This guide will compare the PS Plus tiers, show you how to cancel or downgrade, and provide expert advice on choosing the right option for your gaming needs.
Weighing Up the True Value of PlayStation Plus
First, let‘s examine what each PlayStation Plus tier includes:
PlayStation Plus Essential
- Online multiplayer
- Two PS4/PS5 games free per month
- Exclusive discounts and early access deals
- 100GB cloud storage
- Starts from $9.99/month or $59.99/year
PlayStation Plus Extra
- All Essential tier benefits
- Game catalog with 400+ PS4/PS5 titles
- Ubisoft+ Classics plan with 50+ games
- Starts from $14.99/month or $99.99/year
PlayStation Plus Premium
- All Extra tier benefits
- 340 more games via PS1/PSP back catalog
- Game trials for upcoming releases
- Cloud game streaming
- Starts from $17.99/month or $119.99/year
When you tally up the yearly regular cost of purchasing 2-3 new release games monthly, the free titles alone make Essential and Extra tiers a steal. However, Premium‘s retro catalog may only appeal to longtime PlayStation veterans.
Based on Sony‘s $60 standard pricing for new games, buying 24 titles per year would cost $1440. An Extra subscription saves you $1340 annually over purchasing each game individually.
| Yearly Cost | Yearly Savings vs Purchased Games | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchased Games | $1440 | N/A |
| PlayStation Extra | $99.99 | $1340 |
So certainly, an Extra or even Essential subscription can pay for itself quickly. But what do you lose by downgrading compared to completely cutting off PlayStation Plus?
Benefits Lost By Canceling Your Membership
Unlike Xbox Live Gold, a PlayStation Plus membership is mandatory for online multiplayer. By canceling entirely you lose access to:
- Online multiplayer gameplay
- Monthly PlayStation Plus games
- Store discounts and early access
- 100GB cloud storage for saves
Without the ability to play games online, you‘ll be limited to single player experiences. And you miss out on 24+ great PS4/PS5 games yearly.
My recommendation? Downgrade to the Essential $59.99 plan to retain online play and free titles while lowering costs. You keep the PlayStation Plus necessities for nearly half the price of Extra.
Next up, I‘ll explain how to manage your PlayStation Plus subscription on both desktop and PS4/PS5 consoles.
Step-By-Step: Downgrading or Canceling Your Membership
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First, head to the PlayStation Plus section of your PS4/PS5 and turn off auto-renewal if enabled. This prevents being charged again post-cancellation.
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On a web browser, visit the Sony Entertainment Network site to manage your account. Or on your PlayStation dashboard, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Payments & Subscriptions.
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Select your PlayStation Plus subscription, then choose to downgrade to Essential or cancel.
- If downgrading, manually renew your lower-tier membership. Or for canceling, confirm on the verification prompt.
Sony also provides their own visual guidance for managing your PlayStation Plus membership.
Now let‘s move on to resurrecting your subscription if you ever have regrets after cancellation.
Reactivating PlayStation Plus After Cancellation
Did you cancel in a cost-saving frenzy and come to miss those sweet multiplayer sessions with friends? Restoring your PlayStation Plus tier is a cinch:
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On your PlayStation dashboard or via account management, select any PlayStation Plus subscription plan.
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Choose your preferred membership tier and renewal period.
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Input your payment details, agree to terms of service and activate your subscription.
Once signed up again, your PlayStation Plus access is immediately restored. You‘ll keep any previously purchased games/DLCs and earned trophies. But cancelled memberships must pay the current rate, so resigning up could cost more.
Key Takeaways on Cancellation, Downgrades and Re-Subscription
- Downgrading from Premium/Extra to Essential saves money without losing online play.
- Fully canceling strips access to online multiplayer and free monthly games.
- You can instantly reactivate a canceled PlayStation Plus membership later.
- Any purchased content or earned trophies stay in your account when subscription lapses.
Hopefully this insider‘s guide from a seasoned PS Plus user assists you in deciding whether to downgrade or cancel your membership. For any other questions on PlayStation Plus changes, sound off in the comments below!
