In a recent turn of events that’s ruffling its fair share of feathers, PlayStation Plus subscribers are grappling with a huge price surge. Notably, this hike has skyrocketed the prices by up to 600% in countries like Turkey.
As confirmed by Sony, PS Plus subscription prices will increase by as much as 30% across the board, with the new price structure now as follows:
- Essential 12-Month Subscription: $79.99, 71,99 Euro, 59.99 GBP
- Extra 12-Month Subscription: $134.99, 125,99 Euro, 99.99 GBP
- Premium 12-Month Subscription: $159.99, 151,99 Euro, 119.99 GBP
With monthly free games in recent months already facing criticisms for lacking expected quality, this increase marks the final straw for many players, who have taken to several social media platforms to air out their disappointment, with many asserting their intention to drop Sony’s subscription service.
However, what surprised many is the shocking price premium for Turkish gamers, who will see a staggering 600% hike, a drastic rise brought to light by 9to5Software, prompting disheartened responses from audiences worldwide.
By effectively eliminating regional pricing and preventing players who previously created accounts in Turkey to exploit the country’s previously cheaper PS Plus subscription rates, Turkish gamers now find themselves with the short end of the stick. This unintended consequence has left Turkish gamers paying the price for such tactics.
However, to understand this situation holistically, it’s essential to factor in Turkey’s economic challenges. Over the past two years, the Turkish Lira has seen its value plunge by 70%. This significant decline has a direct impact on Sony, which is an international company that conducts their transactions in more stable currencies like the US Dollar, Japanese Yen, or Euro. Consequently, when the income in Lira plummets while the payments remain constant, losses are inevitable. The price hike, while painful for the consumer, seems to be Sony’s attempt at equilibrium.
Many have pointed out the broader financial landscape of Turkey, emphasizing the skyrocketing inflation rate that has seen the Lira rise from 5 to 27 per USD since 2020. With new AAA game titles costing approximately 1300 Turkish Liras, many gamers in the country find themselves in a quandary, now suddenly unable to indulge in more than one or two major game releases annually. To put things in perspective, with the minimum wage in Turkey standing at around 13,000 Liras, the yearly rates for the PlayStation Plus subscriptions translate to 1400 Lira for Essential, 2340 Lira for Extra, and 2740 Lira for Deluxe. These numbers highlight the sheer scale of the financial burden Turkish gamers now face.
Sony’s decision is causing understandable angst among PlayStation fans, particularly in Turkey, but underlying reasons for this hike appear to be multifaceted, ranging from economic fluctuations to unintended user exploits.
The ultimate challenge for Sony now will be balancing their global business strategies while maintaining its goodwill among their expansive and passionate user base.
