The PlayStation Plus Premium tier hasn’t been all that it’s cracked up to be and that’s a problem.
Nearly two years into its launch, the most expensive PS Plus subscription tier has fallen terribly short of expectations. It’s overly expensive at twice the price of the Essential tier and doesn’t even come with close to the same amount of value when making the jump from the Extra tier, which is the sweet spot so far at $135 a year.
While the video game trials library has been expanding lately, the lack of availability of even first-party exclusives at launch or close to their release dates, either before or after, is a deal-breaker for most. But it appears that Sony is well aware of this because the cavalry is on its way.
As spotted by the ever-observant folks over on Reddit, Sony, among others, is working on leveraging the PlayStation 2, the best-selling video game console ever, to make the Premium tier more attractive. With over 155 million units sold, the PS2’s vast library and fanbase present an enormous opportunity for Sony to entice gamers with a taste for nostalgia and new players keen on taking a dive into gaming history.
Implicit Conversions, a company with a solid track record in video game emulation, has hinted at collaborating with Sony to bring PS2 games to modern platforms, although an official confirmation remains elusive. Nevertheless, the mention of PS2 games on their website and subsequent edits made after the initial reports went viral over the past few days have sparked speculation and excitement. If true, this move could be a potential game-changer for PS Plus, which has faced criticism for its limited classics library despite a recent price increase.
The importance of emulation in preserving video game history cannot be overstated. It provides access to games that might otherwise be lost to time. Currently, the Premium tier offers a limited selection of PS1 and PSP classics, but fans have been clamoring for more, particularly PS2 titles that have yet to receive the remaster or remake treatment. Cult favorites like The Simpsons: Hit and Run, which Sydney Sweeney apparently adores, and iconic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger, one of the late Akira Toriyama’s finest works, are among the titles enthusiasts hope to see return.
Sony’s initiative to expand its classics library is a timely move, perhaps part of a multi-pronged approach that includes remakes and remasters planned for the next few years. Not to mention, nostalgia for gaming’s past is at an all-time high. However, this is one of the few areas where its competitor like Microsoft is laughably ahead, capitalizing on this powerful sentiment by offering extensive backward compatibility and enhancing older games for its current-generation consoles. The addition of PS2 games to PS Plus Premium would not only bolster Sony’s catalog but also offer a significant value proposition to subscribers.
Despite the allure, there are challenges to overcome, including copyright issues and the technical complexities of emulation. The successful emulation of PS2 games would be a herculean project requiring a careful balance between preserving the authenticity of the original experiences and adapting them to modern hardware. Implicit Conversions has the necessary experience and technical expertise, particularly given the involvement of team members who have worked on the PCSX2 emulator and Sony’s PS2 games for PS4, to tackle these challenges.
It’s unclear when we’ll see more classic PS2 titles become available on the Premium tier. But it’s clear that the potential benefits of adding PS2 games to the subscription service are immense, allowing Sony to tap into the nostalgia market, attract a broader audience, and differentiate its subscription service in a competitive market.
