The Xbox might fall laughably behind PlayStation in terms of sales, but there’s one area where Microsoft holds a sizable lead over Sony: video game subscriptions.
As the Game Pass expands its offerings (and, somehow, make money), Sony is feeling the pressure, especially following the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Perhaps in response, Sony is expanding PlayStation Plus outside of PlayStation.
According to leaked presentation slides, Sony wants to bring PS Plus to desktops, mobile devices, browsers, and smart TVs, as part o fits attempt to broaden the service’s appeal and accessibility.
The goal is to turn PS Plus into a globally attractive and exciting service. Sony wants to achieve this by leveraging its exclusive-rich content library, extending its service to new platforms to form new strategic partnerships. The expansion into mobile and PC gaming is particularly noteworthy, as Sony intends to combine first-party and third-party content to create a compelling value proposition for customers. This approach includes tapping into local market preferences and commercial models, thereby enhancing the service’s appeal to a broader audience.
For PC gamers, Sony’s move represents a significant opportunity to engage with PlayStation Studios’ live service games and a wider variety of PlayStation titles. The expansion of game streaming to mobile, TV, and browsers is aimed at acquiring new subscribers, offering a seamless gaming experience across different devices.
Despite concerns about the potential cost implications of such an expansion, Sony’s strategy isn’t solely focused on the pricing. The company is exploring ways to enhance PS Plus’ value by enriching its offerings by diversifying the available options and new gaming content.
Sony’s plans for PS Plus recall its earlier approach with PlayStation Now, which was once available on multiple devices before being discontinued on several platforms in 2017. This return to a broader distribution model suggests a strategic reevaluation of Sony’s subscription services.
Critics of subscription models often point to the potential impact on game quality, risking quality over quantity. However, Sony’s decision not to release games on PS Plus on day one is seen as a strategic choice, reflecting the strong market demand for PlayStation games at full price.
Furthermore, Sony’s expansion of PS Plus to PC could attract PC gamers interested in PlayStation’s game library. It isn’t enough to put PS Plus in direct contention with Game Pass and Microsoft’s substantial resources, but it could carve out a substantial niche among PC gamers who value the diversity and quality of PlayStation games.
The challenge for Sony will be to make the PS Plus service attractive enough for PC gamers who have other subscription options available.
With a limited number of PlayStation games currently on Steam, Sony will need to offer more compelling reasons for PC gamers to choose PS Plus over other services – not just Game Pass.
Speaking of the leak, Insomniac Games has finally issued a statement addressing the unfortunate incident. The studio is now working hard to release Marvel’s Wolverine as intended, presumably by 2026. However, it didn’t confirm (nor deny) if Venom: Lethal Protector will be released in 2025.
