Home Gaming The price for PS Plus is about to skyrocket

The price for PS Plus is about to skyrocket

1 min read
106

Pay-up

We’re fans of PlayStation Plus over here. At R489 for a year’s subscription, it’s really damn good value for money. That’s cheap when you think about it. Really, really cheap. Naturally, it’s time to increase the price on this service.

If you’re subscribed to PS Plus, you’ve most likely received the following email:

Due to various market conditions, the price of your PlayStation Plus subscription is going to rise slightly. On 01/10/2014 the price of a 12 month subscription will rise from ZAR489.00 to ZAR749.00.
If your PlayStation Plus account is set to renew automatically you don’t need to do anything. You won’t begin paying the new rate immediately on 01/10/2014; instead you will start paying the new price from your first renewal date after 01/10/2014.

F**king ouch. That’s more than a 50% increase, so someone at Sony clearly needs to use that extra subscription cash in order to buy a dictionary so that they can look up what the word “slightly” means. Of course, this isn’t the only bit of Sony pricing that is completely redonkulars. Just look at our local market for a comparison on game prices, which are anywhere from R50 to R150 more expensive than what’s available on the Xbox market.

At that price, PS Plus still is good for value for money. But that value has just depreciated for many a cash-strapped gamer.

Last Updated: September 30, 2014

106 Comments

  1. Is this a worldwide PSN price increase, just for the EU region, or just for SA?

    Reply

    • Gustav Minnie

      September 30, 2014 at 19:28

      Does it matter…. touch them toes boy…

      Reply

      • Sven

        September 30, 2014 at 19:32

        Of course it matters, since if it’s regional then it’s most likely Sony’s hand being forced in order to keep it profitable because of market constraints in the region. This is then specifically related to ZA’s market situation more so than Sony’s situation.

        Reply

        • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

          September 30, 2014 at 19:33

          It seems to be regional; we’ve contacted Sony for confirmation and will let you know once we hear anything.

          Reply

          • Sven

            September 30, 2014 at 19:36

            Awesome thanks, will be good to have clarification.

          • Travi the Batman

            September 30, 2014 at 21:30

            Awesome- but still, holy shit.

          • Sean Carbutt

            October 1, 2014 at 08:37

            Just chatted via whatsapp to my mates in the UK and they are not having an increase. They do pay 40 pounds though, so our price is probably based on a currency thing.

          • HvR

            October 1, 2014 at 08:40

            What is the contact details for Sony Entertainment/Playstation South Africa?

            They only supply FaceBrick, Twatter and Hipstergram contact details on the site and in their mails.

      • DarthDiggler

        October 1, 2014 at 15:45

        LOL Oh yeah Sony out to screw South Africans. 🙂 Couldn’t have anything to do with the economics.

        Reply

      • freekface

        October 5, 2014 at 17:32

        Lol #priceincreaseforthegamer

        Reply

    • The D

      September 30, 2014 at 19:31

      Seems to be local only.

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      October 1, 2014 at 06:44

      Apparently, it’s “market related”, which means our currency is so freaking weak the price was pushed up. I don’t see why they don’t just throw us a bone (not a Microsoft boner), after all, South Africa is a small territory. At least, help the little guy out.

      Reply

      • freekface

        October 5, 2014 at 17:26

        Sony would like to thank South Africa for the extra funding to help save their Smartphones from going tits up.

        Reply

    • Anders

      October 1, 2014 at 14:13

      50% is a big increase but it may have something to with the very unstable value of the South African Rand. So only for South Africa.

      About those 749. That’s around the same price gamers are paying for a 1 year PS+ subscription in Europe.

      Reply

    • DarthDiggler

      October 1, 2014 at 15:45

      Just SA. This author does a piss poor job of explaining things.

      Reply

  2. house_hero

    September 30, 2014 at 19:43

    I got the email explaining to me exactly how much it has increased by. After doing the math… it increases by R25 per month. I’m on a 3 month, auto-renewing subscription. Not too bad… right?

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 30, 2014 at 19:49

      it’s a 53% increase.

      Reply

      • Skyblue

        September 30, 2014 at 19:51

        Tell him Geoff!

        Reply

      • house_hero

        September 30, 2014 at 19:53

        Well when you look at it like that… yes, it’s an exorbitant jump. But lets be honest… R25 a month. It’s like it went from really cheap to cheap.

        Reply

      • Andre116

        September 30, 2014 at 22:12

        You are good with math…it is almost like you are Asian.

        Reply

        • house_hero

          October 1, 2014 at 09:51

          I can’t wait to level up… then I can divide by 4!

          Reply

  3. Pieter Kruger

    September 30, 2014 at 19:45

    Nee man, Sony sal nooit die maaitjies so spyker nie….!????

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      September 30, 2014 at 19:52

      I tend to agree but how long do you think it will be before MS do the exact thing to us?

      Reply

  4. Skyblue

    September 30, 2014 at 19:48

    Ah the fanboy burn… This is what happens when you get the monopoly you asked for. I was about to add an additional sub for one of my sons as he generally only plays console titles. So now I either get the sub in before the increase or just can it.
    Over 50% for an increase is ridiculously exorbitant especially when considering how Sony have scaled back the games on offer over the last 6 months and you don’t get to keep them.
    Ah well, back to Resogun while I can still afford to track my international position.

    Reply

  5. Gustav Minnie

    September 30, 2014 at 19:48

    I’m going to be a dick again but this is what happens when a community praise the living tits out of a product. They get cocky and they do this their customers. Maybe PS users will get another GT demo to buy.
    This is the reason why Xbox needs to do well to keep Sony on their toes.

    Here’s one tip though… get a Wii U, currently they have best games, true story.

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      September 30, 2014 at 19:50

      Have been considering one for a while but I just don’t see the value atm. I would looooooove to get my hands on that last Mario title but the last gen proved that Xbox and PS won out as that’s what the kids play (in my home anyway).

      I do have the exact same sentiment about Sony pulling the fast one on their loyal customers though.

      Reply

      • Gustav Minnie

        September 30, 2014 at 20:01

        It’s because of this great new phenomenon where you can only enjoy a game at 1080 running 60 fps.
        We all suckers and believe that rubbish…. well some of us.

        Reply

        • Skyblue

          September 30, 2014 at 20:20

          Nothing touches the sheer playability of Nintendo first party titles imo… until Resogun came along anyway ;-p

          Reply

      • Andre116

        September 30, 2014 at 22:14

        Atm?? What has Ass To Mouth got to do with this?

        Reply

    • WolfyZA

      October 1, 2014 at 08:54

      Havent turned my Wii U on in almost 2 years now, waiting for Bayonetta 2 to release though. That game looks SICK!

      Reply

    • Brad Jame

      October 1, 2014 at 09:06

      Or maybe just a massive devaluation in our pathetic currency over the past few months? But hey, stick to your original line if it helps you sleep at night.

      Reply

  6. lynley james

    September 30, 2014 at 19:48

    I have a us account and an SA one and only got the mail for the US one. Luckily I still have 11 months left on my sub so this will only hit me in Sept 2015

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      September 30, 2014 at 19:49

      What’s the Us price increasing to? Would you be able to send us a copy of the mail, or a screenshot?

      Reply

      • lynley james

        September 30, 2014 at 20:47

        Fuck sorry meant only got the mail for the SA one. Contacted Michael Futterish from Game Informer on Twitter and he knows of no such increase in the US

        Reply

      • Marc O Polo

        October 19, 2014 at 16:14

        just saw that takealot still has the 12 month psn subscription for R465… spread the word!!!

        Reply

  7. ekke

    September 30, 2014 at 19:58

    Hulle is POES mal!

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      September 30, 2014 at 19:59

      LOL!

      Reply

  8. Knowles2

    September 30, 2014 at 20:12

    Guess sony got to try and bring in more cash after using a billion quid on their mobile phone division.

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      September 30, 2014 at 20:20

      “Using” or “losing” ?

      Reply

      • Knowles2

        October 1, 2014 at 23:06

        corrected.

        Reply

  9. Jaded_Reprobate

    September 30, 2014 at 20:14

    This smells suspicoulsy like eTolls by playstation

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 1, 2014 at 07:49

      lol

      Reply

  10. fred

    September 30, 2014 at 20:24

    Nothing been comfirm by sony

    Reply

  11. Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

    September 30, 2014 at 20:41

    Truth is we’ve been underpaying for Ps plus for ages: $43. We’re now in line with European PS+ pricing, at around 50 Euros for an annual subscription. Still, a “slight” increase of 53% , with notification on the eve of the increase? Poor form.

    Reply

    • Sparacus

      September 30, 2014 at 20:45

      Bringing us in line with EU prices I can still understand, but it was definitely sneaky as hell dropping the announcement 4 hours before the new prices kick in.

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      October 1, 2014 at 11:43

      Like Eskom. For years and years we were paying a heavily subsidised price for electricity, when compared with the entire world. Now I get flamed, but I know for a fact we used to have the cheapest power and that was part of the problem. Just a small part, Mr Mbeki and the insistence on private electricity providers in 1999 when not a single private company could find a way to make money with our cheap electricity prices then. so no new station, cause private business will come in. Ooops.

      Reply

      • HvR

        October 1, 2014 at 12:07

        Not really the same.

        We were paying more than enough since only maintenance and generation was being charged for. Eskom and municipalities was still making a profit so nothing was subsidized; infrastructure was paid out of taxes. that was how the system was setup. Until the mid 80’s when the government was going bankrupt so the money was diverted.

        From 1991 electrical engineers in South Africa was warning government (first old then later new) annually that South Africa need to increase infrastructure, transmission and generation.

        I sat in a lecture in 2003, the Prof (he was on the board that was warning government every year) told us this was going to happen; his prediction when load shedding and blackouts would start was out by 4 months.

        Same thing with the national roads, fuel levy was setup for national roads, money diverted in 80’s. Never reversed and now we have e-tolls.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          October 1, 2014 at 13:57

          Yeah., I also had some insight. The reason it was “subsidised” was because no money was put aside to build new stations (as you say, comes from the central kitty), but yes, they ran quite a big profit each year. I saw a report from a certain stats group not a public one, that made my hair stand on end. Many people seemed to know the trouble was coming.

          Reply

    • WhiteRock

      October 1, 2014 at 13:27

      Most probably a random comment, but why do we keep on being shafted by bundling us with EU? I suppose it is a business question, but why the flip don’t they rather group us under Middle East and Africa, or just plain Africa? We are going to continually be “worse off” as long as we are grouped with currencies an order stronger than us…

      Reply

      • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

        October 1, 2014 at 13:37

        • HvR

          October 1, 2014 at 13:45

          To them we are nothing more that the backward colonies of Europe. Damn console counter-revolutionaries.

          Reply

        • WhiteRock

          October 1, 2014 at 13:58

          Yup – I know about the EMEA grouping and unfortunately most countries see us as that, it just sucks for us that we aren’t grouped on our own – size wise we are a large enough grouping, but until we are economically stronger as a continent, we are going to continuously be grouped as such. As a side note, it does suck though, that competitively the EMEA group is more expensive than the North Americas, but still cheaper than the South Americas.

          Reply

  12. hairyknees

    September 30, 2014 at 20:41

    Well… guess I will be renewing tonight then 😛

    Reply

    • Aries

      September 30, 2014 at 20:46

      I thought about that and then remembered whats coming the 3rd

      Reply

  13. Ilia Volkov

    September 30, 2014 at 21:14

    Russian PS Plus suffering the same price increasing too. It was per month 250RUB – but will be 349RUB, for three-month subscribe it was 580RUB, now its 790RUB. 1 year was 1950RUB, changed to 2399RUB. Price change for 1 year its not so devastating, as 20% rising for short term subscribes. Thanks for email sony, i’ve happened to bought 1 year subscribe for old price, just 40 minutes before midnight

    Reply

  14. Darren Peach

    September 30, 2014 at 21:28

    This whole PS4 business is getting expensive.

    Reply

  15. Egemen GORCEK

    September 30, 2014 at 21:31

    Don’t think it’s local. I live in turkey and our price is also increased 50%… oh sorry slightly. I was mad for the same reason. If they didn’t used that word I don’t think I would be so furious.

    Reply

  16. goswald

    September 30, 2014 at 21:35

    It’s not that bad, the email insures me it’s just a slight increase 😉 “the price of your PlayStation Plus subscription is going to rise slightly”. Hope the games don’t suffer the same ‘slight’ 53% increase as well.

    Reply

  17. IMD

    September 30, 2014 at 21:55

    Jarre, I have no lus for this… Apparently only applicable to SA. They raising the price of ps+ locally to subsidise ps4 pricing. Also, I’ve taken to smoking my socks. Puff-puff-nopass.

    Reply

  18. Query

    September 30, 2014 at 22:18

    I still have 3 months left on my subscription. If I renew for another 12 months does it start over or add the 12 months? I think it just starts over, but can anyone confirm that.

    Reply

    • Rikus

      September 30, 2014 at 22:20

      According to my knowledge, it accumulates. So the 12 months would add to the expiration date. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

      Reply

      • Query

        September 30, 2014 at 22:27

        Thanks, I’ll give it a shot

        Reply

        • Raidz

          September 30, 2014 at 22:47

          the man is right. I had a month left and it just added 12 months

          Reply

  19. Raidz

    September 30, 2014 at 22:48

    well, at least we’re getting Driveclub next month….sort of

    Reply

  20. Mike

    September 30, 2014 at 22:52

    http://www.kalahari.com/Games/PSN-Plus-Card-365-day_p_46079946
    I wonder if these vouchers will also increase tomorrow.

    Reply

    • HvR

      October 1, 2014 at 08:43

      OoooooooTHEY DID NOT INCREASE.

      Buying two now with my eBuck virtual vouchers.

      Reply

  21. Umar

    September 30, 2014 at 23:22

    F**king Nkandla

    Reply

  22. Ross Woofels Mason

    September 30, 2014 at 23:47

    PS & XBOX are quite honestly giving me more reasons not to get their next console, as well as keep supporting their current ones. I have a Wii U for games I cant get anywhere and just wait long enough and 90% of PS & XBOX games come out on pc.

    These days you dont even need to wait that long for it.

    So yea at the rate the cost of being a console gamer is going, I’d rather save up and sink the cash into a better PC rig.

    Reply

  23. SummerDude202

    September 30, 2014 at 23:55

    WOW! Why sony i was really plannig to buy the 12 month subscription next year, so I spent all my money on games.Now I have to buy before the end of September!!!

    Reply

  24. Mythryl

    October 1, 2014 at 00:14

    Just because I like playing devil’s advocate have you guys considered that this jump in price might be to fund regional servers like you have been asking for?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 1, 2014 at 07:48

      might is a big word

      Reply

  25. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    October 1, 2014 at 06:42

    First thing first, I managed to extend my PS+ sub till 2018.

    Hopefully, in 2018 the Randela would have recovered and this price increase would be negated (most likely not, I’m yet to see a service drop their prices, especially after our Rand recovers). Alternatively, in 2018 ,we might be completely at Zimbabwe/Mozambique-levels, complete with asinine populism, and a Gauteng province that’s back in the stone age. (PS: I hear you guys don’t have water , copper wires and electricity. Amazing!). Hopefully by the time the rot hits the Republic of Cape Town, the Banana would have emigrated to greener pastures… who knows…. Sigh! I really don’t want to be an immigrant. I don’t want to be that guy! Sigh!

    But this kind of shit, especially a 50% increase is bullshit. Yes, I know it’s on the back of a weak Rand. Our Randelas are quickly hitting toilet paper status, but for the love of all that’s holy, to pay R700+ a year is utter bullshit. This might actually sour me to consoles all together. No, I won’t consider getting a boner. F*ck Microsoft. But, I can’t help but throw in a customary “F*ck you Sony”! Seriously, Sony? 50% increase??? F*CK YOU!!

    Oh and “F*ck you Zuma, you bald-headed c*nt. Thanks for ruining South Africa”

    /OVBanana rant over
    Rebooting AI
    Downloading patch

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 1, 2014 at 08:13

      LOLZ @ Zuma rant

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        October 2, 2014 at 13:55

        Sometimes, you just have to throw in a Zuma!

        Reply

    • HvR

      October 1, 2014 at 08:32

      You forgot #F*ckThePlayers

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        October 2, 2014 at 13:55

        Yeah! F*CK em’ too!

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 1, 2014 at 09:16

      We should chip in and buy Zuma a PS4, get him gaming. That why he will fight for lower prices and better internet infrastructure 😛

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        October 2, 2014 at 13:55

        The dude won’t know what to do with it. He’ll think it’s a snackwitch maker. Rather give the PS4 to Mac Maharaj – he’s already functioning as the brain and mouth of the absent, blissfully unaware, non-sentient President.

        Reply

  26. Hammersteyn

    October 1, 2014 at 07:51

    O_o Good fucking morning everyone, what a terrific way to start the day…

    Reply

  27. Hammersteyn

    October 1, 2014 at 07:57

    Still….. R750/12 is R62 a month instead of R42 a month. That equates to one draft less at the pub on my budget scale

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 1, 2014 at 08:12

      This simply will not do!

      Reply

  28. HvR

    October 1, 2014 at 08:09

    Slight increase when you are on the receiving end = 3%
    Slight increase when are on the paying end = 53%

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 1, 2014 at 08:12

      You said it.

      If my boss called me in and said I’m getting a slight increase of 53% I’d have to use the first month’s increase to fix the roof I jumped through

      Reply

  29. Admiral Chief 0

    October 1, 2014 at 08:11

    *goes to check Steam subscription costs

    *comes back with smile on face!

    Reply

  30. HvR

    October 1, 2014 at 08:30

    Isn’t Sony is contravening the CPA!!!!!

    Section 14:
    the supplier has the additional burden of notifying (not more than 80 days and not less than 40 business days) the consumer in writing of the impending expiry date of the agreement, the material changes that will apply to the agreement after the expiry date and also that the agreement will continue on a month-to-month basis unless the consumer directs otherwise

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 1, 2014 at 09:15

      The last thing we need is someone to run with this and get PS service banned like Titanfall.

      Reply

  31. FoxOneZA

    October 1, 2014 at 08:50

    Too short notice Sony. Poorly played.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 1, 2014 at 09:14

      We’re third world, why would the give a fuck when they are still outselling XBOX One in USA

      Reply

  32. Double-O-Six and a half

    October 1, 2014 at 08:51

    While the value may have been good and in truth we may have been underpaying for the subscription the bottom line is in reality it’s no longer a choice if you want any semblance of on-line play. Apart from Zimbabwe in the 2008 / 2009 era nowhere recently has inflation been in or around the 50% mark. Even with our currency tanking, and our CPI (officially) being close to 7% (unofficially closer to 10%) consumer inflation on electronic goods and services has been LOWER than inflation on FMCG like food and medical inflation.

    So open question to Sony… how do our “Market conditions” lead to a price increase exceeding 50% when our consumer inflation is barely breaking into double figures. AFAIK no Sony PS+ infrastructure is hosted in country, it’s hosted in countries where inflation is lower and the vagaries of our currency do not apply… So what gives? Don’t use the excuse of aligning the pricing globally, if that’s your reasoning you’re effectively playing Forex trader at our expense…

    I’d really like to know the rationale behind this and why if there were genuine market forces that necessitated the change, why they only sent the notification a few hours before the increase… Is it to prevent people extending their current subscriptions at the old price? Very sneaky and underhanded Sony…

    Reply

  33. WolfyZA

    October 1, 2014 at 08:59

    The thing that pisses me off the most about this is. We dont even have half the APPS or services those stuck up first world countries have and yet we have to pay through our asses like peasants just to play online. ITS LIKE XBL ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

    Reply

  34. Alex PsyChoPanthis

    October 1, 2014 at 09:09

    I bought a year last night while its still cheap

    Reply

  35. SauRoN

    October 1, 2014 at 10:12

  36. Jedi Consular Kromas

    October 1, 2014 at 11:40

    In other news. Steam and Origin is still free.

    Reply

  37. BradeLunner

    October 1, 2014 at 12:07

    Always nice to see Lazygamer on N4G 😀
    That being said, ouch!

    Reply

  38. CAE9872

    October 1, 2014 at 14:40

    Yeah I got the email – and also thought “SLIGHTLY” – what are you retarded?

    Slightly means a little; 50% means a LOT…

    I think it still represents value – but no longer is it excellent value…

    Reply

  39. Leon de Bruin

    October 1, 2014 at 16:23

    I expected this actually, not to surprised.

    Reply

  40. Zohak Diaz

    October 2, 2014 at 00:59

    Damn. Pathetic. I thought Sony was all for the players. Lies again. Ouch. I can already picture the brainwashed ponies and their Salty tears

    Reply

    • demfax

      October 5, 2014 at 03:51

      You lie. Stop spreading fanboy lies, hatred, and FUD, it accomplishes nothing. It’s not healthy to hate pieces of plastic and people who like playing video games on them. It’s sad that you hate good video games for being on the wrong piece of plastic.

      You are sick, lying, mentally diseased, pure evil fanboy waste.

      Sony is raising prices in response to MARKET CONDITIONS. That thing is just more delusional, ignorant, evil microsoft fanboy shill waste spreading lies, nonsense, and blind hatred. They are a sick pestilence on disqus.

      Microsoft shills are far more likely to be constantly wrong or delusional and out of touch with reality. There is no PS equivalent to misterxmedia’s cult or dsogaming.

      Claiming Xbox is secretly more powerful than PS4, claiming Xbox is outselling PS4 or will soon start outselling it, claiming Sony is broke or bankrupt, accusing Sony of lying when they didn’t, accusing Sony of saying things they didn’t, lying about non-existent downgrades in games like Infamous, lying about PS4 having no games or only indie games, lying that PS4 is only selling “on hype”, lies about PSN, or delusional conspiracy theories in general.

      There are dozens of microsoft fanboys constantly invading articles to spread utter lies and blind hatred, and pretty much nobody doing the same for any other console (PS, Wii, whatever). Even PC fanboys don’t do it that much. And then there’s misterxmedia, the most delusional, crazy, and lying fanboy on the planet. ms fanboys are incomparable in terms of utter lies and blind, deranged hatred.

      Reply

  41. Jack

    October 2, 2014 at 03:14

    Stop making excuses for Sony!

    Reply

  42. bluegoon

    October 2, 2014 at 05:52

    Sold the PS4, getting an Xbone, the prices are just better, getting raped by Ster Kinekor and co on the Sony side.

    Reply

  43. Wanderlei

    October 6, 2014 at 06:04

    It’s Sony. They will make themselves try look good and then fuck everyone worse than anyone else ever would when their guard is down.

    Reply

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