Home Gaming How much cash does PS Plus rake in?

How much cash does PS Plus rake in?

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PSPlus monies

An article over on PlayStationing got my attention over the weekend. It claimed that Sony was making over $50 million a month from PlayStation Plus. This number was based on some basic math extrapolation, but I’m not entirely sure I agree.

When Sony told everyone at CES about selling a bunch of PS4s over the holidays, they also said that there were now 10.9 million subscribers to PS Plus. That’s quite a milestone and proves that plenty of people see value in the service. PlayStioning claims that at an average of $5 per month of PS+, that’s $54.5 million per month. Of course, that’s assuming that the majority of people are buying their subscriptions in small stretches – a three-month subscription costs $18 which is a bit more than $5 per month while the annual subscription is $50 or about $4 per month. This also doesn’t include all those people who bought bundled PS4s with subscriptions to PS+ included.

Sony has stated in the past that the free-games portion of the business has the smallest profit margin – that not all months’ are money-makers for the company. I’d hazard a guess that we’re looking at an average monthly income that is lower than the amount quoted – perhaps closer to the $4 per user level which would equal just under $44 million per month.

Due to NDAs, we don’t know how much Sony pays developers to offer their game for free, but even indies call it a ‘nice boost’ and estimate it at a value of 10-20% of the games’ sales amounts. I doubt that Sony is making much money from PS+ subscriptions, but it certainly breeds a ton of goodwill for the console and keeps people loyal. Plus, people who become fans of particular free games will be much more likely to spend money when the new installments or games from the same studio are released.

I’m one of those millions of subscribers. I’ve let my Xbox Gold membership expire, but I always make sure there’s that little plus next to my PlayStation ID. Are you also part of the statistic, or do you see little value in these subscription services?

Last Updated: January 12, 2015

75 Comments

  1. Mandom (Umar)

    January 12, 2015 at 12:33

    I…………I can still see the white edges on those PS+ images :O

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 12, 2015 at 12:36

      Both of them O_o

      Reply

      • Mandom (Umar)

        January 12, 2015 at 12:39

        Lol A for effort? 😛

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 12, 2015 at 12:40

          Well she did use two PS+ signs

          Reply

          • Mandom (Umar)

            January 12, 2015 at 12:42

            Very true! Went the extra mile, makes up for not even feathering the edges 😛 I kid I kid…. 🙂 🙂

          • Her Highness the Hipster

            January 12, 2015 at 14:49

            if it looked right, you wouldn’t know it was me! 🙂

  2. Hammersteyn

    January 12, 2015 at 12:39

    Still part of the statistic and will be for the foreseeable future. Playing Duke Nukem 3D (highly recommended) on the PS3 thanks to PS+ and have yet to play the Infamous DLC on PS4. The amount of games I have received from PS+ has paid for the service so many times over I actually feel indebted to them.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      January 12, 2015 at 12:42

      Kick ass and chew bubblegum

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 12, 2015 at 12:48

        It’s so good. The game is the same but it now fits on wide screen So the graphics while dated still looks passable.

        Reply

        • Aries

          January 12, 2015 at 12:52

          Never got to adding the ps3 games for this month yet, will try Duke Nukem soon

          Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          January 12, 2015 at 12:56

          HOW passable? or is it still horribly grainy and pixelated? Last year I bought the Doom 3 BFG edition remastered. It looked so dated on the xbox.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            January 12, 2015 at 12:59

            It looks fine on PC though, aged, but still damn fun

          • Aries

            January 12, 2015 at 12:59

            It is a xbox you know! LOL

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:00

            yea. way back WHEN I still supported xbox hahahahaha

          • Hammersteyn

            January 12, 2015 at 13:07

            Check a couple of Youtube videos, but since it’s free on PS+ and only about 700mb it’s shouldn’t matter

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:08

            I used to LOVE that game waaaaay back when it came out.

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:13

            Just saw a video of it. Its ok. passable LOL

          • Hammersteyn

            January 12, 2015 at 13:16

            XD

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      January 14, 2015 at 18:39

      Amen brother!

      Reply

  3. Captain JJ Saga

    January 12, 2015 at 12:41

    I did a count this weekend, since I’m quite specific about my purchasing and such, and I saw that I’ve only spent 9k in total on ALL my Steam games. Considering 99% of my games are on Steam and how long I’ve been on it that’s not so much. That’s like eleven PS4 games.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      January 12, 2015 at 12:44

      9k for how many games? I’ve got about 164 of them, and some dlc’s, and mine cost me about R5k

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Saga

        January 12, 2015 at 12:45

        202 games. Including DLC’s is just under 9k.

        Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          January 12, 2015 at 12:54

          Capitan… Mi Amigo…. Get out, buy a dirtbike, or a rifle. hunt or get outdoors or something. That’s too many, buddy 🙂

          Reply

          • Captain JJ Saga

            January 12, 2015 at 12:57

            Haha. Thing is I buy a Humble Bundle for one game. And then I pay $5. But then I get 7 games. That’s how I end up with 202 games. I make a point of trying each game though.
            I get out though, last week I opened the sliding door next to my desk while I was playing The Banner Saga and even let my foot feel the warmth of the sun! ;P

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 12:59

            KTM has a big shop in the mother city. Go ride one of their mx bikes. Then, you’re going to be in for a life behind (handle) bars 😉
            TOO MANY GAMES!

    • Hammersteyn

      January 12, 2015 at 12:52

      My PS+ library is getting pretty big too. Must be more that 50 games easy. And for about R500 a year that’s not bad at all. Thing is I tend to stick to new games. Got Arkham Asylum on PS+ as well but I’m not playing that again soon because I still have games I need to finish and a new Batman game is coming

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Saga

        January 12, 2015 at 12:54

        Akham Asylum is great. Loved that game to bits.
        For 50 games, R500 is also great. My 200+ games does include quite a few new games though. But at 9k, 202 games it’s still under R50 a game, which is a bargain. I’ve played 75% of them too, so it’s well worth it for me.

        Reply

      • konfab aka derp

        January 12, 2015 at 12:55

        R500 a year !!!

        My subscription cost R750

        Reply

        • Aries

          January 12, 2015 at 12:58

          He bought it before the price increase

          Reply

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:01

            even R750 for a year is well worth it.

          • Aries

            January 12, 2015 at 13:03

            Can buy a few games on a steam sale with that R250 though

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:05

            Yup. if you’re part of THAT crowd ;P

        • Hammersteyn

          January 12, 2015 at 13:07

          That’s right there was a price increase. I renewed before then

          Reply

        • Jonah Cash

          January 12, 2015 at 14:06

          You should have checked, I also paid R500 from evopoints who still had codes in December on the old price structure!!

          Reply

        • HvR

          January 12, 2015 at 17:39

          You should have bought a couple of year subscriptions before the increase.

          TakeAlot was still selling physical 365 day subscription cards at R480 in Nov/Dec.

          Reply

  4. Admiral Chief

    January 12, 2015 at 12:42

    [senses a disturbance in the photoshop]

    Reply

    • Captain JJ Saga

      January 12, 2015 at 12:42

      *Paint

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        January 12, 2015 at 12:42

        [senses a million voices crying out in HORROR]

        Reply

        • Captain JJ Saga

          January 12, 2015 at 12:44

          I can’t afford Photoshop for my few uses, so I use paint just to piss people off ;P

          Reply

  5. Ghost In The Rift

    January 12, 2015 at 12:50

    Hmmm,i need to make a new console….

    Reply

  6. konfab aka derp

    January 12, 2015 at 12:51

    For me it is a nice way to add variety to my library.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 12, 2015 at 12:53

      Yeah, I would never have bothered with any indie games before. But thanks to PS+ I’m keeping one eye open

      Reply

      • house_hero

        January 12, 2015 at 12:55

        Agreed! Turns out i really enjoy top view shooters like Dead Nation etc. Who knew…

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 12, 2015 at 13:08

          Mercenary Kings was fantastic

          Reply

          • house_hero

            January 12, 2015 at 13:14

            Mercenary Kings is amazing! I was a massive Metal Slug fan as a kid… so I loved it.

          • Hammersteyn

            January 12, 2015 at 13:16

            The gun crafting was a welcome addition. I wish they could add that to Metal Slug

      • Aries

        January 12, 2015 at 12:55

        I do as well but I hardly spend enough time with it

        Reply

      • konfab aka derp

        January 12, 2015 at 12:56

        Swapper is really good.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 12, 2015 at 13:06

          That’s on my list 😀

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief

            January 12, 2015 at 13:09

            So the IndieStationFawr is getting some lurve

        • Captain JJ Saga

          January 12, 2015 at 13:35

          It is

          Reply

  7. house_hero

    January 12, 2015 at 12:54

    I have found PS+ to be great value for money.. the free games aren’t always the best but the PS4 titles from the DEC/JAN lineup made up for the months prior. I don’t see myself ending my subscription any time soon. Also… I find that I play a lot of my PS3 again these days now too thanks to the free games and further PS+ discounts.

    Reply

  8. Raptor Rants A Lot

    January 12, 2015 at 13:02

    I’d love to be part of the statistics. But someone didn’t let me win a PS4

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      January 12, 2015 at 13:04

      you are a glutton for punishment, aren’t you? LOL

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants A Lot

        January 12, 2015 at 13:04

        I’m trying the guilt trip angle. Or maybe someone will give me one just to shut up?

        Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          January 12, 2015 at 13:06

          They’ll probably end up giving it to someone else ;P

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 12, 2015 at 13:08

            :'(

          • Admiral Chief

            January 12, 2015 at 13:10

            Perhaps after nagging for 7 years…

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:12

            if I win the lotto, I’ll buy you one mmmmmm’kay?

          • ToshZA

            January 12, 2015 at 13:16

            Just get him a cake in the shape of a number 7. He’ll love it!

          • Admiral Chief

            January 12, 2015 at 13:18

            Remember, you need to stick 7 candles in it!

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:20

            and a PS4 AND 7 games LOL

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 12, 2015 at 13:20

            Aw shucks. Thanks man!

          • Quo Vadis?

            January 12, 2015 at 13:21

            and 7 games to go with it 😉

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 12, 2015 at 13:59

            YAY!!!!….. wait a second….

        • Marc O Polo

          January 12, 2015 at 13:37

          Well I got given my ps4 in Oct…

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 12, 2015 at 13:59

            :'(

  9. Pieter Kruger

    January 12, 2015 at 13:45

    Unplayable Station Network Plus…… FFS rather than trying to save TV and Cell phone divisions why not just invest into the backbone of the network itself?

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      January 12, 2015 at 14:03

      Hello!!!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 14, 2015 at 17:25

        Pieter being Pieter, we love him that way XD

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 14, 2015 at 17:25

        Pieter being Pieter, we love him that way XD

        Reply

        • Corrie

          January 14, 2015 at 17:38

          Ahhhh Xbones and DRM-free, the joys of LG locals

          Reply

  10. Jonah Cash

    January 12, 2015 at 14:09

    Worth every cent, I have been a subscriber for just over a year now and it is really worth it!! Injustice, Dust and Trine are great free games!! The Swapper and First Light is also good games!! I liked Trine 2 so much that I bought Trine 1 day 1 when it released on the PS4!!

    Reply

  11. Ryanza

    January 12, 2015 at 14:10

    18.5 million PS4 consoles sold – 10.5 million PS+ users = 8 million offline / people who says fuck paying more. Should those 8 million people just be cut off because of always online DRM. NO.

    Don’t Support DRM. Xbox 360, 84 million consoles sold – 46 million Xbox Live users = 38 million Xbox 360 offline users that Microsoft wanted to fuck over with their Xbox One DRM. That is why the Xbox One is selling so poorly compared to PS4. Lasting impressions Microsoft.

    Don’t Support DRM. Galaxy is coming.

    Reply

  12. CAE9872

    January 12, 2015 at 14:31

    Yip I am a statistic and massively worthwhile. I do have my XL Gold though – still enjoy my Xbox 360 and One.

    Reply

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