Sony Justifies PlayStation Plus Price Increase
In a recent move, Sony decided to raise the prices of its PlayStation Plus subscription service by up to 35%. This decision has caused a stir among gamers, with many questioning the reasons behind the significant price hike.
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s senior vice president and head of global marketing, Eric Lempel, recently sat down for an interview with Barron’s to shed light on the matter. Lempel aimed to justify the price increases by stating that Sony wants to make PlayStation Plus great for its users.
He highlighted the introduction of the tier system last year and how it brought value to the service. Lempel stated, “A lot of consumers have recognized that there’s a lot of value in PlayStation 5. Like practically everything else in the world, we have to look at our pricing and we have to adjust to market conditions.”
Lempel emphasized that Sony had not touched PlayStation Plus pricing for 85% of the world for many years, making this the first time they implemented a change. He also compared Sony’s approach to Microsoft’s, stating that Xbox Game Studios had also raised prices for its subscription service, Game Pass, but the increases were relatively small in comparison.
When asked about Microsoft’s strategy of adding first-party titles to Game Pass at release, which Sony does not do with PlayStation Plus, Lempel responded, “It comes down to what you’re going to get in the service in terms of the type of game and the quality of games. I can’t comment on what the competition is doing. But with us, we feel we’re offering a great curated catalog of games, as well as other features and services with PlayStation Plus.”
Lempel also highlighted the flexibility that PlayStation Plus offers with its three-tier system, allowing users to engage as much or as little as they want. He revealed that since the introduction of the tiers, a third of the Plus user base has opted for the upper two tiers, exceeding their expectations.
Moreover, Lempel expressed his optimism about the upcoming holiday season, stating that Sony is expecting one of the strongest console sales seasons in its history.
While gamers may still be skeptical about the price hike, Sony’s justification revolves around delivering a great gaming experience and adjusting to market conditions. Only time will tell if consumers will accept this explanation and continue to subscribe to PlayStation Plus.