Price Hikes for Both PlayStation Plus and Game Pass Seem Inevitable

Prepare Your Wallets: The Era of Cheap Gaming Subscriptions May Be Over

In a clear sign of a shifting industry landscape, both Sony and Microsoft have recently made public statements suggesting that price increases for their hugely popular subscription services, PlayStation Plus and Game Pass, are not a matter of if, but when.

For PlayStation users, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Following a significant price hike in 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino recently confirmed the company will continue to "adjust our pricing strategy" to maximize profitability. The justification? A growing number of players are subscribing to the more expensive Extra and Premium tiers. Sony sees this as proof that users are willing to pay more for the added value, giving the company a clear incentive to raise prices further.

Meanwhile, in the Xbox camp, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been candid about the future of Game Pass. He recently reiterated his long-held stance that a price increase for the service is "inevitable." Spencer points to the immense value now packed into the subscription—most notably the upcoming inclusion of all Call of Duty titles on day one—as a key factor. In order to "run a sustainable business" with such massive day-one releases, the price will eventually have to reflect the content.

While neither company has announced a specific date or amount for the price changes, the message from the top is identical: the cost of game development is rising, the value within these services is increasing, and the subscription fees will have to rise to match. Gamers should prepare for both of their essential gaming subscriptions to get more expensive in the near future.