Sony Raises PS Plus Prices in Over 20 Countries After PS5 Hike

Sony Raises PS Plus Subscription Prices in Over 20 Countries After PS5 Price Hike

Canadian, Australian, and Latin American gamers face higher costs—with no added benefits.

Sony has once again increased the cost of participating in its gaming ecosystem, this time raising PlayStation Plus subscription prices in more than 20 countries. The decision follows recent PlayStation 5 price hikes in several of the same regions.

The affected countries include Canada, Australia, Mexico, South Korea, and 15 nations across Latin America and Southeast Asia.

New PS Plus Pricing in Canada (12-Month Subscriptions):

• Essential: Now CA$110 (up from CA$95)

• Extra: Now CA$190 (up from CA$155)

• Premium: Now CA$225 (up from CA$190)

No Added Features

The price adjustments come without any enhancements to the service—no new features, no expanded game libraries, and no tier-specific benefits have been introduced to justify the change.

For subscribers, the increase is effectively a steeper entry fee to continue playing online multiplayer games or accessing monthly downloadable titles.

Price Increases Quietly Announced

Sony quietly revealed the price hikes in April 9 blog posts, which primarily highlighted the new PS Plus game lineup for the month. The pricing changes in Latin America, Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Australia were only mentioned in the fine print at the bottom.

A week later, on April 16, Canadian subscribers began receiving emails confirming a nationwide increase across all PS Plus tiers.

Recent PS5 Console Price Hikes

These subscription increases follow an earlier wave of PS5 console price hikes in several markets—including Canada and Australia. That move also sparked consumer backlash, especially since the console is nearly five years old and newer models are expected soon.

A More Expensive PlayStation Ecosystem

Sony’s latest changes mean it now costs more than ever to join and maintain access to the PlayStation ecosystem, particularly in markets outside the United States. Gamers in affected countries face steeper costs both up front (for the console) and annually (for subscription access)—with no clear value additions on the horizon.

Industry Context

Sony is the last of the "big three" console makers to double down on price hikes in both hardware and online services. Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass also raised its prices last year, though the company expanded its content offerings in tandem. Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Online remains the lowest-priced subscription, albeit with fewer modern features.

For now, Sony appears confident that loyalty and an extensive back catalog will justify these changes—but many players may begin reconsidering the value proposition of sticking with PlayStation.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more updates on global gaming trends, subscription services, and the future of the PlayStation ecosystem.