Is it worth upgrading to PlayStation Premium?
In my expert opinion as a hardcore PlayStation enthusiast, the answer is a definite yes – but only for certain types of gamers.
PlayStation Plus Premium offers an incredible amount of value, especially for retro game fans and those who want to try new releases. However, more casual PlayStation owners may be better served saving money with a lower tier instead.
In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, I‘ll break down everything PlayStation Plus Premium provides to help you decide if it‘s worth upgrading.
An Overview of PlayStation Plus Tiers
Let‘s start with a quick refresher on what‘s included at each PlayStation Plus level:
PlayStation Plus Essential
- Online multiplayer access
- 2 monthly downloadable PS4/PS5 games
- Exclusive discounts
- Cloud storage for saved games
This basic tier is required for online multiplayer on PlayStation. You‘ll get 24 free games per year, deals, and cloud saves – a great value for multiplayer-focused gamers.
PlayStation Plus Extra
- All Essential tier benefits
- Game catalog of 400+ PS4 and PS5 titles
Extra adds a massive catalog of hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games to download, including exclusives and hit third-party titles.
PlayStation Plus Premium
- All Extra tier benefits
- 340+ extra PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games
- Cloud streaming for original PlayStation, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games
- Time-limited game trials for new releases
Premium bundles together all PlayStation benefits into one stacked subscription. The huge retro game library and trials offer unique perks only available here.
Analyzing the Key Pros of Upgrading to Premium
Compared to lower tiers, Premium comes with some huge advantages:
An Enormous Collection of Retro Games
Premium gives you instant access to 340+ iconic PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 games – a retro library nearly impossible to match.
As a nostalgic gamer myself, this is an incredible selling point. I love having unlimited access to a long list of classics like Metal Gear Solid, Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, and so many more.
Here‘s a comparison of how many retro games each tier provides:
| Tier | PS1/PS2/PSP/PS3 Games |
|---|---|
| Essential | 0 |
| Extra | 0 |
| Premium | 340+ |
The Option to Cloud Stream Retro Titles
Premium lets you stream your included PS1/PS2/PSP/PS3 games directly over the internet – no downloading required.
This makes the back catalog much more accessible. Instead of occupying storage space on your console, you can instantly play any retro game in your Premium membership.
Trying New Releases with Game Trials
Premium provides limited-time game trials for upcoming PS5 releases. You can access the full game for 2-5 hours to get hands-on before deciding whether to purchase.
I love having the chance to preview major new games like Horizon Forbidden West and Cyberpunk 2077 rather than buying them untested.
The Downsides to Consider Before Upgrading
However, PlayStation Plus Premium isn‘t perfect. There are some cons to weigh:
It‘s Far More Expensive Than Lower Tiers
Premium costs $119.99 annually – $60 more per year than the Essential tier. That‘s a 100% annual price increase for access to retro games and trials.
Here‘s a cost breakdown of how much more Premium costs percentage-wise:
| Time Period | Essential | Premium | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $9.99 | $17.99 | 80% more |
| 3 Months | $24.99 | $49.99 | 100% more |
| 12 Months | $59.99 | $119.99 | 100% more |
That‘s a significant premium to pay. For budget-focused gamers, it may be hard to justify.
Not All Desired Retro Games are Included
While Premium‘s retro catalog is large at 340+ games, it still only represents a fraction of all PS1/PS2/PSP/PS3 releases. For example, popular series like Tony Hawk‘s Pro Skater are currently missing.
Sony will likely expand the lineup over time, but there will always be omissions. Access is not unlimited.
Cloud Streaming Quality Varies
Cloud streaming allows convenient access to retro games, but video quality and input lag can fluctuate depending on internet speeds. Slow connections hamper the experience.
While streaming works well under ideal conditions, it‘s not guaranteed. Downloadable games give the most reliable access.
How Does PlayStation Plus Premium‘s Cost Measure Up?
To better understand the value proposition of Premium, let‘s compare its annual cost to some popular gaming services:
| Service | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus Premium | $119.99 |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $179.88 |
| Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack | $49.99 |
| Netflix Premium | $167.88 |
| HBO Max | $149.99 |
| Amazon Prime | $139 |
Surprisingly, Premium comes in below most competitors in terms of yearly pricing. The enormous game catalog provides excellent value compared to platforms like Game Pass or Switch Online.
However, you still need to own PlayStation hardware. When combined with the price of a PS5 console, the overall investment is larger than subscription services alone.
Evaluating the Game Library in Depth
Now let‘s take an in-depth look at PlayStation Plus Premium‘s retro and modern game libraries to assess their quality.
A Nostalgic Blast from the Past: PS1/PS2 Classics
The PlayStation and PS2 eras provide a hefty chunk of Premium‘s retro catalog. Some real nostalgic gems:
-
PlayStation (PS1) Highlights:
- Final Fantasy VII
- Metal Gear Solid
- Oddworld: Abe‘s Oddysee
- Wild Arms
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
-
PS2 Highlights:
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Ratchet & Clank
- Sly Cooper
- Jak and Daxter
- Dark Cloud
First-party Sony titles and third-party classics abound here. There are over 140 PS1 games and 70 PS2 games available, though again it‘s not every release.
The PSP‘s Greatest Hits
The PSP often gets overlooked, but Premium provides a solid 50+ game PSP library. Here are some must-play Portable highlights:
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
- LittleBigPlanet PSP
- Lumines
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The PS3 Era in Full Force
While the PlayStation 3 gets criticized, its 80+ game Premium catalog proves it had some real gems worth revisiting:
- Uncharted trilogy
- LittleBigPlanet
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
- Metal Gear Solid 4
- 3D Dot Game Heroes
- Valkyria Chronicles
Hundreds of PS4 and PS5 Favorites
On the modern side, PlayStation Plus Premium grants access to all 400+ games available in the Extra tier catalog. Major highlights include:
- PlayStation exclusives like Marvel‘s Spider-Man, The Last of Us, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Demon‘s Souls
- Acclaimed third-party hits like Control, Hollow Knight, Celeste, Cuphead, and Slay the Spire
- Recent same-day launches like Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
New games are added monthly from Sony and third-party partners. The catalog expands quickly.
Should You Upgrade to PlayStation Plus Premium?
After breaking down everything included, who should upgrade from lower tiers to Premium?
Worth Upgrading For:
- PlayStation nostalgia seekers who owned earlier systems
- Retro collectors/completionists aiming to play everything
- Those wanting unlimited access rather than "owning" games
- Gamers who try all major new releases at launch
- Existing PS+ subscribers paying annually
May Not Be Worth It For:
- Casual gamers who mainly play multiplayer
- Budget-focused shoppers unwilling to pay more
- PS4/PS5 owners with no nostalgia for past generations
- Selective gamers who only play a few chosen titles
- Anyone subscribed to PS+ month-to-month
The Bottom Line
PlayStation Plus Premium offers incredible breadth of content, but that doesn‘t mean every PlayStation owner necessarily needs to upgrade.
Consider your own gaming preferences, nostalgia factor, and budget to decide if Premium provides enough additional value for you to justify the higher price. It very well may be worth the splurge for hardcore PlayStation fans immersed in the ecosystem. But more casual PS5 owners can safely stick to a lower tier based on their usage and save a sizable chunk of change.