Is PS Plus Extra Worth It? Yes, It‘s a Fantastic Deal for PS4 and PS5 Gamers

PlayStation Plus Extra offers tremendous value for money and is absolutely worth the upgrade for most PS4 and PS5 gamers. You gain access to a library of hundreds of games for a reasonable monthly or annual fee. Let‘s dive into the details on what you get and why it‘s asmart purchase.

Sony revamped PlayStation Plus in 2022 by introducing two new higher tiers: Extra and Premium. PS Plus Extra in particular is packed full of benefits for just $14.99 a month.

For that entry fee, you get a vast catalog of PS4 and PS5 games available for unlimited downloading and playing. There‘s something for everyone with around 400 titles across genres.

While Extra costs $5 more per month than the base PS Plus Essential plan, you‘d easily spend way more buying a handful of new games at full price. The sheer volume of titles makes this a no-brainer for frequent gamers.

So Many Games, So Little Time

As of February 2023, the PS Plus Extra game catalog contains 387 titles spanning both PS4 and PS5. That‘s an incredible variety, from lavish first party exclusives to third party blockbusters.

Here‘s a breakdown of the catalog composition by platform:

Sony continues updating the collection monthly, adding an average of 8 new games per month. So it keeps feeling fresh with new experiences on offer all the time.

And the catalog covers all types of games across genres:

• Action-adventure – Uncharted, Horizon Forbidden West
• Shooters – Doom, Rainbow Six Extraction
• RPGs – Final Fantasy VII Remake, Dragon Quest XI
• Sports – FIFA 23, NBA 2K23
• Racing – Need for Speed Heat, Hot Wheels Unleashed
• Platformers – Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Jak and Daxter
• Horror – Resident Evil 2, The Medium
• Fighting – Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7
• Family games – Paw Patrol, Lego Harry Potter Collection

No matter what you feel like playing, PS Plus Extra has loads of choice without any additional purchases needed.

All the Hits in One Place

The PS Plus Extra catalog rounds up many of the highest quality and most popular games available for PlayStation.

It‘s a simple way to experience critically acclaimed titles you may have missed. Here are just a few of the many hits available:

• Red Dead Redemption 2 (97 metascore)
• God of War (94 metascore)
• The Last of Us Remastered (95 metascore)
• Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition (84 metascore)
• Marvel‘s Spider-Man (87 metascore)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (88 metascore)
• Resident Evil 2 (93 metascore)
• Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla (85 metascore)

You won‘t find absolutely every hit, but the majority of big PlayStation exclusives are present. Sony is also adding more first-party games quicker than they used to.

So you can expect new releases like Horizon Forbidden West to hit PS Plus Extra soon after launch.

Saving Money by Subscribing

One major benefit of PS Plus Extra is the potential cost savings compared to buying games individually at full price.

Let‘s run some numbers to demonstrate the value:

• PS Plus Extra costs $179.99 per year if you purchase an annual subscription.
• New PS5 releases typically cost $59.99 – $69.99 if you buy them outright.
• Older PS4 games can still cost $15 – $30 digitally.

If you purchased only 10 brand new PS5 games per year at $70 each, you‘d already spend $700!

Whereas a PS Plus Extra annual subscription provides access to 400+ games for just under $180.

Plus, many of the included games are recent hits that otherwise still sell for $60+ individually. You‘re saving tons by having instant access rather than buying them.

For hardcore gamers especially, a subscription pays for itself extremely quickly compared to buying titles outright. But even casual gamers get great bang for their buck.

PlayStation Plus Extra vs. the Competition

How does Sony‘s PS Plus Extra compare against Xbox‘s popular Game Pass service?

Game Pass arguably still beats PS Plus in terms of total number of games, with over 400 Xbox console games available. However, Game Pass costs a bit more at $14.99 monthly for the console tier.

PlayStation counters with stronger quality exclusives and more brand new titles. PS Plus Extra also offers downloadable access to every game, while Game Pass relies heavily on streaming unless you have an Xbox.

Here‘s a head-to-head overview:

When it comes to sheer bang for your buck, PS Plus Extra stands tall against the competition.

Pros of Upgrading to Extra

Let‘s recap the biggest benefits that PS Plus Extra provides over the base Essential plan:

• Huge game catalog – Hundreds of titles across various genres makes boredom unlikely.
• Savings – Far cheaper than buying all these games individually.
• Discovery – Try new-to-you franchises and genres risk-free.
• Convenience – Downloads available instantly without switching discs.
• Latest hits – New first-party exclusives added regularly.
• Keep growing – Library expands over time with new additions.

Plus you still get all the standard PS Plus perks like online multiplayer, free monthly games, and exclusive discounts.

Potential Downsides to Consider

PS Plus Extra isn‘t without some drawbacks to weigh:

• No ownership – Lose access to games if you cancel subscription.
• Titles removed – Sony takes away a few games each month.
• Recurring fee – Yet another monthly subscription charge.
• PlayStation only – Doesn‘t include PC or mobile access like Xbox Game Pass offers.
• No streaming – You can‘t stream games (streaming only in Premium tier).

However, most of these cons are typical of any game subscription service. The huge quantity and quality of titles still easily outweighs the negatives for PlayStation fans.

The Verdict: Join the Club

Given the incredible breadth of content for a reasonable price, PlayStation Plus Extra is a no-brainer subscription for PS5 and PS4 gamers to join.

You‘d have to buy a ton of titles every year to justify skipping it. Plus you get to enjoy seamless access to hundreds of games across all genres.

The library is strong now but will continue improving significantly in 2024 and beyond. Sony is highly motivated to pack Extra and Premium full of value.

If you love playing lots of games and trying new experiences, PS Plus Extra grants you an all-access pass. Become a member today and say goodbye to boredom!