UPDATE 5/25: The official PlayStation Twitter account has confirmed that the removed discount was a technical error and that refunds have been credited to impacted players.
The new PlayStation Plus multi-tier system has begun its rollout in Asia, and unhappy subscribers are reporting questionable and problematic pricing schemes and missing discounts. Sony detailed its much-anticipated response to Xbox's Game Pass earlier this year, revealing a new triple-tier subscription model: PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra, and PS Plus Premium. The higher PS Plus tiers will include access to games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Demon's Souls, alongside classic PS1 and PS2 titles.
There have been criticisms leveled against this new PlayStation Plus subscription service, however, with many arguing that it doesn't measure up to what Game Pass offers. Other complaints have centered on the lack of classic titles being made available, as some of the most iconic PS1 and PS2 games don't appear to be arriving with the higher tiers at launch this summer. These complaints are connected to the pricing model of the new services, which cost up to $120 per year or $18 per month for the Premium service, which some suggest is too much for what is offered. This cost-versus-content discrepancy has led many to argue the new PS Plus is worse than PS Now, which was much more affordably priced.
Criticism surrounding the pricing of this new PlayStation Plus service may be about to get more fervent, as evidenced in a Reddit post from user andyppbb, along with multiple similar claims from others across social media. The post alleges that subscribers in Asia upgrading to higher tiers from the base PS Plus (a.k.a PS Plus Essential) will effectively have their discounts reversed. For example, if a subscriber purchased a 12-month PS Plus membership on sale for $45 (marked down from $60), they would need to pay the difference of the discounted price and the full price of the higher tier. There are also reports that members need to subscribe to the new tier for the same duration as their current subscription, further angering and confusing players.
Assuming this information is accurate, it certainly doesn't help the PS Plus Game Pass price comparison. If true, the upgrade model outlined in the Reddit thread makes it seem as though Sony is punishing users for purchasing a discounted PS Plus membership, and some may even resort to making new PS profiles to get a more reasonable deal, especially if they can't choose a shorter membership period. If anything, current PS Plus subscribers may have expected a smaller upgrade fee, as this would serve as an incentive to transition.
It's possible that this PS Plus discounting issue is simply an oversight to be later corrected, as the new tier system only just rolled out in Asian markets and there could well be hiccups to sort out. A less charitable interpretation could argue that Sony is testing player receptions before moving the new tier model into Western territories. In either case, PlayStation Plus subscribers will have to wait and see what upgrade pricing ultimately looks like worldwide.
Source: andyppbb/Reddit