Subscription services have really taken off in the PS4 and Xbox One generation, with the two big publishers consistently adding more value to their offerings. PS Plus and Xbox Live are vital parts of owning a console now, and they'll be even more integral for the next generation.
Microsoft has continued to double down on its Game Pass service, integrating it with Xbox Live to provide a robust library of titles for players. Sony, meanwhile, has continued to bump up its offerings on PS Plus.
With the launch of the PS5 and Xbox One the subscription services will prove more important than ever, as both companies try to attract players to the new consoles. Here's how Sony can improve PS Plus on PS5.
Integrate PlayStation Now With PS Plus
The most obvious thing Sony can do is combine PS Plus and PlayStation Now into one service. Microsoft is doing something similar already with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Sony could even get a leg up on that. Having PlayStation Now enabled on PS5 would give fans a massive library of games to stream right out of the gates, and having more value at launch is never a bad thing. The details would be a bit tricky to figure out in terms of offering free games that aren't on PS Now, but it could be done.
The streaming technology of PS Now would, of course, need to be refined even more if it's being offered to a wider audience. Still, giving PS5 owners access to tens of games from past systems can help fill any gaps that might be left from a lack of PS5 exclusives, if that happens.
Sony Should Add More Value to Subscriptions
The bottom line is that Sony simply needs to make PS Plus feels more valuable to subscribers. Monthly free games do a good job with that, but the titles are always older games, even if they are major ones like Uncharted 4. Compare this to Game Pass which is offering major titles like Gears 5, playable on day one. Even if it means upping the cost of PS Plus, Sony has to makes the subscription more valuable. There should be PS5 titles on PS Plus the day the system launches, even if it's just smaller indie games.
PS Plus subscribers do get some good deals on sales, but maybe Sony could start offering early access to demos, digital soundtracks, or other exclusives. Sony can't just continue to do the same thing with PS Plus moving forward, especially with the sizable price tag the PS5 will likely have. There is a wealth of options they could use, but the system needs to add more value in one way or another.