PlayStation Plus UK

PlayStation Plus is an online subscription service that allows PS3 and PS4 owners to play their favourite games online against other human players. But it doesn’t just connect people together. With a PS Plus membership, gamers receive free games every month, along with extra space for saved games and data, access to beta trials and much more.

PlayStation Plus Discounts, Cloud, Online Multiplayer and More

Online gaming hasn’t always been like this. It started off in the 1980s as a more primitive affair, with individual computers hooked up to local networks. But this couldn’t last. As internet speeds accelerated, multiplayer gaming took off in the late 1990s and developers started to realise that there was a massive market for multiplayer services, just waiting to be tapped.

Sony was one of the first companies to wake up to the potential of linking players together, along with the power of connecting gaming systems to other online services like web browsers and streaming sites. That’s why they launched the PlayStation Network in 2006 which offered a place to download updates and new games, as well as plenty of other online features.

However, in 2010, Sony decided to change things significantly. They could see that many gamers would pay for advanced or premium portions of the PlayStation Network, and that they were essentially losing revenue as a result. Their solution was to introduce PlayStation Plus in 2010, offering access to high-end gaming services, multiplayer environments for popular titles, and much more.

Now, if you are a serious PlayStation gamer, it feels like you need to pay for a PlayStation Plus subscription. Given the range of features available on the service, that may apply to you, but it might not. And, if you aren’t a committed PlayStation fan, competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo have online services of their own that could be worth a look.

Read on to discover the strengths of Sony’s offering and why some people should think seriously about the alternatives.

How Does PlayStation Plus Work?

Anyone who owns a PlayStation 3 or 4 can sign up for PlayStation Plus at the Sony PlayStation website at www.playstation.com.

Gamers have a range of sign-up options. For starters, you can try the service via a 14-day free trial (which is advisable for anyone who hasn’t used paid multiplayer gaming services before, or who is trying out PlayStation Plus with children). Moving up the scale, you can also purchase monthly, quarterly or annual subscriptions, with the price per month decreasing considerably as you go up the scale.

When you’ve signed up, you’ll become a PlayStation Plus member. This status unlocks a wide range of free downloads on the PlayStation Network, along with numerous multiplayer titles and also offers regular discounts as well.

Everything is organised via the PlayStation Plus Hub, which should appear when you boot up your console. It also features a handy “Manage membership” section, which alerts you when your subscription deal needs renewal.

Additionally, you can install the PlayStation App on any smartphone which sends updates straight to you, wherever you are. There’s also an e-mail updates option, which makes it even easier to stay up to date with your PS Plus subscription.

• Download the PlayStation app for Android


• Download the PlayStation app for iOS

PlayStation Plus Features

What Kind of Benefits Does PlayStation Plus Provide?

When you take out a PlayStation Plus subscription, you’ll be able to take advantage of plenty of member benefits that aren’t available to ordinary PlayStation Network users. For example, benefits include:

• 10GB of cloud storage – Every member of the PS Plus scheme receives 10GB of free cloud storage that isn’t available unless you sign up. With this amount of space, you can save almost as many games as you wish and use them to play your favourite titles on PS4 devices wherever they are.


• Multiplayer gaming – Under the share play feature, you can join multiplayer games and even invite friends to play if they don’t themselves own the game you are playing. Available titles stretch across the spectrum of PlayStation gaming, including football games, shooters, RPGs, fighting games and multiplayer VR titles as well.


• Free games – All members receive two free games every month from the PlayStation Store database. These games feature a mixture of child-friendly titles like Little Big Adventure or Starwhal and adult-oriented action titles like Yakuza or Resident Evil.


• Member discounts – Members can also take advantage of exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store. These can include reductions of 50% on major franchises like the Call of Duty games, BioShock or the Witcher, so it’s a major attraction of the PS Plus package.


• Vote to Play – PS Plus members can also take part in polls that will determine which games enter the monthly PS Plus database.


• Beta testing – Another attractive feature of the PlayStation Plus service is the ability to playtest upcoming titles in their beta versions well before release.

From the list above, it’s obvious that Sony have thought hard about what features to keep off limits to basic PlayStation Network users, and which ones to make exclusive to PlayStation Plus. If you are into multiplayer online gaming or like the idea of beta testing cutting edge titles, it’s definitely a service worth exploring.

What Kind of Free Games Can I Choose From?

Free games are a major part of the PlayStation Plus experience and the selection is refreshed on a monthly basis. The precise mix keeps on changing but some of the most popular recent titles have included:

• Day of the Tentacle Remastered – The original Day of the Tentacle was an instant classic when it was released by graphic adventure experts Lucasfilm in the mid-1990s. This new remastered edition retains all of the humour and graphical quirkiness that made the first edition special, with faster loading and better speech.


• Dirt 3 – A nifty little racing game from Codemasters (who brought out another 90s classic in Micro Machines). Dirt 3 sees you taking the wheel of a high-performance rally car (with a choice of 50 models to be exact).


• Resident Evil – One of the first “survival horror” games, Resident Evil has been turned into a lucrative game and movie franchise, so it’s no surprise that Sony commissioned a remastered version – and it’s as brilliant as the original.


• Journey – One of the best games of 2012 for the PS3, Journey was given an updated release for the PS4 via PlayStation Plus in 2016. A beautiful, sometimes mystifying game, Journey sees the player taking the role of a robed adventurer seeking a distant mountain, and encountering other players along the way. The catch? You can only communicate via music. It’s a weird, but enthralling experience.


• Yakuza 5 – Another PS3 revamp, Yakuza 5 is a thrilling action title set in the Japanese underworld. Its narrative drive and compelling urban setting made it a big favourite in 2016.

All of the titles above were available on PlayStation Plus at some stage. They also show a pattern that PS3 owners might be interested in. At the moment, a good reason not to update to the PS4 is that it isn’t backwards compatible with PS3 titles. Given that there are so many great PS3 games, that can be a problem if you have acquired a sizable collection.

However, many of the best PS3 games are being remastered and released on the PlayStation Plus service, free of charge (or, at least, for the cost of the monthly subscription). So, you may be able to play some of your favourites and upgrade as well.

How Does PlayStation Plus Compare With Xbox Live?

Some buyers will be caught in a bind: should they go for a PS4 and take out a PlayStation Plus subscription, or go for an Xbox One and plump for Xbox Live?

The important thing to bear in mind is that the two services are almost entirely identical. Neither Microsoft nor Sony have come up with radically different features to entice gamers. Both services are ways to entice gamers to pay an extra fee for premium services, not really selling points for the consoles as a whole.

Any differences are pretty minimal. For example, the most expensive Xbox Live membership is a few pounds more than the most expensive PS Plus deal (although there are often savings to be had at HotUKDeals for both services).

The free games quotient is the same as well, with a minor qualification. Both services give players two free games per console they own. So, for example, if you have an Xbox 360 and an Xbox One, you’ll get two free games per month. However, if you are lucky enough to have a PS3, PS4 and a PS Vita, you’ll receive 6 free titles a month.

At one stage, the PlayStation Plus service did try to offer something new, in the shape of Powers, it’s exclusive TV show. However, that was dropped in August 2016, and now neither service offers its own programming.

Are There Major Differences Between PlayStation Plus on PS3 and PS4?

Here’s where things get a little more interesting. We’ve already noted that PS3 games are being updated and released for the PS4 via the PS Plus free games feature (and the PlayStation Store, for a price). What about other things that are available for PS4 owners, but not PS3 users?

It turns out there are quite a few different features that are PS4 only. Here are some of the features that only PS4 users can enjoy:

• Video recording – PS4 users on PlayStation Plus can record an hour of DVR footage, allowing you to store golden goals and skilful frags on your favourite games.


• Live broadcasting – PS4 owners can use their consoles to live stream their in-game footage via services like Twitch or Facebook Live.


• Share Play – as noted above, Share Play allows your friends to play titles that you own but they do not (as long as they are PS Plus members).

There are quite a few different features that set PlayStation Plus for the PS4 apart. However, it’s important to note that the only one of these that cannot be done via PlayStation Network (for free) is Share Play. DVR recording and broadcasting your in-game footage can all be done without taking out a Plus subscription.

How Important is it for PS4 Owners to Sign Up for a PlayStation Plus Membership?

Let’s think about your options. If you have recently bought a PS4, do you actually need to sign up for PlayStation Plus at all?

There’s no denying the perks of being a PS Plus member. The two free games (at least) per month, the cloud storage, Share Play and the chance to take part in beta testing are all attractive features.

If you love to play games at other peoples’ homes, the save game space could be crucial. That way, you can save at a crucial point, head over to a friend’s house and work through a tough patch together (or ask them to take over via Share Play).

However, the most important benefit is the opportunity to take part in multiplayer gaming. If you have spent money on multiplayer-enabled titles like Star Wars, Call of Duty or FIFA 17, it’s nice to have the option of joining other human players, even if you aren’t a hardcore gamer yourself.

Then again, it’s true that not everyone enjoys taking part in capture the flag team assaults or playing in FIFA leagues. If you are the kind of player who prefers to play against your friends at home or just sticks to single player titles, the attraction of PlayStation Plus dims considerably.

However, there’s another thing to think about: free games. Every month, there seems to be at least one excellent game in the free titles list. Many of these are remasters of absolute classics (like Resident Evil) or updates of relatively recent PS3 games. As the PS4 doesn’t have backwards compatibility with the PS3, these free games are a good way to add PS3 titles to your collection.

At the end of the day, it’s all about price. If multiplayer gaming and share play are worth it, you’ll pay the money required. With significant deals being offered for PlayStation Plus subscriptions all the time, even doubters should be able to find a deal that makes the service attractive.

PlayStation Plus Membership Cards

If your family or friends or yourself enjoy playing on their Sony PS3 or PS4 systems, PlayStation Plus is a great gift idea. Even if they currently have a membership, they can add to their credit to extend their sign-up period, so it’s always a safe gift option.

Membership cards can be purchased from Argos, GAME, Tesco Direct, Very and numerous other online and high street stores. You can also buy credit to spend on the PlayStation Store – which could supplement a PlayStation Plus membership neatly.

When your card arrives, activation is simple. Just log onto the PlayStation Network home page, choose the “Account management” option and then the “Redeem codes” button.

How to Find PlayStation Plus Deals

PlayStation Plus isn’t a concrete product that you’ll find in a high street store (although you can purchase subscriptions from stores like GAME as noted above). Instead, it’s the kind of product that you pay for electronically. In practice, that means that a lot of sign-ups take place via the PlayStation Store and you’ll certainly find plenty of deals there on the HotUKDeals PlayStation Plus listings.

However, look beyond the PlayStation Store for the best deals. Other retailers like CDKeys, Electronic First and ShopTo also offer access to the PlayStation Plus service and regularly undercut prices on Sony’s own platform. So shop around and make sure you get the best deal.

Also remember that Sony offers free trial periods of 14 days for all sign-ups. During this time, you can do everything that ordinary PlayStation Plus members can do, but for no charge at all.

If you don’t want to take up the offer of a full membership, you need to be sure to cancel the trial (to avoid autorenewal). To do so, go to the PlayStation Plus front page and press the “Manage membership” button, choose “cancel automatic renewal” and then press the X button on the controller.

Actually finding the best member discounts on PlayStation Plus can also pose some problems. Searching on the PlayStation Store can be hit and miss and the best deals aren’t always the most obvious. Instead, you can also use the HotUKDeals PlayStation Plus listings to look for exclusive member offers on the PlayStation Store. Any titles that are discounted for members will be shown. All you need to do is to click through to the purchasing page at Sony’s website.

The Cheapest PlayStation Plus Offers at HotUKDeals

Sony’s PlayStation range of gaming systems is incredibly popular. However, it’s hard to get the most out of the PS3 or PS4 without access to PlayStation Plus – Sony’s portal for multiplayer gaming, cloud storage, beta testing and delivering free games. If you like the sound of these features, you’ll regularly find discounted PlayStation Plus memberships and exclusive member discounts at the HotUKDeals PlayStation Plus listings.