Sony offers two subscription services that allow gamers to enjoy their PlayStation consoles: PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now. Similar to its main competitor, which offers both Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass, Sony's services offer different features that allow subscribers to further enjoy their consoles through online play and a library of games available on demand, respectively.

However, unlike Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which combines the benefits of both services into one monthly fee, Sony does not offer a bundle that combines their separate services. While some gamers may be fortunate enough to simultaneously subscribe to PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, others might not actually need to pay for both.

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Why You Need PlayStation Plus

Launching back in 2010, PlayStation Plus was Sony's first subscription service, as well as the first of its kind. It originally offered PlayStation 3 gamers exclusive deals and free monthly games two years before Xbox Live Gold debuted. The service is still active today, continuing its traditions on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Primarily, PlayStation Plus exists to provide online multiplayer features, and subscribing is the only way to play games like FIFA, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto OnlineMarvel's Avengers and Monster Hunter World online. However, some free-to-play games like Fortnite, Apex Legends and Spellbreak are fully accessible without it.

Every month, PlayStation Plus offers two free PS4 games and one free PS5 game, which gamers can keep as long as they continue to subscribe. Even those who have not gotten their hands on the hard-to-find next-gen console can claim the monthly PS5 game to enjoy once they upgrade. PlayStation 5 owners who subscribe to PS Plus also have the added benefit of the PS Plus Collection, which includes 20 hit games from the PS4 era like The Last of Us Remastered, God of War and Persona 5.

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Another important feature PS Plus subscribers gain is up to 100 GB of cloud storage for game saves, which are great for protecting your data in case something happens to your console. Additionally, PS Plus subscribers get free shipping on all PlayStation hardware and accessories when purchasing directly from PlayStation, as well as exclusive deals and discounts that vary each month.

PS Plus also offers Share Play, a handy feature that few actually use. This allows subscribers to stream their screen to a friend or offer control over the internet, which is particularly useful for showing a friend a game they do not own. Some games even allow friends to play together over Share Play with only one person owning the game. PS5 owners can also access Game Help, a new feature that provides hints and guides to help players complete in-game missions and collect trophies. However, it's up to developers to include it or not, so it's only available for certain games.

As for cost, PlayStation Plus subscribers can choose between paying $9.99 each month, $24.99 for three months or $59.99 for 12 months. Overall, gamers who want to play most online multiplayer titles will need PS Plus, while the rest of its features (especially for PS5) are great benefits.

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Why You Need PlayStation Now

PlayStation Now launched in 2014, and it has a gigantic library of games that spans multiple PlayStation consoles. PS Now offers over 800 titles from PlayStation's back catalog, including games from PS2, PS3 and PS4 that can be streamed or downloaded. Its library is constantly growing, with new games being added each month, sometimes on a temporary basis. Think of PlayStation Now as Sony's version of Netflix.

While PlayStation Now's library mostly consists of older titles (unlike Game Pass which consistently adds new releases), it does have a lot to choose from, and the quality of its additions have improved significantly in recent months. This makes it a great service for gamers who want to check out older games they may have missed, especially those who don't care about online multiplayer.

One benefit PS Now has over PS Plus is that it gives gamers the option to play older PlayStation games on PC. Some gamers have even found ways to use a mouse and keyboard to play their favorite PS Now games. In regards to pricing, PS Now follows the same model as PS Plus: $9.99 per month, $24.99 every 3 months or $59.99 every 12 months.

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