Following the revelation that players could stockpile years of PlayStation Now subscriptions through a contrived method, Sony removed the offer for annual subscriptions from its site.
Early this morning, reports emerged that users had begun to stockpile years-worth of PlayStation Now subscriptions in order to receive the new, revamped version of the PlayStation Plus Premium tier for half the cost when it rolls out in June. However, per Eurogamer, Sony removed the option to purchase year-long subscriptions to PlayStation Now from its servers, leaving only a monthly option available.
Earlier today, users discovered a loophole to purchase several annual memberships to PlayStation Now, which cost about $59.99 each. Sony previously announced that subscribers to PlayStation Now would see their memberships transferred over to the new PlayStation Plus Premium tier when the revamped version of the service comes out this summer. According to PlayStation's announcement last week, the Premium tier will cost $119.99 a year, giving users a $60 a year discount when the time comes around. However, that exploit is no longer available.
Sony revealed the new and improved version of PlayStation Plus last week, something players had been anticipating for months following speculation of Sony developing a PlayStation competitor to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass. The revamped PlayStation Plus includes several tier options, just like its competition. PlayStation Plus Essential, the base tier, has all the services currently provided by PlayStation Plus and sets players back $9.99 a month. The next step up, PlayStation Plus Extra, includes the first tier as well as up to 400 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 that can be downloaded to the subscriber's system, all for $14.99 a month. The last and most expensive tier is PlayStation Plus Premium, which includes everything from the previous tiers in addition to a catalog of 340 games for PlayStation One, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable games. This tier comes out at $17.99 a month.
One thing that even the most expensive version of the new PlayStation Plus subscription lacks is the ability to access new games on their release days, a quality that made the Xbox Game Pass a runaway hit. PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan spoke about this issue in an interview shortly after the reveal last week and explained how the reason for this was concern over breaking the established cycle. "We feel like we are in a good, virtuous cycle with the studios," Ryan explained, "where the investment delivers success, which enables yet more investment, which delivers yet more success. We like that cycle and we think our gamers like that cycle."
The revamped PlayStation Plus is expected to launch globally this June.
Source: Eurogamer