Sony Announces New PS Plus 'Perks' for YouTube and Other Services, but Fans Say They're 'Not Real Perks'

Sony has recently unveiled fresh perks for PS Plus, which include a three-month trial to YouTube Premium, trials and discounts on other services. However, not all fans are pleased with the announcement. Sony highlighted a range of special offers, trials, and discounts from PlayStation, Sony, and certain partners. These partners include YouTube Premium, DAZN, Audible, and Sony Pictures' own Core.

Moreover, PS Plus members receive a 5% discount when purchasing directly from PlayStation, a 10% savings on gaming and audio from Sony Electronics, and a two-month trial of Calm Premium.

Critics argue that a free trial is not a genuine perk, with one user stating that it is "a big reach" to label free trials as perks. Another commented that these perks are merely a way for Sony to generate more revenue by steering people towards other subscriptions. One person suggested that Sony should offer full Crunchyroll Premium on PS Plus for fans to be happy.

Others are using the perks announcement to further criticize Sony for its decision to discontinue PlayStation discs by 2028. A social media user questioned if physical discs could be considered a perk, and another called Sony's approach "desperate." The disc backlash does not seem to have impacted Sony's financial performance. In recent financial results, the number of monthly active users (MAUs) for the PlayStation platform increased by 7% in September, reaching a record high of 127 million accounts.

Additionally, 78% of game sales during the period were digital, which is a significant majority. This shift to digital sales benefits Sony, as they receive the full revenue from these transactions.