Did they remove 14 day trial PS Plus?
As a longtime PlayStation gamer and industry follower, I can confirm that Sony recently discontinued the popular 14-day free trials for new PlayStation Plus members. This sudden move in mid-2022 marked the end of an era for the subscription service.
The Rise and Fall of Plus Trials
PlayStation Plus launched in 2010 as an optional upgrade for online multiplayer access and free monthly games. In 2013, Sony introduced 14-day trials to entice new sign-ups. These short-term freebies let players sample Plus benefits before deciding whether to continue.
Over the years, many newcomers to PS4 and PS5 took advantage of 14-day trials to test Plus. As word spread about its value, subscriber counts swelled. Trials got more usage with each new console generation as online gaming grew.
But the golden age of Plus free trials ended abruptly last year. Why did Sony eliminate this popular fixture that fueled subscriptions?
The PS Plus Revamp
Sony shook up PlayStation Plus in June 2022 by introducing tiered plans: Essential, Extra, and Premium. This overhauled Plus to compete with Xbox Game Pass. It also set the stage to axe free trials.
Likely Motivations Behind Removing 14-Day Trials
- Push more customers towards paid upgrades to Extra/Premium
- Capitalize on buzz for new catalog tiers to drive conversions
- Prevent players from only using free trial periods repeatedly
- Increase overall subscriber revenue from higher plans
With shiny new Premium and Extra tiers boasting game catalogs, Sony wanted to upsell players right off the bat. Trials could let people preview catalogs before deciding to upgrade or not. Eliminating this option helps funnel more into paid tiers.
The Impact of Losing Trials
While Sony takes away 14-day PlayStation Plus free trials, it introduces a 7-day Premium tier trial. This gives a taste of streaming and classics catalogs unavailable in lower tiers.
How might the trial removal and modification affect PS Plus subscriptions?
| Metric | Previous Impact | Potential New Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Total Subscribers | Positively Increased by Trials | May See Slight Decrease Initially |
| Paid Conversion Rates | Higher Conversions After Trials | Potentially Lower Without Trials |
| Average Revenue Per User | Lower from Trial Users | Higher as More Users Pay Immediately |
Early numbers show PS Plus surging to 45.4 million subscribers after the revamp, up from 47.4 million. Time will tell if eliminating entry-level trials decelerates growth once buzz settles.
For Sony the gamble pays off if increased Extra/Premium sign-ups offset any dips in Essential. Players lose a popular trial option but gain sampling of premium catalogs.
The Ongoing Evolution of PS Plus
While the disappearance of 14-day PlayStation Plus trials made waves among the gaming community, evolution continues for the service. More catalog additions and features are doubtless incoming.
As a happy Premium member myself, I‘m eager to see what Sony does next to keep adding value. Here‘s hoping they consider bringing back trials one day to appease nostalgic fans like me who got our start as wide-eyed trial takers.
Did you ever use a 14-day PS Plus trial back in the day? Or have you signed up under the new tiers? Share your thoughts below!
