Sony introduces a new gaming subscription service to compete with Microsoft.

• Sony has combined its existing PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services into a single subscription called PlayStation Plus.
• In June, the new PlayStation Plus will be available in three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium.
• Sony's response to Microsoft's game subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, is the move being viewed.

Sony is planning to launch a new video game subscription service this summer in an effort to boost sales of its PlayStation consoles and challenge Microsoft's similar offering.

The company announced on Tuesday that it will combine its existing PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services into a single subscription called PlayStation Plus, which will be available in June and feature three tiers.

• The new PS Plus Essential package offers players two free games each month and online multiplayer access, replacing the original PS Plus. It costs $10 monthly or $60 annually.
• Essential is a step below PS Plus Extra, which offers the same benefits as Essential but includes 400 downloadable PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games for $15 per month or $100 annually.
• The most expensive package is PS Plus Premium, which offers 340 more games than Extra and allows players to stream a selection of PS, PS2, PSP, PS3, PS4, and PS5 games over the internet. PS Plus Premium costs $18 per month or $120 annually.

were marginally higher on Tuesday.

Sony's response to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass, a game subscription service that allows users to download and stream various games, is seen as a move by industry insiders.

Microsoft is investing heavily in Game Pass by purchasing large video game publishers, including and Bethesda, for a combined $76 billion to add their popular games to the service.

Game Pass on Xbox is often referred to as the "Netflix of games." With this service, players can enjoy video games on their phone, PC, or Xbox console through the cloud, eliminating the need for costly hardware.

Sony announced that its PS Plus Premium service would allow users to stream games on their PC, in addition to the PS4 and PS5. Additionally, players will have the option to test certain games for a brief period before making a purchase decision.

Sony's PlayStation boss, Jim Ryan, stated in a blog post on Tuesday that the new Extra and Premium tiers represent a significant evolution for PlayStation Plus. The key focus of these tiers is to provide the best quality content among the hundreds of games offered, which sets PlayStation apart.

Sony has announced that Death Stranding, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Returnal will be among the games available at launch. The company stated that it is collaborating closely with third-party developers to add more titles in the future.