PlayStation Plus Monthly Cost Soars by 600% in Turkey, Sparking Outrage
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Sony Interactive Entertainment has left Turkish PlayStation Plus subscribers stunned and infuriated as they announced a staggering price increase of over 600% for the monthly subscription service. Effective immediately, the monthly cost has surged from 400 Turkish Lira (TRY)...
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ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Sony Interactive Entertainment has left Turkish PlayStation Plus subscribers stunned and infuriated as they announced a staggering price increase of over 600% for the yearly subscription service. Effective immediately, the yearly cost has surged from 400 Turkish Lira (TRY) to a jaw-dropping 2,340 TRY, sending shockwaves through the gaming community.
While this decision may have sent shockwaves through the gaming community, it has certainly pleased investors, who eagerly anticipate higher profits for the Japanese tech giant. Bloomberg (paywall) reported that Sony's shares in Tokyo increased by an impressive 3.4% on Friday, marking the company's most significant gain in over a month.
CLSA analyst Amit Garg suggested that this substantial price hike could translate to an additional $378 million in annual operating profits for Sony, with the possibility of further increases on the horizon. However, the move does not come without risks. Recent surveys indicate that half of Push Square's readers polled are considering downgrading their subscription tier or canceling their PlayStation Plus subscriptions altogether.
The magnitude of this price increase has taken many by surprise, with the annual cost of the most basic PlayStation Plus Extra membership leaping from 400 TRY to 2,340 TRY in Turkey. Sony's introduction of new subscription tiers appears to have been effective in increasing the average revenue per user. Nevertheless, the company now faces the daunting task of retaining its roughly 50 million subscribers worldwide who may choose not to renew their subscriptions in the wake of this substantial price hike.
For Turkish gamers who have long enjoyed the perks of PlayStation Plus, this dramatic price hike represents a tough pill to swallow. As the gaming community watches closely to see how this decision impacts Sony's subscriber base, it remains to be seen whether the promise of increased profits will outweigh the potential loss of loyal customers. PlayStation Plus subscribers in Turkey, as well as across the globe, will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on how this story unfolds in the coming months.
New prices are:
- Essential for 1400 TRY (up from 240 TRY)
- Extra for 2340 TRY (up from 400 TRY)
- Deluxe for 2740 TRY (up from 460 TRY)
So still a bit cheaper than EU prices and in-line with new prices in Malaysia and Thailand.