When reflecting on the number of tallies in regards to player population, the argument in recent months appears to be in favor of the subscription services that comes with each platform. But, more so in terms of the game service rather than the conventional online service for the respective console. In that, ambitions such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now is the loudest in the room currently.

For Microsoft’s pursuit, it is reported that Xbox Game Pass currently sits just over 23 million as of April 2021. However, there is steady growth that could also make way for the service from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In that, the firm recorded 3.2 million as of May 2021. But, with the expected addition of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales & Horizon Forbidden West, there is a potential spike to occur if the PlayStation company is consistent with the move.

But, the same conversation is not as upfront in regards to the overall online subscriptions. In one report from 2017, it was reported that Xbox Live found more than 50 million users actively subscribed to the service. But in the latest financial report from Sony, PlayStation Plus now sits over 48 million. You can view the image of the slide from the documentation below:

“The biggest achievement in the DTC space is the PlayStation Network, which has continued to grow organically rather than through external investment,” the subtext reads on the slide. “Our network sales in the fiscal year that just ended, during which the PlayStation 5 was launched, increased almost tenfold compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, when the PlayStation 4 was launched.

“The number of PS Plus subscribers has also steadily grown.  Investment in IP and DTC is closely linked to our Purpose because it creates and delivers Kando. I will come back to this point later.” Understandably, Xbox Live might still remain higher due to the service being well older than PlayStation Now. However, with hardware sales of PlayStation 4 to Xbox One virtually 3:1, there is the possibility that the numbers might be closer than recorded.

Elsewhere from Sony Interactive Entertainment on the performance of PlayStation, the firm plans to continue its migration of first-party software to PC. In a separate string of slides, it is revealed that Naughty Dog’s Uncharted4: A Thief’s End is coming to the platform next. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you actively using PlayStation Plus?

Source: Sony