Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on Tuesday that, due to ongoing market conditions, it will raise the prices for its PlayStation Plus subscription service in select regions starting May 20, primarily targeting new users of the entry-level Essential tier.

The new pricing will take effect tomorrow. According to the official announcement, the one-month subscription price will increase from $9.99 to $10.99, a rise of approximately 10%. The three-month subscription will go from $24.99 to $27.99, an increase of about 12%. Corresponding adjustments will be made in the Eurozone and the UK: monthly fees will rise to €9.99 and £7.99, respectively, while quarterly fees will increase to €27.99 and £21.99.

Sony stated that existing subscribers who maintain continuous renewal without changing their service tier will continue to be billed at the original price. However, if a subscription is canceled and later resumed, or if the service plan is changed, the new prices will apply. Existing users in Turkey and India will also be affected by these changes.

This price adjustment follows the increase in PS5 console prices earlier this March, with Sony attributing the move to persistently changing market conditions. Analysts note that the global AI boom has driven up demand for memory chips, leading to higher costs for RAM and solid-state drives, which has put pressure on the entire gaming industry.

It is noteworthy that this price change comes approximately six months before the scheduled release date of "GTA 6." Since "GTA Online" requires a PS Plus subscription for online multiplayer, a significant influx of new users is anticipated upon the game's launch. Market observers believe Sony is strategically implementing this price hike in advance to capture this potential surge in subscribers.

Currently, the Extra and Premium tiers, as well as annual subscription plans, remain unchanged. Specific arrangements for Asian markets are pending an official announcement.