For many years Sony’s PlayStation has always been the gaming console of choice, easily outstripping most of its competition in features, sales and gaming options. Sony has found a way to consistently dole out features that keeps it at the forefront of the gaming industry through partnerships and collaborations with the best entertainment companies around the world. So, when the time came to bring Netflix on board, there was certainly no hesitation as fans welcomed this new development with open arms. However, it is not unheard of for newbies in the gaming community to always ask the question of if they would require a PlayStation Plus account to watch Netflix. To answer this question, you need to know what a PlayStation Pluss account is.
What is a PlayStation Plus Account?
PlayStation Plus is a service offered by Sony for the management of their online subscription service on the PlayStation 4 console. A PlayStation Plus account is usually required before users can access the opportunity to play multiplayer games regardless of where the other player might be.
The PlayStation Plus service also comes with a few added benefits for its users; PlayStation Plus users are allowed to upload their game saves and store them so that they can be retrieved through any other console anywhere in the world. Members of the PlayStation Plus community also have access to free games every month and they are given lots of bonus sales on several digital games that regular users may not have access to.
Can You Watch Netflix on PlayStation 4 without A PlayStation Plus Account?
Absolutely! The PlayStation Plus service is not a requirement for users to have access to third party applications like Netflix. All PlayStation 4 owners can also access other apps like YouTube and Netflix without needing a PlayStation Plus subscription. This is one of the major differences between a PlayStation 4 console and an Xbox 360. While the Xbox 360 would require you to have a premium account to access most of its third-party applications, a PlayStation 4 is open to users without premium PlayStation Plus accounts. This easily allows for more flexibility and it is one of the major features that users enjoy about the console.
What does a PlayStation Plus Account Provide?
- Access To Multiplayer
A PlayStation Plus Account gives users access to the multiplayer feature of the console. This allows users to play games with many other PlayStation Plus users around the world. With this feature, users can now connect, network and form online gaming community clusters.
- Access To Online Storage
With a PlayStation Plus Account, users can now continue their gameplay progress from anywhere and any PlayStation 4 console in the world. They are no longer limited by the location of the actual console and this makes gameplay easy and seamless. These saved games are automatically placed on Sony’s servers and they can easily be downloaded on any console all around the world and can even serve as backups just in case you accidentally delete the version on your console as well.
- Access To Free Games
Each month, Sony grants its PlayStation Plus users access to a collection of free games every month which it likes to call the “Instant Game Collection”. As soon as these games are available for the month, users can choose to buy them for free on the Store, then download and play them on their console. However, there is a catch, if you do not redeem a game while it is free for a month, then you might not be able to get it for free beyond that particular month.
If your subscription expires and you lose access to all your free games, all you need to do is to subscribe again to have complete access to all the games you have previously saved for free. These free games always include a mix of games of PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita gaming consoles. However, each of these games is only playable on their respective consoles. If you are a little curious, then you can choose to view the free games that Sony gives away each month on their website, and you can also view the historical free games list on Wikipedia.
- Access To Gaming Deals
Several sales benefits that are available on the PlayStation store are also available to PlayStation Plus users. On the store, the prices in Yellow are for PlayStation Plus subscribers while the prices in white are for regular users. It is not very likely that you would get a discount on newer, big-budget games, most of the discounts are usually on older games or new small budget/indie games. However, even if your PlayStation Plus subscription ends, these games remain yours.
Is a PlayStation Plus Account Worth It Even Though You Don’t Require It For Netflix?
The major feature that a PlayStation Plus account offers you is the multiplayer option. Payment for this feature has now been standardized and it was pioneered by Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold. Now, the only way to play multiplayer games for free is via a PC or on a PlayStation 3.
Although, Sony gets to pick the free games that you have access to, and you may not like the collection you get in a particular month. However, the secret to getting the games that you like is being patient. Sooner or later, you are likely to come across games that you will love. In a case where a digital game may seem expensive, you can choose to get physical games instead as they are usually cheaper.
Want To Try It Out? – You Can Get A Free Trial
Sony grants users a 14-day free trial of the PlayStation Plus services which can be accessed from the PlayStation Store. Also, the PlayStation 4 console usually comes with a printed trial code in the box as well. Sony’s PlayStation Plus comes in three subscription options;
- $10 per month
- $25 per three months
- $60 per year
It is, however, worthy to note that you will automatically be billed each month once your free trial date expires. Nonetheless, not having a PlayStation Plus account would never hinder you from having access to Netflix on your PlayStation 4 console, and you can always have access to unlimited Netflix content as long as you have an active Netflix subscription.
