PlayStation Plus Essential comes with over 700 games with two or three monthly bonus games, online play, multiplayer, cloud saves and PlayStation Store discounts.
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The streaming phenomenon has finally (probably inevitably) bridged gaming from movies and TV. For PlayStation gamers, you can now get a 12-month subscription to Plus Essential, the console’s streaming service featuring hundreds of games, and a lifetime subscription to KeepSolid’s unlimited VPN, for just $69.99. For context, that’s over 70% off for the bundle — the PlayStation Plus Essential subscription is worth $59.99 on its own, and the VPN lifetime subscription is $199.99. But still, this deal isn’t for all gamers (and it certainly helps to have a particular PlayStation). Read on to see if this offer is right for you.
What reviewers say about PlayStation Plus Essential: This streaming service includes over 700 games with two or three monthly bonus games, online play, multiplayer, cloud saves and PlayStation Store discounts. The consensus among tech rags is that while the subscription is a bargain – like most first-edition streaming services – there are aspects that may leave some users vexed. PlayStation Plus Essential offers “hundreds of games, cloud streaming, monthly bonus games and online multiplayer access. What it doesn’t offer, however, is a clean interface to make finding games easier,” CNET writes. According to CNET, it’s essentially a combination and evolution of Sony’s pilot streaming services, PS Plus and PS Now, and in that sense it’s an upgrade. “As far as the games available, they are some of the best on the PlayStation console. This includes Death Stranding Director’s Cut, God of War (2018), Demon’s Souls (the 2020 updated version), Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Red Dead Redemption 2, Control, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy,” the reviewer wrote.
However, note that this offer is for the lowest tier available (Extra and Premium are the two largest and most expensive offers). If you like newer games, it probably has what you want – and CNN Underscored reviewers argue that the more expensive option still needs some work. “The new PlayStation Plus offers a good amount of games and features for the price, but the Premium tier still needs fleshing out. Unless you care about the classics, most players will be happy with the Essential or Extra options.
What Reviewers Say About KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: A VPN can unlock many additional international options for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers, but it’s also useful on its own, allowing you to protect yourself and your data both on secure and public WiFi, access servers international markets and even stream programming on platforms like Netflix that may not be available at home. “VPN Unlimited has a lot to offer. Its streaming-optimized servers have unblocked almost every platform I’ve tested. It keeps no logs and has good security features to keep you safe online. It also works in China and has very helpful customer support,” writes VPN review site VPNMentor.
TechRadar writes, “KeepSolid offers great performance at a fair price and apps that run on almost anything.” The wrong side? “It lacks servers, device management is boring, and Windows’ kill switch needs improvement, but if you can live with those hassles, it’s worth a look,” the reviewer adds. I will note that the price is perhaps even fairer with this offer.
How to claim this offer: Once you have purchased the plan on stacksocial, you will receive redemption codes and instructions for redeeming the offer. If you decide to give it a go and have any questions or concerns, you can contact their customer support team using this form.
The view of this bargain hunter: To be completely frank, I’m not an advanced gamer – my skills are mostly limited to blasting my way through Tekken and Soul Caliber at parties, Rock Band, and the occasional racing game or Mario Kart. That said, I’m still considering doing this deal myself for the savings just on Unlimited VPN. Because the codes are separate, I could pass the redemption code to my best friend who I had trouble keeping away from video games for over 15 years. So this loophole exists for people looking to access a high-quality VPN at a super discounted price (and maybe a gift for a friend or family member). I’m tired of waiting to watch the next season of Derry Girls, after all.
About this column: Since you’re here, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Maddy Perkins, Associate Business Editor for MarketWatch Picks. I’m a big online shopper who loves a bargain, especially when it comes to cool kitchen gadgets, electronics, fashion, and beauty products. I’ll be here a few times a week to share with you the best deals I can find online. Do you have something you would like me to research? Email me at maddy.perkins@marketwatch.com. Cheers!
Any advice, recommendations, or rankings expressed in this article are those of MarketWatch Picks, and have not been reviewed or endorsed by our business partners.
