PlayStation Plus isn't always the apple of gamers' eyes; in fact, many in the gaming community have taken major umbridge with the subscription service over the years. Common grievances can range from the very nature of the service, as a paid subscription wasn't needed to play online before the PlayStation 4, all the way to serious privacy and performance issues, like PS Plus' major outage earlier this year.
But recently, the platform has come under fire for a different reason entirely: dark patterns. The term "dark patterns" is typically used in reference to any elements of the user experience that are designed with the express purpose of keeping users in a loop that's harmful to them but beneficial to the platform holder. For instance, if someone wants to cancel a subscription, but the relevant website hides the "cancel subscription" option behind walls of obscure questions or otherwise makes it hard to reach, that's a dark pattern. PlayStation has typically not been too egregious in this respect, but a relatively recent change to PS Plus account management has opened the floodgates of criticism.
What to Expect From PS Plus in 2025
PS Plus has followed a very clear trend since the introduction of its tier system, and chances are, 2025 is a continuation of that trend.
Why Sony's 'Cancel Subscription' Change Has Made Consumers Angry
Sony's Changes to Subscription Management Implements a Dark Pattern
For several years now, if someone wanted to cancel auto-renewal for their PlayStation Plus subscription, they could go into the relevant category in the system settings and select the "Cancel Auto Renewal" option. That was all there was to it: users would select this option, and it would almost be like they removed their card information from their console. They wouldn't be refunded for the subscription time they already paid for, but they would be able to rest easy knowing that they wouldn't get charged again. This option was particularly suitable for those who simply didn't want to keep paying for PS Plus, but who had no qualms about riding out the rest of their sub period.
There have been reports of PS Plus subscribers getting prorated refunds based on how much time they have left when canceling, but this seemingly has to be worked out with customer service directly, who will dole out refunds on a case-by-case basis.
Users can cancel their PS Plus auto-renewal by navigating to their system settings, but instead of being met with the Cancel Auto Renewal option, they'll encounter a button that says "Cancel Subscription." Indeed, as of this year, the "Cancel Auto Renewal" option—whose function was clear as day—has been giving a much more ambiguous name, despite accomplishing the exact same goal.
There are a few reasons why this change is problematic. For first-time or inexperienced PS Plus subscribers, there could be some confusion regarding what "cancel" really means in this context: will it cut off their subscription then and there, or will it allow them to enjoy the rest of their sub period and simply not renew the service? Those seeking the latter outcome might skip past the Cancel Subscription button and either waste time searching for the "right" solution, or give up, or forget about the process entirely, letting the subscription renew when it's time. Seasoned PS Plus subscribers who've canceled their subscriptions before could be even more confused, since they'll likely assume that the button does something different from the previous one, which they had gotten so used to.
In the end, it's the mere existence of this ambiguity, coupled with the ostensible lack of a real reason for changing the name of the Cancel Auto Renewal button, that has consumers so frustrated with PlayStation. It feels dishonest and manipulative, as though the gaming giant is trying to confuse its audiences in the hopes that at least some of them will rethink their plans to cancel.
PlayStation Plus offers three membership plans packed with benefits and games to level up your play.
PlayStation Plus Premium
Enjoy all the core PlayStation Plus benefits, hundreds of games in the Game Catalog, and premium benefits like game trials, cloud streaming, and the Classics Catalog.
PlayStation Plus Extra
Get all the great benefits included in the PlayStation Plus Essential plan, as well as access to the Game Catalog, featuring hundreds of games to download and explore.
PlayStation Plus Essential
Enjoy all the core PlayStation Plus benefits: join your friends in online multiplayer matches, add new games to your collection every month, save at PlayStation Store and more.