Sony has confirmed that it has “temporarily” blocked subscription stacking, although discount codes are still valid upon purchase. Prior to the launch of the new PlayStation Plus subscription service, some users tried to extend their subscription using PS Plus and PS Now codes.
“As we prepare to launch the new PlayStation Plus subscription service, we are working behind the scenes to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of our existing members,” reads the FAQ update on the PS Plus site.
Subscribers claimed their codes were rejected after attempting to redeem them, with numerous examples of this found in forum threads and on social media.
Subscription stacking occurs when a prepaid card – purchased from Sony or a third-party provider – is used to extend an ongoing subscription before it expires and usually occurs when subscription codes have been discounted. After Sony revealed how it was changing its subscription service, some users discovered a loophole that would allow them to stack PS Now subscriptions and upgrade them to PS Plus Premium at no additional cost to them.
Sony has not responded to allegations that it blocked users from redeeming codes to prevent them from getting a discount before May’s subscription revamp, although PS Now subscriptions can no longer be purchased.
For more information on where PlayStation Plus is headed next month, check out our PS Plus guide. Interestingly, it looks like Sony is planning to add more value at the top tier of the program by requiring games over $34 to feature two-hour time trials.