Sony has confirmed another PlayStation Plus price hike for 2025, and the internet is buzzing. Millions of PlayStation gamers are searching for ways to manage the cost — and many are exploring creating additional PSN accounts to take advantage of regional pricing, trial offers, or simply to keep gaming accounts separate.
But here's what most guides don't mention: **creating a new PSN account requires a phone number for OTP verification**. And handing over your real number to Sony means it ends up in yet another database — with all the privacy risks that entails.
In this complete guide, we'll break down the PlayStation Plus price hike, your options for managing the cost, and how to use [OTPStream's](https://otpstream.com) virtual secondary numbers to verify new PSN accounts safely.
## What's Happening with the PlayStation Plus Price Hike?
Sony has raised PlayStation Plus subscription prices significantly across multiple tiers:
- **PS Plus Essential**: Price increased across all major regions - **PS Plus Extra**: Higher monthly and annual costs - **PS Plus Premium**: Steepest increase, affecting long-term subscribers most
The increases have hit players in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia, with Sony citing "rising costs of content and services" as justification.
**The result?** Millions of PlayStation users are rethinking their subscriptions — and many are looking for alternatives, workarounds, or ways to optimize their spend across multiple accounts.
## Why Gamers Are Creating Multiple PSN Accounts
Here are the most common reasons gamers create additional PSN accounts — all of which require fresh phone verification:
### 1. Regional Pricing Arbitrage PlayStation Plus is significantly cheaper in certain regions. Gamers create accounts in lower-cost regions to access better pricing on subscriptions and game purchases.
### 2. Free Trial Access Sony occasionally offers PS Plus trials to new accounts. Creating a new account unlocks access to these promotions.
### 3. Separating Gaming Identities Many streamers and competitive players maintain separate accounts for different game libraries, trophies, or online personas.
### 4. Family Account Management Parents manage separate accounts for children while keeping their own primary account private.
### 5. Testing Before Committing Before paying for Premium, many players create a new account to trial features.
**All of these require phone number OTP verification for the new account.** And that's where OTPStream comes in.
## How to Create a New PSN Account Using an OTPStream Virtual Number
### Step 1: Get a Virtual Number from OTPStream 1. Go to [otpstream.com](https://otpstream.com) 2. Log in and click "New Order" 3. Select your preferred country (US, UK, Japan, or any of 150+ options) 4. Choose "PlayStation" or "Other" from the service menu 5. Receive your virtual number instantly
### Step 2: Start PSN Account Registration Go to account.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com and click "Create a New Account." Fill in your desired region, email address, and date of birth.
### Step 3: Enter Your Virtual Number for OTP When prompted for phone verification, enter the virtual number from OTPStream. Request the SMS verification code.
### Step 4: Collect Your OTP from OTPStream Dashboard Within seconds, the verification code appears in your OTPStream order panel. Copy it.
### Step 5: Complete PSN Account Setup Enter the OTP on the Sony registration page. Your new PSN account is now verified and active — your real phone number was never shared with Sony.
### Step 6: Subscribe to PS Plus Log in to your new account and subscribe to the PlayStation Plus tier of your choice.
## PlayStation Plus Price Comparison: Is a Second Account Worth It?
| PS Plus Tier | Standard Price (US) | Estimated Savings with Regional Account | |---|---|---| | Essential (Monthly) | $9.99 | Up to 50% in some regions | | Extra (Annual) | $134.99 | Significant with JP/IN accounts | | Premium (Annual) | $159.99 | Varies by region |
*Prices are approximate and subject to change. Always check current regional pricing on PlayStation's official site.*
## What's the PlayStation Plus Price Hike Timeline?
- **Announced**: May 2025 - **Effective date**: June–July 2025 across most regions - **Grandfathered plans**: Existing annual subscribers are locked at old rates until renewal - **New subscribers**: Immediately charged at new rates
If you're renewing or starting fresh, this is the time to optimize your account strategy.
## Privacy Benefits of Using OTPStream for PSN Accounts
Beyond cost savings, there are strong privacy reasons to use a virtual number for PSN sign-up:
- **Sony collects your phone number permanently** — it's stored in their user database and linked to your purchase history - **Marketing messages**: Sony sends promotional SMS to verified numbers - **Data breach risk**: Gaming platforms are frequent targets of credential-stuffing attacks - **Account recovery exposure**: If attackers know your number, they can attempt account hijacking via SMS recovery
With OTPStream, your real number stays off Sony's servers entirely.
## Frequently Asked Questions
**Is creating multiple PSN accounts against Sony's Terms of Service?** Sony allows multiple accounts per person. Their Terms of Service prohibit using accounts for commercial resale of subscriptions, but personal use across multiple accounts is common and widely practiced.
**Can I use a virtual number for a Japanese or other regional PSN account?** Yes. OTPStream supports numbers from 150+ countries, including Japan, India, Brazil, and more — ideal for accessing region-specific PSN stores and pricing.
**Will PlayStation Plus work cross-region?** PlayStation Plus is region-specific, meaning a Japanese PS Plus account would be managed separately from a US account. Most game content is region-compatible, though DLC sometimes requires matching regions.
**How much does OTPStream cost for PSN sign-up?** Starting at $0.06 per OTP — far less than the PlayStation Plus price increase itself.
## Respond to the Price Hike Smartly
Sony's PlayStation Plus price hike doesn't have to mean paying more or gaming less. Whether you're optimizing across regions, accessing trial offers, or simply keeping accounts separate, creating new PSN accounts is a legitimate strategy — and OTPStream makes the phone verification step fast, private, and inexpensive.
**👉 [Get your virtual secondary number at OTPStream — from $0.06 →](https://otpstream.com)**