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The winds of change are bringing a storm toward PlayStation Plus subscribers, and many faithful players are jumping ship before it hits. Since the first PlayStation was born in 1994 in Japan, its success led to 100 million consoles sold and shipped worldwide in the following year. Sony figured out a new way to bring games to their consoles later in 2010, calling it PlayStation Plus. With new consoles, plans, games, and players, PlayStation Plus has been a staple for many of its faithful customers ever since, that is, until now.
PlayStation Plus Is Changing
PlayStation Plus provides exclusive content for its players, including games, shopping discounts, and early access to some of its most popular titles. It’s a paid subscription service that adds cloud storage for saved games, so players don’t need to purchase gaming titles individually but share the opportunity to play a variety of titles, as well as the previously mentioned benefits.
There are also some added advantages that some players use to enjoy their gaming experience. If you love to play online multiplayer games on the PlayStation 4 or 5, then it’s a must-have to link up with friends for the most popular games like Call of Duty and FIFA. When it comes to playing free-to-play games, PS Plus is not required, so gamers are free to enjoy Fortnite or Apex Legends.
What is PlayStation Plus
Here is where we start to get to some of the upcoming problems. Subscribers do have the opportunity to play free games for their members. However, their game titles are usually available for a month while gamers make the most of their subscription. You see, every month, Sony releases select free games to play for their subscribers that are usually PS4 or PS5 titles, where they can be claimed by adding them to your library. Once you have added them, you can download and play the game as long as you have an active subscription.
With the games you get access to play through PlayStation Plus, you need to keep in mind that you can only play them while you pay for the monthly subscription. You don’t own the games but are kind of renting them as long as you pay. So for some, it’s great having a variety, while for those who wish to only play a few games, it’s not a dream come true. There are three different tiers for PlayStation Plus.
Different Tiers
PlayStation Plus Essential is the basic and most common. For it, you get the monthly PS5 and PS4 downloadable games as well as Exclusive discounts, cloud storage, and online multiplayer access. Next, you can get the Extra package, where you get everything from the Essential as well as a downloadable catalogue of nearly 400 games. The third tier includes the benefits of the others as well as PS3 game streaming, as well as catalogue download streaming of the PSP, PS1, and PS2, as well as time-limited game trials.
The end of May is going to be a brutal month for popular games leaving PS Plus services. They will be losing about 20 titles that also include some AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto V, VI, and GTA V. There are several others like Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, with a few old classics that have stood the test of time.
Cost or Keep
There is also the price hike problem. For those unaware, a yearly PS Plus subscription cost rose significantly in 2023. PS Plus Essential used to be $59.99 for a year (now $79.99), PS Plus Extra used to be $99.99 a year (now $134.99), and PS Plus Premium used to be $119.99 a year (now up to a monstrous $159.99).
Things are always changing in the gaming world, which means that with all this going on with the PlayStation. What are you going to do, switch, watch, stay with what you love, or keep your ear open for more? Whatever you are going to do, keep up with what you love.
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Solving Henrietta's Map in Hogwarts Legacy
Henrietta’s Hideaway is a location you’ll be visiting more than once in Hogwarts Legacy. There are multiple quests to be solved in this area, including Find Rococo, Solved by the Bell, an Astronomy Table, an Infamous Foe, and this quest, Hippogriff Marks the Spot. You’ll start this quest in an entirely unrelated location, and even when you’re in the right place, the answer isn’t clear. For everything you need to solve Henrietta’s Map, follow our instructions below. If you want to catch or breed a Hippogriff, make sure to read our beast locations guide. Make sure to read through our other Hogwarts Legacy guides for everything you need to know about the game, including puzzle solutions, item locations, and more. For information on the Hogwarts Legacy controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling and the game, read our explainer. How to find Henrietta’s Map – Hogwarts Legacy The first thing we need to do is start the quest, if you haven’t already. You can begin this quest at Poidsear Castle – it’s a map sitting on a desk in a tent near the back of the castle. The Side Quest icon should be hovering over it to draw your attention. Solving Henrietta’s Map – Hogwarts Legacy Once we have the map, we need to solve it. First is quite obviously a literal map, with an X marking the spot, and an illustration of where we need to go. It is Henrietta’s Map, so it makes sense that this quest would take place in Henrietta’s Hideaway to the South of Manor Cape. There’s also a Hippogriff surrounded by flames, with a flame and ice icon near them. The flame obviously indicates the use of your fire spells, and the ice icon hints at using Glacius. Hippogriff Marks the Spot solution – Hogwarts Legacy Right, so we need to enter Henrietta’s Hideaway. Once you arrive at the castle you’ll find a dungeon entrance down to the right side of the ruin. Inside there’s a quick and easy puzzle involving fire and ice spell blocks. As the main door opens, you will come face to face with a Hippogriff statue surrounding by burning braziers. First you will need to extinguish the flames around the Hippogriff. Next, you will need to light only the braziers indicated by Henrietta’s Map. These are as follows, when facing the Hippogriff: Rear of the Hippogriff Left of the Hippogriff Right of the Hippogriff Right front side of the Hippogriff Once those braziers are lit, a wall will open up at the back, revealing a chest with an item inside. Hippogriff Marks the Spot rewards – Hogwarts Legacy For your efforts you will receive Treasure-Seekers Gloves as an appearance option. Nice if you’re after the Treasure-Seekers appearance set, I guess.
Scribes float blockbuster trade sending Quinn Hughes to Devils
Could a Hughes brothers reunion be on the horizon in New Jersey? According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, it’s inevitable that Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes joins siblings Jack and Luke on the Devils. Brooks proposed a massive trade package, suggesting Vancouver could land Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey, Anton Silayev or Arseni Gritsyuk, a first-round pick and forward Dawson Mercer in return. Brooks believes it’s in both teams’ best interest to explore a deal sooner rather than later. Hughes has two years remaining on his contract and Canucks president Jim Rutherford acknowledged Quinn’s desire to play with his siblings one day. It’s not clear if Hughes has outwardly expressed interest in reuniting with his brothers or if the Canucks are making the assumption that’s going to be a pain point in negotiations. Jeff Marek also weighed in on the idea of Hughes going to New Jersey. "Again, this is sort of under the umbrella of, make sure that you don’t pay too much. You’re probably looking at you know Dougie Hamilton plus Simon Nemec is if you’re New Jersey that’s what you’re that that’s what you’re trying to pay for someone like Quinn Hughes. Meanwhile, if you’re the Vancouver Canucks, you’re saying to the New Jersey Devils, like this guy is and a perennial candidate for the Norris. If you want Quinn Hughes two years early, the conversation starts with either Nico Hischier or Jesper Bratt plus. And then we start talking about prospects and we start talking about picks." No pressure for Canucks to do this right away Marek suggested that the one thing the Canucks have going for them is a little time. Knowing that there are at least two years to make this trade, the "standoff is right now there’s no real pressure point we have to get this done right now," he noted. The Canucks will make sure the Devils know that if these two teams get to talking about a trade. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman said on Friday’s "32 Thoughts: The Podcast" that the Devils might already be looking into the idea. GM Tom Fitzgerald hinted he wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t call and have a conversation. "You call and say, 'Hey guys, what’s going on here. I know what I’ve read. Is there a conversation here?' It’s malpractice if you don’t make that phone call. I have no doubt Tom Fitzgerald will."
The Vikings Have Made Decision On Kirk Cousins' No. 8
A reunion between the Minnesota Vikings and Kirk Cousins feels even less likely than before. Speculation has simmered over whether the Vikings could attempt to re-acquire their longtime starting quarterback if the Atlanta Falcons shop him. While the Falcons have publicly expressed no desire to move him, Cousins reportedly wants a change of scenery now that Michael Penix Jr. has a firm grasp of the QB1 job. The Vikings seemed to pour cold water over that hypothesis when acquiring Sam Howell during the NFL Draft. His new number may further signal that Minnesota won't pursue Cousins. Minnesota revealed number assignments for its new players on Friday. Howell will wear No. 8, which Cousins wore throughout his six-season tenure with the Vikings. It shouldn't be a stunning development, as Minnesota had already reassigned the number. Wide receiver Trishton Jackson switched from No. 9 to 8 last season. Upon joining the Falcons, Cousins changed to No. 18. While tight end Kyle Pitts offered to give his new quarterback No. 8, playfully requesting more targets in return, Cousins declined to avoid buying out all the remaining Pitts jerseys. Cousins couldn't keep No. 18 if returning to Minnesota, as Justin Jefferson could become the last Vikings player to don that number. Then again, tight end Josh Oliver wears the No. 84 that formerly belonged to Randy Moss. Regardless of the number situation, a Cousins reunion was probably a long shot before the Howell deal. Once Sam Darnold signed with Seattle, the Vikings appeared poised to hand the offense to J.J. McCarthy. The first-round pick missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Cousins has three seasons left on a $180 million contract that guaranteed him $100 million. One would think the Falcons would rather not pay so much to a second-stringer, but they're not showing much urgency to move the 36-year-old. A move could still materialize, perhaps after Aaron Rodgers makes his long-awaited decision on whether to play in 2025. But Cousins probably won't wear purple and gold again.
Ravens downplay Justin Tucker's release with a tone-deaf statement
Congratulations to the Ravens for turning what should have been an easy public relations win into a self-inflicted wound. On Monday, the Ravens finally cut embattled kicker Justin Tucker, four months after the Baltimore Banner published an exposé detailing allegations of sexual misconduct by Tucker at Baltimore-area massage parlors. His dismissal should have been the end of the story. But that's when Ravens executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta stepped in. DeCosta followed the news by releasing a statement thanking Tucker and describing the decision to release him as "incredibly difficult." Here's a helpful note to teams: You don't have to thank players who've tarnished your brand. In fact, you don't have to say anything at all. What a concept! Last season, Tucker was a career-worst 73.3% on field goal attempts (22-of-30). As we noted when the Banner first surfaced allegations against Tucker, his drop-off in on-field production was always going to be the likelier reason for him to be released. It's still disappointing that the Ravens, who reasoned the move was made after "considering our current roster," played right into the already low expectations. But it fits with the organization. It's the same team that honored disgraced running back Ray Rice in 2023, a decade after he violently attacked his then-fiancée in a hotel elevator. It's also the same team that selected defensive end Mike Green, who has faced two allegations of sexual assault, in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ravens have proven by their actions that they'll overlook misconduct if it serves them well. DeCosta's statement on Tucker simply said the quiet part out loud.
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