Sony has been sending out emails to PlayStation Plus subscribers in Europe, informing them that the cost of their subscription is going up on August 31. In the UK, the monthly price is increasing from £6 to £7, the quarterly cost from £15 to £20, and an annual pass is rising from £40 to £50, Engadget said.

The story is the same elsewhere in Europe, where the monthly, quarterly and yearly prices will be revised to €8, €25 and €60, respectively. Sony hasn't offered any explanation as to why the price of membership is increasing, but does recommend you check your auto-renewal settings if you're not thrilled about the extra expense.

A similar price hike hit American subscribers last September.

At the time, Sony didn't provide much of an explanation either, apart from that "The new pricing reflects the current market conditions while enabling us to continue providing exceptional value to our members." If you reckon you'll still be wanting a PlayStation Plus membership for the foreseeable future, it might be worth picking up an annual membership before the end of August and dodging the price hike for another year.