PlayStation Plus will have a 'prominent role' on PS4, says Sony

The PlayStation Plus subscription service will have "a prominent role" on PlayStation 4, said Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, in an interview with the PlayStation Blog.

Sony did not highlight PlayStation Plus during its PS4 reveal event last week, but according to Ryan, that doesn't mean it's not going to be a part of the PS4.

Calling the Plus service "a core part of the way forward," Ryan said, "We're not yet in a position to disclose our plans for the future of PlayStation Plus but there will definitely be a prominent role to play for it in the PlayStation 4 landscape." Ryan also pointed out that Plus membership has tripled over the past year.

Sony doesn't plan to leave the PlayStation 3 behind, either. PlayStation 2 production ceased at the end of 2012, but according to Ryan, the 12-year-old console is still being sold in regions such as the Middle East.

"The transition [from PS3 to PS4] might be a bit more accelerated this time round," said Ryan, "but PS3 is a very important part of our portfolio, certainly in 2013, 2014 and probably beyond that."

Ryan also mentioned Sony's slate of first-party exclusives scheduled for release in 2013 — God of War: Ascension on March 12, The Last of Us on June 14 and Beyond: Two Souls on Oct. 8 — before teasing other "highly significant" titles that are still unannounced.

"There's a lot coming on PS3 and it's going to be very important to us for some time yet," said Ryan.