A Sony exec explains whyPlayStation Pluswon’t get too many games on day one like Xbox Game Pass. Sony transitioned PS Plus into a three-tiered service earlier this year. The Essential tier works the same way as the previous PS Plus model, but Extra and Premium offer more benefits.PS Plus Extra and Premiummembers get access to a catalog of hundreds of titles, including some classic games from previous generations.
However, not many games come to PS Plus on day one. Sony had earlier confirmed that it willnot add first-party AAA games to PS Plus Extra on day one, and the same appears to be true for third-party titles. There are exceptions to this rule, as Sony addedStrayon day one in July 2022, but it’s probably not going to become the norm. One Sony executive reiterates the reasoning behind this decision.
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In an interview with Games Industry, PlayStation’s Shuhei Yoshida mentions that Sony believes in a premium release for video games. PlayStation’s approach is to help publishers manage a game’s lifecycle, and Yoshida then compares it to movies coming out in theaters first before being available on pay-per-view, streaming, or other services. Using this method, the movie generates more revenue every time, or it captures a broader audience. However, Yoshida states that games could come toPS Plusafter six to 12 months. At that point, the game’s sales are down so adding it to PS Plus could help in increasing the active user base.
Yoshida also confirms that there are some exceptions to this rule, and mentions how PS Plus contributed tothe success ofRocket LeagueandFall Guysas both games launched as day one releases. According to Yoshida, the above-mentionedStraywas more of an anomaly, and he believes that PS Plus could instead be used to increase interest in a game to promote its sequel or DLC.
Sony has maintained a consistent response to similar questions, but Yoshida shares more detail about the thought process.PlayStation’s own first-party AAA gamesoften get extremely positive reviews and sell millions of copies, and it probably doesn’t have many reasons to offer them on day one on PS Plus. Yoshida’s comments about how PS Plus could be used to elevate interest in games after sales have died down or when the publisher wants to promote a tie-in product also make sense. Overall, the interview gives more insight into Sony’s process and what gamers can expect from future PS Plus lineups.
