A new year can be seen as a reset for the gaming industry, not just in terms of video game releases but video game subscription services. Both Xbox Game Pass andPS Plushad great years in 2023, complemented by back-to-back top-tier AAA releases, and there’s little doubt both will want to continue that momentum in 2024. Both services already seem to be at it. While 2023 had a slow start for Xbox Game Pass, it was prepared to come out of the gate swinging by releasing three great titles for January 2024. Befitting its own pattern, Sony has also already let loose thePS Plus free games for January 2024, while the Extra and Premium games are expected to be announced on January 10.
PS Plus Essential Games for 2024
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that March tends to be the best month for PS Plus every year.PS Plus' Big March pattern has seen major games likeFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandBloodborneappear on the service over several years, but it’s not certain how the pattern, if at all, lives on now. Some March months have been weaker than others, including thePS Plus free games for March 2023, but it’s impossible to say if that’s out the window now or not.
PS Plus Extra Games for 2024
Unlike PS Plus' Essential Tier, it would be reasonable to expect some changes to PS Plus Extra in 2024. Since the tier was released, Sony has given away anywhere from 12-nearly 20 games every month. The best part is that it’s not just a massive dump of random or various games, but a curated selection ofsolid AAA and indie releases. The problem, though, is how sustainable this truly is. Diluting a pool of 12-20 games by adding in games of lower quality would only hurt the service, so the better move would be to pull it back to perhaps 10 or so games consistently every month. This may not even happen in 2024, but whereas PS Plus Essential feels settled in its ways, PS Plus Extra feels like the kid with something to prove. In 2023, it seems PS Plus Extra more than proved itself, so it’s uncertain what the future, near or far, may hold for it.
PS Plus Premium Games for 2024
Three key factors separate PS Plus Premium from PS Plus Extra: Cloud Streaming, Game Trials, and Classic Games Catalog.PS Plus Premium added some solid classics likeLegend of Dragoonin 2023, but by and large, it feels like the Tier that does still have something to prove. Cloud Streaming is a relatively niche appeal, while Game Trials are nice but not reason enough to upgrade from Extra to Premium. Classic Games, meanwhile, have to appeal to nostalgia, and it stands to reason that the limited number of games added to the classic catalog may not be enough of a draw. If anything, more classic games or something that makes PS Plus Premium more appealing seems like a safe bet, but whether that happens in 2024 or not remains to be seen.
