Sony's First Party Games Won't Hit PlayStation Plus Day One
Jun 25, 2025 4:16 PMSony continues to focus on its current strategy regarding PlayStation Plus, making it clear that new first-party games will not be available on the service at launch. PlayStation's vice president Nick Maguire stated that they aim to find a balance by offering select independent titles at release while keeping major first-party games like God of War Ragnarök and Horizon Forbidden West for later addition, often a year post-launch. The approach contrasts with Xbox Game Pass, which releases several first-party titles immediately. Maguire believes their existing formula is working well, indicating no intentions to shift their strategy despite market pressures.
Will Sony ever put first-party games on PlayStation Plus at launch?According to PlayStation's vice president Nick Maguire, this is not in their current plans, as they believe their current approach of introducing first-party games later in their lifecycle is more effective.
PlayStation Plus has evolved significantly since its inception, initially offering monthly free games and later transitioning into a tiered subscription model that includes a variety of third-party games. This ongoing strategy has been pivotal in shaping how gamers engage with PlayStation's robust library and maintaining interest while ensuring profitability. Meanwhile, Sony's fierce competition with Microsoft in the subscription gaming service arena continues to fuel discussions about their future offerings.
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Samira Khan is a narrative enthusiast with a keen eye for storytelling in games. Her literary approach to game criticism examines themes, character development, and plot structure, earning her a following among gamers who appreciate the art of narrating.
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Sephiroth commented on: 2025-06-25 17:58:09
Interesting to see Sony sticking to their guns on this—first-party games as late additions keeps the hype cycle alive while still rewarding patient subscribers. Makes you wonder if this model will hold up as Game Pass keeps pushing the day-one expectation. Love how PlayStation Plus has become this curated back catalog of bangers instead of a dumping ground for new releases. Feels like a quality over quantity play that suits their single-player focus.
Rolling R!ck commented on: 2025-06-25 17:46:11
Smart move by Sony—keeping their big exclusives off PS Plus at launch preserves that premium feel while still giving subscribers solid value down the line. Though it’s a bummer for day-one players, this strategy clearly keeps their single-player hits selling strong. Kinda wild how Sony and Xbox’s approaches to subscription services are total opposites, yet both seem to work for their audiences. Guess there’s no one-size-fits-all in the console wars
