There is a unique phenomenon occurring at the moment. Confronted with the reality that there still aren’t many big releases for the PS5, players’ best option is now to turn to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium services.
With reports of these subscriptions going up (despite a price increase late last year), it highlights a potential shift away from AAA released and towards indie games and old classics.
While a few big titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Death Stranding 2, Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 are on the horizon, that horizon remains elusive. The limited number of PlayStation exclusives compared to previous generations is stark.
The PlayStation drought
There are a few reasons behind this big release drought. There are some industry-wide challenges - or, at least, a change in expectations. Longer development cycles certainly exist as large, big hitters compete to become more complex. But, there was also the (some might say strange) decision to continue publishing the games for PS4, and this cross-gen focus also slows things down.
But, the industry as a whole has suffered layoffs and rising costs, at a time where some younger players expect gaming to be free and indefinite (Fortnite and Warzone). Raising the cost of the game isn’t the straightforward solution that it may appear to be.
The delay of games like Baby Steps to 2025 really highlights this broader trend of setbacks, and of course GTA 6 could finally be coming this year.
The PS Plus Extra & Premium value proposition
In response to this drought, many gamers are finding a spot in PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium services. The three-tier structure, which is frequently bought with a gifted PlayStation card, means that players can access an extensive library of games across multiple PlayStation generations.
Recent additions include titles such as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Bang-On Balls: Chronicles to Extra subscribers. Premium members have even more to look forward to, with classic titles like the Armored Core series joining the line up. However, the many smaller indie games on there are also showing console gamers that, in a cost of living crisis, they can access great games in a more affordable way. With the movement towards streaming services and subscriptions, it looks like another obstacle that AAA faces.
Catalogue gaming
Nobody expected the shift towards indie and catalogue gaming for PS5. After all, their large IPs were one of the biggest reasons for outcompeting Xbox on console sales. But players are discovering games like Arcade Paradise, and giving them a go because it’s “free”; included in the monthly subscription.
The resurgence of interest in classic gaming during this period of limited new releases also shows that PlayStation gamers are no longer looking to be fed mainstream titles, but are now behaving more like PC gamers in their quest to discover new experiences.
While the industry eagerly awaits the next wave of blockbuster releases, and they will sell, gamers are simply adapting to their situation right now. While many believe subscription gaming is bad for gaming, it’s simply all that players have right now.
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