Sony has unveiled its latest lineup for the PS Plus Essential tier, a selection that's drawing criticism and discontent. The offerings for the month include Aliens Fireteam Elite, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Dragon Ball: The Breakers. While each game has its merits, the lineup falls short of expectations, especially considering the recent 33% price hike of the PlayStation Plus subscription, escalating the annual cost from $59.99 to $79.99 for the base tier.
Aliens Fireteam Elite, a third-person survival shooter set in the iconic Aliens universe, offers players a co-op experience reminiscent of Left 4 Dead. Despite being a competent and enjoyable title, the game has been on the market for over two years and has already seen a fair share of discounts and sales, reducing its appeal as a freebie. Meanwhile, Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an asymmetrical multiplayer game, provides a novel twist to the Dragon Ball franchise. Players find themselves either as survivors or raiders in a cat-and-mouse game, drawing inspiration from Dead by Daylight. While the game presents an interesting concept, it caters to a niche audience and might not resonate well with the usual fans. Finally, Mafia II: Definitive Edition has faced the most criticism. The remastered version of the classic gangster saga is a compelling narrative-driven game but it has been plagued by performance issues and bugs.
The consensus is that of disappointment and frustration. The price increase for PlayStation Plus was already a point of contention, and the expectation was Sony would justify it with a more robust and appealing game selection. Instead, subscribers are greeted with titles that, while not necessary bad, don't match the value of the increased subscription cost. There's growing dissatisfaction, with some accusing Sony of acting cheaply despite asking for more money.