Sony has announced the new lineup of free games for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers for September, featuring a trio of good-but-not-great titles: Saints Row, Black Desert: Traveler Edition, and Generation Zero.
Unfortunately, what should’ve been another exciting monthly reveal for gamers has turned into a divisive topic, with a lot of subscribers expressing disappointment with Sony’s recent string of reveals. This polarization is exacerbated by the fact that Sony is also set to hike the prices of its PlayStation Plus subscriptions next week.
Let’s delve into the games first. Saints Row is Volition’s reboot of the iconic series, introducing a fresh setting – Santo Ileso – and a new group of disenchanted career criminals taking over the city in grand chaotic fashion. While the game aims to retain the comedic series edge, it eschews the outrageous antics that some found overwhelming in its previous entries. Despite a lukewarm reception upon its initial release last year due to technical issues, Saints Row has seen many major patches that arguably improve gameplay, yet it remains a subject of debate on whether it lives up to its legacy.
Next, we have Black Desert: Traveler Edition, a fantasy MMORPG by Pearl Abyss known for its action-based combat and varied gameplay options like fishing and farming, and extensive character customization features. The Traveler Edition is a bundle, enhancing the free-to-play base game with numerous in-game items and perks. At the very least, it’s a well-rounded – and now, free – experience for fans of MMORPGs, but its presence in the PS Plus lineup doesn’t inspire much joy.
The final and also very polarizing inclusion is Generation Zero. Created by Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios, this first-person shooter is set in an alternate 1980s Sweden plagued by robot invaders. You can team up with friends for an online co-op experience or go it solo as you battle the robotic menace. Though gameplay has improved plenty since its initial launch, the general perception is still far from enthusiastic.
As we’ve already mentioned, the underwhelming reception of these titles is made worse by Sony’s announcement of a substantial price hike for its PlayStation Plus subscriptions. The 12-month Essential subscription will rise from $59.99 to $79.99. The timing is inappropriate, given the already divisive slate of free games. Not to mention, one of the biggest releases for Sony in September is the pseudo-temporarily exclusive, Baldur’s Gate 3, so Sony definitely had a reason to include Larian Studios’ previous outing, Divinity Original Sin 2, a similarly niche title that could build a potential player base for the new release.
Is this the worst PS Plus Essential lineup in the service’s history? Probably. We don’t have the data to make that claim but we’re sure that it’s right up there among the worst of them. It’s particularly stinging that Sony decided to do this as Xbox is set to welcome arguably the most anticipated console-exclusive title of its generation on the Game Pass next week – Starfield.
We’re holding out hope that the more expensive tiers, Extra and Premium, could help salvage the situation, but, it also feels like we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment if we do that.
The general sentiment is clear – Sony missed an opportunity to offset the impending price increase and the arrival of Starfield with a strong line of free games.
It’s unclear why Sony dropped the ball like this so hard. Is Sony resting on its laurels given how well the PlayStation 5 is selling? The PS5 is poised to outsell competition this quarter again due to the recent price cuts. With the PS5 Slim also coming soon and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swinging by in October, it’s not like Sony will have a hard time selling itself to consumers.
Still, the successive months of subpar free games – last month’s free lineup weren’t exactly blockbuster titles either – feels deflating for anyone subscribed to any PS Plus tier.
As we look towards October, we’re certainly hoping for a more universally exciting batch of free games to restore faith in the value proposition of PlayStation Plus.
