Fall 2021 is beginning to fill in for video game releases, with October quickly becoming a big month with games such as Far Cry 6, Battlefield 2042, Metroid Dread, Guardians of the Galaxy, and far more. November will also mark an important occasion: the one-year anniversary of the PS5 and Xbox Series X releases. This fall season is beginning to fill out for both companies, and it may just be that PlayStation Plus has a big bombshell moment.
This is not to suggest that one or the other is better, as competition is better for all gamers, but the approach thus far between the two companies has been incredibly different. The PS5 came out swinging, releasing exclusive after exclusive like Returnal and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, but that momentum has slowed. Everything has in 2020-2021, of course, but it seems that the big exclusives for PS5 this fall will be Deathloop (September 2021) and Horizon Forbidden West (TBC 2021).
Now, Sony could come out with a State of Play next month that reveals even more big games for this fall, but it seems like a safe bet that this might be it as far as PS5-exclusive AAA games go. In PS Plus, though, Sony might just have its big bombshell moment by releasing a big PS4 or PS5 game.
PS Plus Goes Mano a Mano with Game Pass This Fall
In terms of competition and comparison, it's worth mentioning that the Xbox Series X has been lighter on exclusives this year than the PS5, and for fall/holiday 2021, the only confirmed release for it is Halo Infinite (no release date yet). Both companies have a huge line-up of games coming in the next couple of years, but 2021 serves as a bit of a lull due to new console releases and the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, it might just be PS Plus and Game Pass leading the charge this gaming season. Game Pass has revealed a ton of games coming to it at E3 2021, meaning that the question for many Xbox owners isn't, "what should I buy?" It's "what am I playing next on Game Pass?"
This is indubitably a big draw, which is why Sony has probably looked into creating a Game Pass competitor. However, with a few tweaks, it really has one in PS Plus. While it may not offer as many games for as long a time, PS Plus has almost always had a good reputation, and that reputation goes far. With the right amount hand shaking, PS Plus could give Sony a big one-up this year with a big game or two at the right time.
A Big PS4 or PS5 Game for PS Plus
Of course, the big question would be what game that could be. Would it be PS4 and PS5, or just PS5? Would it be first- or third-party? Notably, either could work depending on the game. For example, if Sony went the right route, it could score a big third party game on both platforms to make sure its players are enjoying it there.
It wouldn't be the first time a game releases on PS Plus, and while this is just speculation, Sony could and should shoot for the stars here. For example, Battlefield 5 was given away this summer to seemingly build anticipation for Battlefield 2042, so releasing the follow-up would likely do numbers.
At the same time, former Xbox-exclusive The Medium is coming to PS5 on September 3, and that specific release date already makes it a prime contender for a day one release on PS Plus. There's plenty more that could do it, but going big or going for a twist would be a good move if it released a third-party title day one.
First-party titles could admittedly be a little trickier. If Sony were to release a PS5 game, it couldn't be just one of the PS5 games released on the service already like Bugsnax; going PS4/PS5 makes sense with this in mind. It also couldn't be something more recent, as anyone who bought it would likely be upset (unless Sony intends on issuing refunds like when Maneater released on PS5). Assuming Sony shoots for the star, it should look at games that would draw in almost anyone.
Releasing Spider-Man Remastered and Spider-Man: Miles Morales together on the service would be good to serve both PS4 and PS5 players, while being old enough that many wouldn't feel too stiffed by its release. Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us 2 would also be good choices in order to make sure players have access to games that basically ended the PS4 generation (in full), and it would serve all those who missed it.
Aside from also simply revealing a new form of PS Plus or PS Now as Sony's effective Game Pass service, Sony could opt to expand the PS Plus collection this fall giving players access to a ton of new games. Or perhaps it could put every PS5 game it has so far this year back on the service for a time, in order for those who get the console during fall restocks. Either way, the choices with PS Plus are endless, as is its potential.
PlayStation Plus subscribers get a handful of free games every month.