When PlayStation Plus debuted back in June 2010 on the PS3, very few people could have predicted the impact it would have on Sony’s digital footprint. Over the last 11 years or so, the paid subscription service has had a transformative effect on its creator’s virtual presence. Thanks in-part to the free games that subscribers have been treated to on a monthly basis, the PlayStation Network has become a core pillar of Sony’s gaming ecosystem.
While there’s been occasional revisions from time to time, for the most part PlayStation Plus’ core selling points have been largely unchanged since 2010. Following several leaks and insider rumors, Sony has confirmed that big developments are on the horizon. When June finally rolls around again, PS Plus and PS Now will merge into one multi-tiered service. Even though free games and content will remain a core aspect of the experience, now is still the perfect time to look back on the best months of the service so far.
November 2020’s Lineup
November 2020 will not only go down in history as an important month for PlayStation Plus, but for gaming more generally speaking as well. Thanks to the arrival of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S within the space of just a few weeks, there was plenty of brand-new virtual goodness for early adopters to dive into at the time. Considering the historic nature of the month, it is not surprising that Sony went out of its way to make the occasion a memorable one for its main subscription service.
Even before the arrival of the PS5, November 2020 was shaping up to be a bumper month for PS Plus. During the first week of November alone, Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition both landed on Sony’s subscription service. Considering how the former has a metascore of 80 on Metacritic, while the latter is sitting at a score of 90, that’s an impressive lineup most months would struggle to match. With the arrival of the PS5 on November 12, things got even better for subscribers, as Bugsnax joined the lineup on its launch day.
In an effort to drive sales of its latest console, Sony added even more content into the mix though. November 2020 will likely be remembered as one of the best months for the service, thanks to the subsequent arrival of the PlayStation Plus Collection. At the launch of the PS5, owners of the supply-constrained console were given access to 20 of the PS4’s defining experiences. Games like Persona 5, God of War 2018, and Uncharted 4, which helped shape a generation for many players, were all handed out as free bonuses. No matter what comes next for the service, it’s hard to envision many months offering the same quantity and quality.
June 2012’s Lineup
Thanks to the recency of November 2020, it’s easy to forget that the PlayStation Plus Collection isn’t actually the first time that Sony has offered subscribers similar incentives. Back at E3 2012, for example, the platform holder announced that 12 blockbuster PS3 titles would be available to subscribers that same month. Dubbed the PS Plus Instant Game Collection, the scheme included popular contemporary hits such as Infamous 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, and Saints Row 2.
While the first PlayStation Plus Collection didn’t quite match the sheer quantity of its PS5-based descendant, there was still enough content on offer to solidify June 2012 as one of PS Plus’ best months. At the time, Sony estimated that the 12 piece collection was worth nearly $260, which prompted the publisher to label it as the ‘best value in gaming.’ It’s perhaps telling that this exact same statement is often used to describe Microsoft’s Game Pass today, as it shows how exciting June 2012 was.
November 2012’s Lineup
Following the launch of PlayStation Plus’ Instant Game Collection in June 2012, subscribers at the time probably thought they’d be in for a quiet couple of months. However, Sony had dramatically different plans in mind when it unveiled November 2012’s lineup of games. In a last ditch attempt to resuscitate the underrated PlayStation Vita, the Japanese platform holder revealed that titles created for the handheld would feature on the service for the then foreseeable future.
To kick-off proceedings, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, and WipEout 2048, were all added to PS Plus at the end of November. Despite the Vita’s shortcomings, that lineup of games would have been big all by itself thanks to the quality each represents. However, the trio were only the icing on the metaphorical cake. Before their arrival, Sony had already treated subscribers to 8 other hits including Jet Set Radio, the original Sonic the Hedgehog, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. As a result, November 2012 is still remembered to this day as one of PS Plus’ most valuable.
July 2015’s Lineup
Even though the aforementioned months are PlayStation Plus’ biggest when it comes to the number of games on offer, a case can still be made for July 2015 going down in history as the service’s most significant. For the first five years of PS Plus’ history, aside from occasional hits like Housemarque's Resogun, most of the games that arrived on the service were pre-existing releases. Retro PS1 games, app-like Minis, and older PS3 titles were the standard fare that fans had come to expect from its monthly refreshes. As is the case to this day, the success of months like this can often be dependent on what a player has already purchased.
With the arrival of July 2015’s lineup though, Sony shifted these expectations forever. While older games like Rain and Pixelopus’ Entwined were part of the month’s 6-part lineup, the day-one launch of Rocket League stole the show. Thanks to the publicity that PS Plus offered Psyonix’s soccer/racing-hybrid, the title quickly became an internet and e-sports sensation. Since then, more games have debuted on the service, such as Fall Guys, Maquette, and Deep Rock Galactic.
If it wasn’t for the success of Rocket League on PS Plus, it’s possible that subscription services like Game Pass might not have taken off as quickly as they did. Thanks to the acclaim of July 2015’s lineup, though, a blueprint was established for others to adapt. Over the last seven years or so, Sony’s own PS Plus refreshes have also been better off as a result of the increased exposure that month generated. While big hits like Final Fantasy 7: Remake and Dirt 5 have gone down well with fans, it’s often months that feature Rocket League-esque launches that are viewed as the best.