Sony's philosophy and approach to the PS4, now translating to the PS5, has always been simple: premium service and premium games on a premium console. Now, with games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls on the PS5, with a new God of War and Horizon set for next year, it's clear that Sony is checking two of those boxes. The premium service is an always will be PS Plus, and while the new iteration of it seemed apparent, it appears that Sony is doubling down on the premium service component with its December 2020 games.
December 2020 was an important moment for PS Plus and even Games with Gold for that matter. While November 2020 was the first month that next-gen console owners could take advantage of their subscriptions, December 2020 is the first month where those games are available day-and-date on next-gen consoles. As such, PS Plus diverting from the obvious for December 2020 was pleasant, including Worms Rumble, Just Cause 4, and Rocket Arena.
PS Plus' Plan for 2020 Established and Broken
PS Plus seemingly showed its hand early, announcing that PS5 owners could get Bugsnax for two months (with that expiring on January 4). Then, in February, Destruction AllStars would launch alongside PS Plus, being made available for yet another two months. This ensures that PS5 owners are getting something out of the new console, but looking closely, it seems pretty apparent that's a fatal flaw with this design. Even with January not technically offering a game and there likely being another game to take Destruction AllStars' place by the end of its run, there's really not enough games of that caliber to keep it going forever.
It seems likely the two month either becomes a mainstay offering less-than-premium games (saying nothing against the pedigree of Bugsnax or Destruction AllStars, but there's no way Spider-Man: Miles Morales gets offered, for example) that sort of coast along, or something has to give eventually. This can happen in a good way, as December 2020 breaks that established plan.
Technically, PS5 owners, especially those who managed to get one on Black Friday or in recent sales, can claim 4 games this month. There's Bugsnax until January, PS4 copies of Just Cause 4 and Rocket Arena, and there's the PS5 version of Worms Rumble (though, unlike Bugsnax, its PS4 version is also available). It doesn't get much better as "premium service" than that, and if three games with one being the PS4 or PS5 version became the norm, many fans would indubitably be happy. However, much like the two-month plan, there's a feeling of a time limit on these games—much less constrained, of course, but one has to question how long Sony can keep this up.
PS Plus December 2020 Defines the Way Forward
The likeliest answer is that this is a year-ending exception to the rule. For the time being (and though it could change), fans should only expect to see two games comes January 2021. This isn't the first time that Sony has offered three game and it's unlikely to be the last, but it does occur at the right moment. By offering three games to end PS Plus' 2020 run with, Sony is saying to fans, "hey, there's more great things to come." Indeed, it sets the tone for the future of PS Plus and PS5 by showing the power of its premium service.
Even if this isn't the "thing," which the jury is still out on, it shows how Sony is willing to experiment, to change, and to adapt to what's ahead. Therein may lie its greatest strength: someday, there will be another May 2020 offering where fans petition the month's PS Plus offering, but time and time again, Sony will not fail to try to innovate. That's the message three simple PS Plus games (technically four again) send to make its PS4 and PS5 subscribers feel confident in its service, and they should.
PS Plus subscribers typically get two free games every month.