PS Plus’ January Comeback Puts Pressure on Game Pass

When Xbox Game Pass launched in 2017, it was a unique addition to the gaming world, offering something that gamers hadn’t quite seen before on such a massive scale. Praised as the best value in gaming, it allowed players to delve into a plethora of video game experiences, including first-party releases right at launch without any added cost. For quite some time, Xbox Game Pass had the stage mostly to itself, without any serious competition.

However, this solitude didn’t last forever. In June 2022, PlayStation Plus unveiled a revamped system with three tiers, closely shadowing Xbox Game Pass’s model. PS Plus Extra offered a mix of first- and third-party games, while PS Plus Premium addressed long-awaited backwards compatibility. For nearly three years now, Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus have been engaged in a quiet rivalry, consistently striving to outdo each other with fresh offerings each month. Recently, PS Plus made headlines with a lackluster Essential lineup, only to bounce back with impressive Extra and Premium selections, leaving Xbox Game Pass to contemplate its next move.

PS Plus kicked off the year on shaky ground. Despite being the most affordable tier, PS Plus Essential still demands $80 annually, and subscribers expect substantial value in return. Besides online gaming, this tier provides three monthly games at no additional cost. In previous months, it impressed with titles like Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and Death Note: Killer Within in November 2024, followed by December gems like It Takes Two, Temtem, and Aliens: Dark Descent.

But January 2025 took a disappointing turn when Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League made its way to PS Plus Essential. Given its rocky reception and the fact it’s just received its final update, it fell flat for many. While Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe are respectable titles, they weren’t enough to uplift the lineup’s overall lackluster appeal.

On the brighter side, PS Plus managed a swift recovery for its Extra and Premium subscribers. The headline act for January 2025 was none other than God of War Ragnarok, a significant addition for the service. Its inclusion, as a first-party PlayStation game, was a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t alone, arriving alongside acclaimed games such as Sayonara Wild Hearts and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, and classic titles like Medievil 2 for Premium subscribers.

The spotlight now shifts to Xbox Game Pass. The service started 2025 on a quiet note, introducing just a trio of new games. However, there’s hope on the horizon with day-one titles like Sniper Elite: Resistance, Eternal Strands, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector set to debut this month. Even so, these might find it challenging to overshadow the colossal God of War Ragnarok.

For February, Xbox Game Pass needs to step up and deliver. While Obsidian’s Avowed is eagerly awaited, Xbox will have to bolster its lineup with more headline-worthy titles to make a mark in what’s promising to be a busier month in the gaming world.