Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service is likely to have a big 2023, especially if the January 2023 free games are any indication. The PlayStation equivalent to Xbox Live Gold, Sony's PlayStation Plus service gives subscribers free games every month and lets them access the online multiplayer components of various titles. 2022 saw some big changes made to PS Plus, and it's likely 2023 will be used to expand those aspects of the service.
2022 saw the biggest changes to Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service since it was first introduced in 2010. Essentially combining PS Plus with PlayStation Now and adding other perks, Sony split the service into three subscription tiers. PS Plus Essential is the service as it's existed for years, granting players access to free games every month as well as online multiplayer. PS Plus Extra is the next step up, giving subscribers instant access to an impressive library of PS4 and PS5 games. And finally, there's PS Plus Premium, which throws retro games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP libraries into the mix.
It's unlikely that 2023 will see such significant changes to PS Plus, but it is likely that the new year will see Sony invest even more in each service tier.
PS Plus Essential Will Continue to Add Major Games for Free
Whereas Microsoft has largely been ignoring its Xbox Live Gold service in favor of bolstering Xbox Game Pass, Sony has continued to deliver high quality free games to its PS Plus Essential subscribers month after month. And since the launch of the PlayStation 5 console, the new free PS Plus games every month have consisted of more day one games than ever before, a trend that could very well continue in the new year.
Sony has started the new year with a bang when it comes to the monthly free PS Plus games. The free PS Plus games for January 2023 are available now, giving players the chance to add Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Axiom Verge 2, and Fallout 76 to their digital libraries. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is being made available just in time for the release of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, set to launch in March, and it is certainly the headliner for the month. Axiom Verge 2, meanwhile, may not be quite as popular as the first game, but it still earned mostly positive reviews and has its fans.
Fallout 76 is easily the most controversial out of all the free PS Plus games for January 2023, but being able to pay it for free will likely make it more appealing to fans. After all, PS Plus subscribers won't feel burned like those who bought Fallout 76 at launch at full price, and so they may be able to enjoy the game more. To its credit, Bethesda has updated Fallout 76 numerous times since the game's disastrous launch, so while it still falls well short of the franchise's heights, it should still be in a much better spot than it was a few years ago.
PS Plus Essential subscribers have about a month to claim these free games. They will be replaced by a new batch of titles in February, with Sony expected to stick with its announcement patterns for 2023. That means PS Plus Essential subscribers can most likely expect an announcement on Wednesday, February 1, with the February 2023 free PS Plus games added on Tuesday, February 7. There's a possibility that PS Plus will deviate from its established pattern, but it's unlikely.
PS Plus Extra Will Expand Its Library Even More
The PS Plus Extra tier is more expensive than PS Plus Essential, but it comes with all the benefits of standard PS Plus along with a library of high-quality PS4 and PS5 games. PS Plus Extra really has so many high quality games available for subscribers to play that it quickly pays for itself, and fans can expect the service to grow exponentially throughout 2023.
Just as Sony has established clear patterns when it comes to the monthly free PS Plus games, it has also established patterns when it comes to PS Plus Extra offerings. While there have been exceptions to the rule, generally Sony has announced the new PS Plus Extra games in the middle of the month, with the titles then added the week after. While it has already added WWE 2K22 as the first new PS Plus Extra game of January 2023, it looks like it is otherwise sticking to that pattern.
As for what new games will be added to the PS Plus Extra lineup, it's really anyone's guess. The PS Plus Extra games are typically added in large batches where a bunch of games are added to the lineup all at once, and chances are good that will continue throughout 2023. It's possible that PS Plus Extra will slow down a little bit compared to last year, especially since it's already added so many Ubisoft-published games, and it's running out of those, but fans will have to stay tuned to see what's in store.
PS Plus Premium Will Add More Retro Games to the Lineup
This might go without saying, but PS Plus Premium will certainly add more retro games to the lineup in 2023. PS Plus Premium is the highest tier of PlayStation Plus, giving subscribers access to everything available in the PS Plus Essential and Extra tiers, plus retro games. Despite being the most expensive version of the service, PS Plus Premium has been somewhat neglected compared to PS Plus Essential and PS Plus Extra, so subscribers will be keeping their fingers crossed that things turn around in 2023.
PS Plus Premium still has many classic PlayStation games it could add to its lineup. While there are a nice selection of PS1 games available on PS Plus Premium right now, there are many more that would make tremendous additions to the service, especially if they come with the added bells and whistles like save states, rewinding/fast-forward, and trophies, like some of the games have offered. Speaking of, it would be great to see these new features be something that is universal for PS Plus Premium classic games, as they would give the titles that much more value and may make months with fewer additions sting a bit less.
While PS1 and PS3 games are well-represented on PS Plus Premium, the same can't really be said for PS2 and PSP titles. PS Plus Premium has been adding PSP games at a glacial pace especially, so hopefully that changes in the new year. There are many great PSP games that would be fantastic to see on the PS Plus Premium roster, and the number of amazing PS2 titles that could come to the service is dizzying.
If Sony wants PlayStation gamers to pay a premium price for PS Plus Premium, it must offer the value to back it up. There are many games in the company's vault that would go a long way in making PS Plus Premium a much more appealing prospect. It remains to be seen if PS Plus Premium will get the shot in the arm it needs in 2023, but at the bare minimum, fans can at least expect some new retro game additions this year.