PS Plus Rotation Removes Games to Boost Discovery

Video game subscription services offer a fantastic opportunity for players to explore a wide variety of games without paying full price for each title. However, it can be frustrating when a highly anticipated game suddenly disappears from the service. Why do major players like PlayStation and Xbox regularly remove titles from PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, including their own first-party games? Recently, a Sony executive shed some light on this practice from PlayStation's perspective.

In an interview with Game File, Nick Maguire, VP of global services at PlayStation, addressed the routine delisting of games from the service. Just this past May, over 20 games were removed. Some removals are understandable—like Grand Theft Auto V—likely due to expiring third-party licensing agreements. However, it's more surprising to see older Sony first-party titles, such as Infamous: Second Son, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Resistance 2, being taken down.

"We currently have 80 game collections available in our catalog," Maguire explained. "Our goal is to keep the content fresh by regularly introducing new titles. Sometimes this means removing a few games simultaneously to maintain an engaging experience and help our members discover new favorites."

During the same discussion, Maguire highlighted the ongoing success of PlayStation Plus, noting that user engagement has never been higher. While he didn't comment on how recent price increases may have impacted subscriptions or share specific subscriber numbers, he did provide insight into Sony's game selection strategy. The company looks for opportunities to "grow a franchise"—for example, by adding a game to the service just before its sequel launches. He also mentioned that Sony aims to add approximately one new "classic" game each month, though this target isn't always met due to the time required for emulation.

One strategy PlayStation won't be adopting soon is Xbox's approach of releasing first-party titles on the subscription service simultaneously with their launch. "We remain committed to our overall strategy and are not currently planning to add games on their release day," Maguire stated.

Sony has recently announced the new titles joining PS Plus in July, which will include Diablo 4, SNK's King of Fighters 15, and Don't Nod's Jusant.