Many PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers enjoy the many classic games available as part of the service, and a new report reveals how retro games are selected to appear in the catalog. PS Plus continues to be a popular way for fans to experience both new and classic titles for a monthly fee, and while Sony does add fresh retro games each month, many subscribers have been disappointed by a lack of more popular games from PlayStation's past.
PS Plus Premium is the highest tier available for players and includes all benefits found in other tiers, along with a continually evolving selection of PSP, PS1, PS2, and PS3 games. It also offers exclusive game trials, a selection of Sony films, content from Crunchyroll, and cloud streaming, with the latter also allowing subscribers to enjoy PS Plus on PC. Being able to enjoy familiar games from the past is one of the biggest draws for consumers, and a new report reveals how Sony decides which titles make their way to the Classics catalog, as many fans feel that the service is missing a ton of heavy hitters from PlayStation's early years.
Sony Isn't Ruling Out Another PS Plus Price Increase
The last worldwide price increase for PlayStation Plus was only back in 2023, but Sony now says that further increases to the service are possible.
In a new report from Push Square, it was revealed that publishers typically approach Sony about adding games to PS Plus Premium's Classics catalog, with PlayStation's in-house emulation team then tasked with preparing the title for its release on the service. Sony also develops an initial Trophy list and publishing materials, with publishers able to provide input before giving full approval. The reason why some massively popular games have yet to appear on the service is likely due to some studios wanting to handle their own remasters rather than handing them over to Sony's internal development team.
Publishers Approach Sony About Adding Retro Games to the PS Plus Premium Classics Catalog
In June, Sony gave an update regarding the profitability of PlayStation Plus, with the company's VP stating that the service is growing faster than ever before. The most player engagement has been seen in the Premium plan, which has grown by 18% over the last year. The Classics catalog has been a huge draw, but with Sony only adding a game or two to its retro offerings each month, many are concerned that certain fan-favorite titles will never be made available.
The service hasn't been without its share of controversy. For those wanting to cancel their PS Plus subscription, recent changes to the website have made doing so more difficult and confusing, with ambiguous wording prompting many to call out PlayStation for being manipulative. Additionally, the service may soon be more expensive, as Xbox Game Pass saw price increases across the board last year.
