Summary

  • PS Plus faces backlash for one of the games in July's Essential lineup, Among Us.
  • The Among Us controversy stems from its low price compared to PS Plus subscription costs.
  • July's PS Plus Extra and Premium games may need to impress to offset the Among Us controversy.

PS Plus has been shrouded in quite a bit of controversy over the last couple of months, as many subscribers have felt the service has been providing a rather lackluster lineup of games to choose from. While the PS Plus Essential games for May 2024 were more than okay, the Extra and Premium selections were nothing to write home about, with some dated online games that were no longer populated as they once were and several poorly reviewed titles being offered. June's PS Plus Extra and Premium selection then atoned for May's sins with noteworthy titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Anno 1800, and Far Cry 4, although its PS Plus Essential games were fairly disappointing. Now, July's PS Plus Essential games have arrived as of July 2, and the service is once again facing backlash.

Headlining the PS Plus Essential lineup for July 2024 is Borderlands 3, which, though it has been on the service many times before, has never been offered as an Essential game. This means that once players claim it, they can hold on to it as long as it is in their library. Borderlands 3's addition to the service also means the franchise could be gearing up for a sequel, but that remains to be seen. Another of July 2024's PS Plus Essential games is NHL 24, an ice hockey simulation game that has received some mediocre reviews due to many critics feeling its gameplay doesn't stack up well with previous installments. Finally, one other title in July 2024's PS Plus Essential lineup has caused quite a stir in the community, despite it arguably being one of the best indie games ever made: Among Us.

Among Us Is the Latest Controversial PS Plus Title

Again, Among Us is one of the most popular indie games ever made, as well as one of the best multiplayer games, having seen a massive spike in its population in 2020 and remaining popular to this day. While the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged widespread social distancing, Among Us thrived, as it allowed gamers to socialize with one another despite the need to stay physically separate. Among Us has been the source of many memes, even to the point of being almost solely responsible for the commonly used word "sus," which is used to describe someone who is acting suspicious or suspect. However, none of this has anything to do with the controversy stirred up by the game. For that, one should look at the price tag for Among Us.

Among Us Is the Cheapest Game to Be Offered on PS Plus Since 2019

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding Among Us being added to PS Plus Essential, primarily on account of the game's price in comparison to what a PS Plus subscription costs. Among Us currently costs a mere $2.99 to purchase (regularly $4.99) until July 11, whereas a PS Plus Essential subscription costs $9.99/month, $24.99/three months, and $79.99/year. This means that, even with an annual plan, subscribers are paying around $6.67/month, which is still more than double what Among Us costs currently and over 30% more than its regular price. That doesn't include PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers, who pay even more for the service.

PS Plus subscribers are paying more than double for the subscription than Among Us' current price!

This price discrepancy makes Among Us the cheapest game to be offered on PS Plus since 2019, with Divekick's $4.99 price tag previously earning it that claim. Needless to say, PS Plus subscribers aren't happy with Among Us compromising a spot in July 2024's selection of games, and they've been taking to various online forums to express their frustration. However, hopefully, this just means that July 2024's PS Plus Extra and Premium games are just as good as last month's, as it might be enough to make up for the controversy caused by the addition of Among Us to the service.

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Among Us Tag Page Cover Art
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 80%
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Released
June 5, 2018
ESRB
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Mild Blood, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
InnerSloth
Publisher(s)
InnerSloth
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Use teamwork, persuasion and maybe even betrayal in this unique online party game... In space! DEAD BODY REPORTED! 

Prepare for departure, but beware the Impostor! Complete tasks to hold your spaceship together and return to civilization, but keep an eye out as one or more random players among the crew are Impostors determined to sabotage the ship and kill everyone.

It's up to the remaining humans to finish their tasks and identify the Impostors to eject them into the abyss. But watch out! The Impostors will use every trick in the book to convince everyone they're a crewmate, so don't believe everything you hear. Get your alibi straight or else you might be the one wrongfully ejected!

Genre(s)
Party Game
How Long To Beat
N/A
File Size Xbox Series
1005 MB (November 2023)
Metascore
85
Platforms That Support Crossplay
Mobile Devices, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
PS Plus Availability
N/A
Steam User Rating
92%