PlayStation Plus Won’t Get First Party Day One Releases

According to the a company executive, PlayStation Plus subscribers shouldn’t expect to see any first party day one releases on the subscription service in the near future.

No First Party Day One Releases for Playstation Plus

Launched in 2010, PlayStation Plus offers players access to a selection of monthly games, as well as serving as a hub for multiplayer access and offering exclusive discounts to subscribers. The upcoming 15th anniversary of PlayStation Plus is scheduled for June 29, 2025, and players can expect to see an expanded variety of top games, discounts on Sony branded movies, and even a brief free multiplayer access period for non subscribers.

But while the subscription service remains very popular among PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners, it’s not known for its day-one blockbuster releases, instead relegating that role to independently produced titles and maintaining a catalog of older PS Plus Classics that players can enjoy. That’s not something that’s likely to change in the near future, according to Nick Maguire, vice president of global services. In a recently published interview with Game File over the upcoming anniversary, Maguire rejected the concept of adding first party games to the subscription service at launch, stating, “We’ve sort of stayed true to our strategy across the board, where we’re not looking to put games in day and date.”

That business model contrasts with that of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, which is much more keen to offer first-party titles on its subscription service as soon as they hit the market. All the studios Microsoft has acquired make it possible for games like Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater 3+4 and Grounded 2, which are both due for release in July, to launch on Game Pass as soon as they’re available to the public. Other upcoming day-one first-party Game Pass games include The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4 in October, and the 2026 reboot of Fable.

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