Highlights
- Variety and appeal are important factors for subscription services like PS Plus. Multiplayer and single-player games both have value in attracting subscribers.
- Sports games may not be as popular on subscription services due to their niche appeal and the dedicated fanbase they already have.
- PS Plus tends to include a sports title in its August game lineups, taking advantage of the timing between major sports seasons to appeal to sports fans.
Some genres are simply better for subscription services like PS Plus than others. One key element for PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and the like is the variety of content offered, alongside the quality and quantity, because every addition should appeal to as many potential subscribers as possible. However, that's not always doable. Multiplayer games on PS Plus are usually a safe bet because the result is an instantly expanded community, while single-player games can be compelling for a majority of gamers too, even if less interactive. The PS Plus free games for January 2023 prove that well, as the addition of Fallout 76 and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was well-received.
The opposite is also true, though. If some genres excel on these services, others may not struggle more, and that's the case with sports games. That's not to say they aren't great games without dedicated fanbases, but sports games are a very specific niche in the industry because someone has to love video games, love sports, and combine that still into loving sports games. Those who do are also likely to pick it up on day one, instead of waiting for their additions sometimes years later. Interestingly enough, the PS Plus free games for August 2023 include PGA Tour 2K23, which isn't a year old yet. However, its inclusion points to a pattern that many fans may not have realized quite yet.
PS Plus Free Games for August Tend to Include Sports Games
Looking back at the past few years, it has become apparent that PS Plus tends to include a sports title with the August 2023 games. This is interesting because it's a nice little time between major seasons. For example, while PGA Tour 2K23 highlights a year-long sport, the NFL season starts in September, the NBA season starts in October, and others like the MLB season comes to an end around September. In other words, August is a good point to appeal to sports fans because seasons are close to beginning or ending, and this may be beneficial to sports titles that otherwise lack a certain appeal on the service. Timing can be key, after all. It's clear when looking at the PS Plus free games offering for the past several August months:
- PS Plus Free Games for August 2019: WipEout Omega Collection, Sniper Elite 4
- PS Plus Free Games for August 2020: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout*
- PS Plus Free Games for August 2021: Hunter's Arena: Legends, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, Tennis World Tour 2
- PS Plus Free Games for August 2022: Little Nightmares, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon
- PS Plus Free Games for August 2023: PGA Tour 2K23, Death's Door, Dreams
There are two other important things to consider here. First, this hasn't stopped Sony from offering sports games in other months, but it's interesting how varied these are. WipEout may represent futuristic car racing, but racing is a sport and it's joined by tennis, skateboarding, and golf. Secondly, Fall Guys may be stretching the definition of sports here, but it's a video game where players compete in sports-like activities such as racing, Fall Ball, tail tag, and so forth that could qualify as sports to some degree.
It's always impossible to predict exactly what games Sony will add to PS Plus, but there have been patterns throughout its history. Whether that's a duo pairing of a big AAA game with a small indie game, adding a PS5 game for two months to support its adoption, or releasing a sports title every August, they are all fun realizations. And if anything, predicting a sports game for PS Plus' August 2024 selection would just be a safe bet.
PS Plus subscribers get a handful of games every month.