Highlights

  • July's PlayStation Plus Essential games include Borderlands 3, Among Us, and NHL 24.
  • Borderlands 3's PS Plus inclusion may be a step towards the rumored Borderlands 4.
  • Fans should remain cautious about expectations, as previous rumors have not panned out.

Every month, PlayStation Plus Essential members get a selection of "free" games to add to their library, with July's lineup just around the corner. June's PlayStation Plus Essential titles have received a lukewarm welcome, with Streets of Rage 4 arguably being the most notable title of the three. Thankfully, June's PS Plus Extra and Premium selection made up for Essential by giving players titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Anno 1800, Crusader Kings 3, and Far Cry 4. Now, July's PlayStation Plus Essential titles are almost here, with one of them standing out more than the others.

The PlayStation Plus Essential lineup for July 2024 has officially been announced, with each game being added to the service on July 2, 2024. Two of the titles, Among Us and NHL 24, are a bit perplexing, considering Among Us otherwise costs almost nothing to purchase and NHL 24 has received very poor reviews. The remaining title, Borderlands 3, hasn't done all that well critically either, but its addition to the service could mean big news is on the way for the franchise.

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Borderlands 3's PS Plus Arrival May Finally Lead to Borderlands 4's Long-Rumored Reveal

Borderlands 4 Has Missed Plenty of Rumor-Fueled Reveal Opportunities Already

It has now been nearly five years since the release of Borderlands 3, which means fans have been waiting about that long for any news about Borderlands 4. It would make sense for Borderlands 4 to at least have been mentioned at this point, but the powers that be still have yet to say anything concrete about it. Instead, Borderlands 4's impending reveal has been fueled by rumors and leaks, primarily based on cryptic statements made by Gearbox and those who have previously been known to be reliable leakers.

One of the biggest recent unfortunate events involving a potential Borderlands 4 reveal saw the official Borderlands Twitter account releasing a series of recap videos that many fans thought would eventually result in a trailer for Borderlands 4. However, much to the dismay of those awaiting news of the next game in the franchise, these recap videos were merely setting up a reveal for the live-action Borderlands film. The film's reveal in place of Borderlands 4 ended up being a double whammy after its trailer garnered a negative reception, primarily on account of its poor casting.

We got the disappointing Borderlands live-action movie announcement before any official news on Borderlands 4!

As if this disappointment weren't enough, later rumors suggested Borderlands 4 would be revealed during June's Summer Games Fest — rumors spread by a reliable leaker, no less. After Borderlands 4 was confirmed by 2K following its acquisition of Gearbox, it seemed almost certain that the game would get a reveal during Summer Games Fest. Unfortunately, those rumors never proved to be true, making Borderlands 4 seem further away than it ever has — until now, anyway.

Borderlands 3 on PS Plus May Mean Borderlands 4's Reveal Is Coming Soon

It's not uncommon for series titles to seemingly randomly join the PlayStation Plus lineup, just before their successor is announced. For the most part, PlayStation Plus additions typically follow current trends, with games like Monster Hunter Rise being added to the lineup in June, as news of Monster Hunter Wilds has been gaining more traction. With that in mind, Borderlands 3's arrival on PlayStation Plus in July could mean that Borderlands 4's reveal is right around the corner, especially with all the rumors that have been occurring lately and yet not coming to fruition.

It's worth noting that fans should rein in their expectations, especially with how many reveal opportunities Borderlands 4 has missed as of late. Borderlands 3 on PlayStation Plus in July could mean absolutely nothing. That being said, there's nothing wrong with having at least a little hope that the long-awaited title might finally be announced. It's clear that Gearbox and 2K are playing their cards very close to their chest, but this may only benefit Borderlands 4 in the long run.