Sony Removes PS Plus Games For Catalog Refresh, Says Exec

Video game subscription services offer a fantastic way for players to explore a wide variety of titles without purchasing each one at full price. However, it's frustrating when a highly anticipated game is completely removed from the service. So why do companies like PlayStation and Xbox regularly pull games from services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, including their own first-party titles? Recently, a Sony executive offered some insight, at least from PlayStation's point of view.

In an interview with Game File, Nick Maguire, Sony's Vice President of Global Services, addressed the routine removal of games from the service. For instance, over 20 games were delisted just in May. Some removals are understandable, such as Grand Theft Auto V, as Sony's licensing agreements with third-party publishers likely have expiration dates. But it's more surprising to see older first-party Sony games like Infamous: Second Son, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Resistance 2 being taken down.

"We have 80 collections of games across our catalog," Maguire explained. "Our goal is to keep the content fresh and introduce new titles. Occasionally, this means removing a few games simultaneously to maintain an engaging lineup and help our community discover new favorites."

During the same discussion, Maguire talked about the continued success of PlayStation Plus, noting that user engagement has reached an all-time high. While he didn't comment on how recent price increases in 2023 affected subscription numbers or provide specific figures, he did share the rationale behind Sony's game selection. For example, the company looks for opportunities to "grow a franchise," such as adding a game to the service just before its sequel is released. He also mentioned that Sony aims to add roughly one new classic game per month, though this target isn't always met due to the time required for emulation.

One strategy PlayStation won't be adopting soon is the approach taken by Xbox, which adds its own first-party games to the service on their release day. "We've consistently followed our broader strategy and do not plan to offer games on a day-one basis," Maguire stated.

Sony recently revealed the new titles coming to PS Plus in July, which will include Diablo 4, SNK's King of Fighters 15, and Don't Nod's Jusant.