Good News: Playstation Plus Joins the Day One Release Race!
Sis stepping up its game with a growing number of Day One releases on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. The shift suggests a bold evolution in its content strategy—and a new level of competition with Xbox Game Pass.
While Microsoft has long positioned Game Pass as the go-to destination for Day One access, Sony is clearly closing the gap. The past few months have brought a wave of new titles launching directly on PS Plus, signaling a pivotal change in how PlayStation approaches its subscription offering—with more originality, risk-taking, and value for players.
Image Credit: Don’t Nod
The spark: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
One of the first major signals came back in February with Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, a new narrative IP from Don’t Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange. The game was released in two parts, available respectively in February and April 2025 for PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers—at no extra cost, on launch day.
This emotional adventure follows four childhood friends reuniting 27 years after a mysterious incident from their teenage years. The story weaves together memory, buried secrets, and emotional consequences, all delivered in Don’t Nod’s signature style, where player choices shape the narrative. With its refined art direction and intimate tone, Lost Records marked a real shift in PlayStation Plus’s content strategy: a bold, original narrative game offered Day One.
Building real momentum
Since that move, Sony seems intent on keeping the pace. In April, the announcement of FBC: Firebreak—a co-op FPS set in the Control universe—confirmed this commitment. Developed by Remedy, the game will launch on June 17, 2025, straight into the PS Plus Extra Game Catalog, alongside its release on other platforms (PC, Xbox Series).
And Sony isn’t slowing down: on May 20, another batch of 10 games will hit the service, including a highly anticipated Day One title: S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Legends of the Zone Trilogy, a remastered collection of the cult post-apocalyptic survival series, directly included in the PS5 Extra/Premium subscription.
A real economic alternative
These might not all be €80 blockbuster titles, but they bring welcome depth and variety. For players who can’t afford to buy several full-price games each year, this new strategy is a breath of fresh air—and a serious boost to the value of the subscription.
The big question remains: how far will Sony go? Could we one day see massive AAA titles like GTA 6 launching Day One on PS Plus? It’s still uncertain—but recent announcements show the idea is no longer out of the question. One thing is clear: PlayStation Plus has a new face. And for subscribers, that face is full of promise.
