The announcement thatDragon Age 4will be heading toPlayStation Plusnext month provides the service a perfect counter to this month’s release ofAvowedonXbox Game Pass. While Game Pass still tends to dominate the conversation where gaming subscription services are concerned, Sony’s rival service has steadily upped its value proposition over the years with an impressive library at its higher tiers. Game Pass has raised its prices, making PS Plus more attractive in comparison, andhaving a AAA, Western-style RPG to matchAvowedis excellent for PS Plus.
Dragon Age 4 On PS Plus Is An Avowed Alternative
Sony Is Directly Counter-Punching Against Game Pass' Avowed
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Some cynics may seeVeilguard’slaunch on PS Plus negatively, arguing that a recent game being added to the subscription plan reflects the game’s failure. As consumers, more ways to access quality games at a low price point is always a good thing.$70 is a high price to pay for a new game, especially when patches and DLC will later be collected in a single package at a low price point.Dragon Age 4hitting PS Plus ultimately just brings the game to a wider audience.
Many people will likelytry outBalatroon Game Passwhen it might have seemed outside their wheelhouse as a purchase. Similarly, those who would have otherwise waited onAvowedorDragon Age 4due to mixed reviews and high price points may experience those games sooner thanks to subscriptions. This is a win for the consumer, most importantly, but also for PlayStation Plus, whichbadly needed a major RPG likeDragon Age 4to give genre fans an answer to theAvowed. This does not bring parity to the services, however, sinceAvowedwas a day-one Game Pass release.
Xbox Game Pass Day One Releases Still Stand Out
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PlayStation Plus has revealed its free games for March 2025. It’s shaping up to be a good one with Dragon Age, Sonic, and the Ninja Turtles in store.
PS Plus has added some games directly to its service at launch, likeThePlucky Squire’s day-one PS Plusaddition. Game Pass certainly gets more high-profile titles as day-one releases, however, including every Microsoft console-exclusive game.Perceived value is a tricky thing in the subscription era. When HBO Max had theatrically released movies available for streaming on release day, it was seen as a watershed moment, but streaming services still routinely receive movies a few months after they are released in theaters. Day-one certainly has perceived value, but any entertainment media isjust as good a few months later.
The fact that such a freshly-released game is hitting the service shows Sony is serious about presenting real value with PS Plus.
In the case of Sony’s blockbusters,God of War: Ragnarokis on PS Plus now, but itdidn’t launch on PS Plusday-one. The game hit the service more than two years after its initial release. It is still the same great game it was then and provides the same experience for those who held out on purchasing it, but thegame’s perceived value has diminished over time. Prices drop on older games (outside of the Nintendo ecosystem). Accordingly,Avowed’s day-one Game Pass release might still be perceived as more significant thanDragon Age 4hitting PS Plus.
PS Plus Has A Strong Future As A Game Pass Competitor
Games Should Gain As Wide Of An Audience As Possible Via Subscriptions
The fantastic JRPG homageSea of Starswas on bothsubscription services day-one, which ensured far more players experienced a wonderful game than those based on purchases alone. When games are released on more platforms, and as part of more subscription services, this gives awider audience access to them, which is wholly good for the consumer. Broad public perception may put too high a premium on newness, with media, but PlayStation Plus undoubtedly offers a great value that makes it a worthy Xbox Game Pass competitor.Dragon Age 4’s upcoming addition adds further value to PS Plus.
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PlayStation Plus’s subscription service gives access to hundreds of games, with some of the classics only available on the highest Premium tier.
The fact that such a freshly-released game is hitting the serviceshows Sony is serious about presenting real value with PS Plus, and keeping up the pace and adding more day-one releases could tighten the race. For multi-console gaming fans,PlayStation Plusis more than just a cheaper alternative toXbox Game Pass, asDragon Age 4proves.
