PlayStation Plus revamped its service recently, adding two new tiers that grant access to modern and classic games. However, the revised service isn’t the hit Sony was banking on, losing 2 million subscribers since the switch.
In response to this sales slump, Sony has blamed the outdoors as a key factor for lack of growth. With the pandemic dwindling, more people are going outside instead of playing games. Is the great outdoors is to blame for the decline? Or is it the PlayStation 5’s recent price hike?
Still, PlayStation continues to be a major brand in gaming, with major titles like God of War: Ragnarok releasing soon. Expect more gamers to stay at home once more popular games come out and maybe when the next-gen console is easier to find.
During an earnings call (transcribed by VGC), Sony’s CFO Hiroki Totoki brought up how PlayStation Plus subscribers have declined for the third quarter in a row. Totoki said the loss of subscribers was due to factors like the PS4, declining third-party titles, and people going outdoors.
“More people are now going outdoors, and we have yet to get out of the negative cycles. PS4 and third-party software sales have also been rather sluggish, and sales of catalogue titles have also been declining,” says Totoki.
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It hasn’t been a great period of third-party games thus far, with Gotham Knights, Star Ocean: The Divine Force, and New Tales From the Borderlands failing to grab fans. Not helping are re-releases of games that are readily available like Resident Evil Village: Gold Edition and Persona 5 Royal.
There is an expectation of things to turn around, especially with major games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 just releasing. After all, if any game can get people to pay for online, it’s CoD.
God of War: Ragnarok is also expected to make a major impact when it comes out this November, given its predecessor’s praise.
Sony’s recent output on PlayStation Plus has been solid, but unremarkable. Numerous Dragon Quest games are now available on the premium tier, while Nioh 2, Lego Harry Potter Collection, and Heavenly Bodies make up the monthly games.