Video game subscription services offer an excellent way for players to explore a wide variety of titles without purchasing each one individually. However, it can be frustrating when a highly anticipated game suddenly disappears from the service. This raises the question: why do major platforms like PlayStation and Xbox regularly remove games—sometimes even their own first-party titles—from offerings like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass? Recently, a Sony executive shed some light on the reasoning, at least from PlayStation’s standpoint.
In an interview with Game File, Nick Maguire, VP of global services at PlayStation, addressed the frequent delisting of games. He acknowledged that over 20 titles were removed in May alone. While the removal of third-party games like GTA 5 can be attributed to expiring licensing agreements, the absence of older first-party exclusives—such as Infamous: Second Son, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Resistance 2—has sparked confusion among fans.
“We've got 80 collections of games across the catalog,” Maguire explained. “So we want to keep it fresh and bring in new games. Sometimes that means taking a few games out at the same time to keep the proposition interesting and help people find new games as well.”
Maguire also highlighted the continued success of PlayStation Plus, noting that user engagement “has never been higher.” While he didn’t disclose subscriber numbers or directly address the 2023 price increase, he shared insights into how Sony selects new additions. The company looks for strategic opportunities to grow franchises—such as adding a game to the service just before the release of its sequel. Additionally, Sony aims to introduce approximately one classic title per month, although emulation challenges can occasionally delay these plans.
One key difference between Sony and Xbox remains: Sony has no plans to release its first-party games on PlayStation Plus on day one. “We've sort of stayed true to our strategy across the board, where we're not looking to put games in day and date,” Maguire stated.
Looking ahead, PlayStation has announced the upcoming July lineup for PS Plus, which includes Diablo 4, SNK’s The King of Fighters 15, and Don’t Nod’s Jusant.
