PS Plus PS Now

Over the past six or so months, we've been picking up on a mood change when it comes to the announcements of PlayStation 4 games included in the PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now subscriptions. Essentially, the thought process goes that if you sign up to both, you'll actually start to lose out as Sony continually offers the same titles every so often. A big PS4 game may be already part of PS Now, but when it is also confirmed as a free PS Plus addition, those subscribed to both don't gain anything. Each service pulls access to its titles the moment you cancel your subscription so neither one can guarantee play time if your membership lapses. How often does this clash actually occur, then? We've taken a look at the past six months of data to work things out.

Of the 16 PS4 games offered through PS Plus since June 2020, five of them were already a part of PS Now. Those being PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Street Fighter V, Vampyr, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, and Hollow Knight. Going in the opposite direction, Friday the 13th: The Game and Broforce became part of PlayStation Now after already being free PS Plus games over the past six months. That's a hit rate of just under one third when PlayStation Plus games already on PS Now are considered.

In our opinion, that's not too bad. Sony is in an awkward position where it's unlikely to please absolutely everyone subscribed to its services and so there's always going to be one or two unfortunate enough to find repeat titles in the offerings. However, it's likely the complaining has started due to the positioning of the PS4 games members already have access to. In September, PUBG and Street Fighter V found themselves duplicated. Vampyr followed one month later and then Hollow Knight and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War were what subscribers were treated to last month. Therefore, there was a three-month stint where PS Now and PS Plus members were handed the same titles. The streak was broken by December's line-up, thankfully.

So, could you say there's a problem here? To a point, sure. Members of the two services were given PS4 games they already have access to for three months in a row, and that's probably not okay. Had they been stretched over a longer time period, the complaints wouldn't be so loud. Still, the less duplicates Sony has to offer the better. Have you been frustrated by this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.