Due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic, industries and business worldwide find themselves in a strange place. It’s likely this whole ordeal will have a huge impact on the gaming industry moving forward, as some businesses likeGameStop are trying to stay open even now. Nonetheless, change doesn’t happen over night, and many will be following self-isolation protocol well into May.PlayStation Plus’s free games will be revealed in the coming days for the next month, and it should take all of this into consideration.
For context, April 2020 has been a big month and not just because ofApril’s PS Plus games. There have been a ton of free games thrown around from Sony, as well as third-party publishers, and PS Plus should lead the way going into May.
April 2020 Free PS4 Games
First, it’s worth looking at the bevy of free games given away in April to help encourage people to stay home and flatten the curve. PS Plus' April games includeUncharted 4: A Thief’s EndandDiRT Rally 2.0. The latter may not be for everyone, but the former perfectly complements Sony’s Play at Home Initiative. In direct response to gamers stuck at home during the pandemic, Sony is also giving awayUncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection(to own for good, regardless of PS Plus membership) andJourney. This, in short, means that players can dive into the entireUnchartedfranchise.
The last one has a small loop to jump through, but for those who create a German PS4 account, they can downloadKnack 2for free. Sony, of course, isn’t the only company supporting fans staying at home. EA has an initiative for strong events in its games, whereasBandai Namco is also giving awayPac-Man Championship Edition 2for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, among other coronavirus-related initiatives at this time. Going into May, it’s clear Sony has the chance to lead the way.
May 2020: PS Plus, Play at Home Initiative, and More
It’s unclear what May’s plans are or could be for next month, but the current environment is likely to remain the same. As such, it’s a clear time to show, specifically, what PS Plus can do. For example, some thinkPS Plus has a patternof giving away one decently solid game while providing a more niche second game. Last month’s clearly supports this, although the follow up withThe Nathan Drake Collectionwas a smooth move. Instead, for May, Sony should go all in and provide top tier games for its fanbase.
Aside from the two core games,Sony could also include a VR gameas a bonus third. There’s precedent for this happening randomly, but given that many are stuck at home, it would be something more interactive that many could do. And a support active or outdoorsy game could do a lot to scratch an itch that many are doing without.
There’s a chance that thePlay at Home initiativewill offer up some new games as well when the date expires on the current offering, meaning fans could be looking at another month of free games. Of course, this can’t last forever, but during this pandemic, it makes the most sense. Building up to the launch of the PS5, it could be invaluable for Sony and its fanbase, as many will not forget what the company does for their wallets at this time.
It all remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt all would benefit from a powerful lead next month with May’s freePS Plusgames.
