PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida explains why launch day releases are not coming to PS Plus, its video game subscription service

Since the new and revamped PlayStation Plus was launched as Sony PlayStation’s answer to Xbox Game Pass, it very rightly is compared with the latter. As a result, people have often wondered about the missing “Day One” launch in PlayStation Plus. PS Plus CEO Jim Ryan had earlier hinted that Day One launches are not to be seen on PS Plus any time soon. And now, Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida has further elaborated as to why that is, during his recent appearance at GI Live. Let us now check out what’s new on the future of PlayStation Plus, and the latest from Shuhei Yoshida.

PlayStation Plus will not bring launch day releases- Here's Why

It is quite clear that PlayStation Plus will not be launching titles on their subscription service on the day of its release. However, we now have some varied perspectives as to why that is so. 

Previous Statements from CEO Jim Ryan, and CFO

Back in March itself, CEO Jim Ryan has informed that the amount of investment required to launch titles on the subscription on the day of release, is not something that is possible at the moment. They’d rather focus on the quality of the games and the development of their studios with that investment instead. This was reiterated soon after by CFO Hiroki Totoki. Totoki said, “AAA titles on PlayStation 5, if we distribute them on the subscription service we may need to shrink the investment needed for that. That will deteriorate the first-party title quality and that is our concern”.

Latest Update from PlayStation Indies head, Shuhei Yoshida

In the latest developments, head of PlayStation Indies Shuhei Yoshida shared his comments on the matter. He focused on how a premium launch and subscription launch should be treated as two different opportunities for generating revenue. That way, they can be leveraged as and when required during the lifecycle of a game. When the sales of a game go down after its premium launch, its release on the subscription service will introduce the game to a whole new set of audience. Quoting Yoshida, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, “we believe in the premium release of a title at launch and after maybe six months, or three months, or three years, when the game's sales come down, inclusion into this service, PS Plus Extra, can help introduce these games to new, broader audiences.” He further said, that Sony is “encouraging publishers to make use of these services in managing the lifecycle of each title.

Addressing how contrary to this plan, Stray was launched day-and-date on PlayStation Plus Extra, Yoshida explained that “subscriptions services are still "kind of experimental for [Sony] at this point”. That’s keeping in mind that Stray had a successful launch on PS Plus as well as as a title in itself. So who knows if these top bosses from Sony are to change their minds any time soon, and we may get Day Ones on PS Plus as well.