One of the key benefits of PS Plus Premium when it first launched in June was a selection of PS1, PS2, and PS3 titles. Sony acknowledged that it wouldn't be able to add many day-one releases to the service, but its library of older games was still exciting enough for fans. PlayStation owners were eagerly expecting the joy of having a similarly excellent subscription service in PS Plus Premium, even if it didn't yet have the reputation of Xbox Game Pass.

While Xbox Game Pass is renowned for its premium titles and day-one launches, PS Plus appears to have given older games priority. Sony's top titles from the late '90s and early '00s were available on PlayStation Plus Premium the day it was released, including Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Rogue Galaxy, and the original Resident Evil. Since that time, PS Plus has neglected classics in favour of strong selections that, in the end, only appeal to a small audience and aren't attracting new users.

The PS Plus Premium Games for August are disappointing

Although the service's first selections gave retro enthusiasts some hope, the new PS Plus games released in August look to be following a poor pattern. Bugsnax, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, and three Yakuza titles—Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2—are among the new games. The classic horror game Dead by Daylight was also included this month for those who enjoy playing online with others.

The lack of new releases and apparent reluctance to embrace classics leave PS Plus Premium feeling aimless. Nintendo Switch Online has already demonstrated a straightforward alternative if Sony is unwilling to invest in the best contemporary titles. Switch Online offers vintage NES and SNES games that can't be played anywhere else for a relatively low price, despite the restricted number of titles offered. Anyone who wants to play games from their youth must sign up for Nintendo's service, and a more expensive tier even offers N64 and Sega Genesis games.

There have also been issues with the classic games that are already available on PS Plus Premium. Sony's track record with backward compatibility is dubious, and it has the right to discontinue the service at any time. It seems to sense that gamers have been concerned about losing access to their beloved titles, and PlayStation hasn't yet included trophy support for older games on PS Plus, leaving users hungry.

PS Plus Must Provide Greater Value

The future of PS Plus is still uncertain. Day-one releases won't be available on PS Plus Premium, but recent events indicate that Sony also won't prioritise classic games. Given the quantity and calibre of titles that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers, Sony is up against an uphill battle from the start, making it challenging to create a rival. Instead of Sony having a poor plan, the problem is that there doesn't seem to be any sort of plan at all.

The lack of new releases and apparent reluctance to embrace classics leave PS Plus Premium feeling aimless. Nintendo Switch Online has already demonstrated a straightforward alternative if Sony is unwilling to invest in the best contemporary titles. Switch Online offers vintage NES and SNES games that can't be played anywhere else for a relatively low price, despite the restricted number of titles offered. Anyone who wants to play games from their youth must sign up for Nintendo's service, and a more expensive tier even offers

N64 and Sega Genesis games

Even though it had a previous edition, PS Plus Premium had the tricky job of being the final subscription service to launch for major consoles. It must compete with more recognisable brands and persuade consumers that paying for Premium is worth it. Sony has a chance to differentiate itself from Game Pass by capitalising on gamers' fond memories of their favourite childhood games, but it must act swiftly to demonstrate its dedication to this genre.