In Short:
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a widely criticized title, headlines PS Plus Essential’s January 2025 lineup
- The two additional games, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, are reimagined versions of previous releases
- The declining selection of games in PS Plus Essential seems to be encouraging users to consider upgrading to the Extra and Premium tiers
The PS Plus Essential lineup for January 2025 is now available, providing all subscribers, regardless of tier, with a limited range of PS4 and PS5 games. Each month, fresh titles are introduced to PS Plus through the Essential tier.
Since early 2024, the quality and selection of games on PS Plus Essential have steadily declined. The service has introduced titles that are either already inexpensive or free, as well as games that have underperformed without a doubt quite significantly.
PS Plus Essential is known to have failed to outshine, especially when contrasted with the more favorable offerings found in the Extra and Premium tiers.
The January 2025 update brings another round of questionable titles, though the issue lies less in their playability and more in their overall appeal.
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January 2025 Demonstrates That PS Plus Essential Is No Longer as Indispensable
PS Plus Essential’s January 2025 Lineup Includes One of 2024’s Most Poorly Rated Games
The standout game in the January 2025 PS Plus Essential lineup is Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which unfortunately became one of the most poorly received titles of 2024. At first, the game seemed promising from a particular perspective.
The developer’s reputation from the Batman: Arkham series played a role in this initial excitement. The concept of playing as anti-heroes like Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark, taking on famous Justice League members, was a fascinating premise that arguably still sparks interest.
Unfortunately, the game’s focus on live-service elements led to repetitive gameplay, stripping it of meaningful depth.
The Other Two PS Plus Games for January 2025 A Remake
While Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe are more highly regarded than Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, they are still remasters and remakes, filling two of the three available spots in the January PS Plus Essential lineup.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered revamps the original, which is often celebrated as one of the greatest racing games of all time. Meanwhile, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe acts as both a remake and a semi-sequel.
While both games have received favorable reviews, their nature as a remaster and a remake raises concerns about their appropriateness for the PS Plus Essential lineup.
The belief that PS Plus Essential is in decline isn’t just about the January 2025 games. This month’s lineup simply adds to the ongoing trend of underwhelming game choices over the past year.
PS Plus seems to be steering subscribers toward its Extra and Premium tiers, which have been providing far better games recently. If this trend continues, however, PS Plus Essential users might soon decide to cancel their subscriptions.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
Join the Suicide Squad as they take on the world’s most iconic superheroes, the Justice League. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an action-packed third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, known for their acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.
Franchise Name | Suicide Squad |
Release Date | February 2, 2024 |
Platform(s) | Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, PC |
ESRB | Violence, Blood & Gore, (For 17+) |
Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
Multiplayer | Online Multiplayer |
Publisher(s) | Interactive, Warner Bros. |
Developer(s) | Rocksteady Studios |
Number of Players | 1-4 |
How Long To Beat | 10 Hours |
Xbox Series X|S Release Date | February 2, 2024 |
PS5 Release Date | February 2, 2024 |
PC Release Date | February 2, 2024 |
OpenCritic Rating | Weak |
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