PlayStation Plus subscribers are starting the new year on the wrong footing, expressing significant frustration over the game offerings for January 2025. This month’s lineup includes Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, and it has drawn considerable ire from the community, primarily due to perceptions of declining quality.
Beginning January 7, 2025, PlayStation Plus subscribers across all tiers can download these titles until February 3, 2025. The headliner of this month’s offerings is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which has been met with lukewarm reception since its launch and is viewed by many as less desirable compared to previous free offerings. This has left many questioning if this trend is indicative of what players can expect from the service throughout the year.
While Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League introduces players to the reimagined Arkham-Verse with solid gameplay concepts, its live-service model and lackluster reviews have marred its appeal. Game Rant rated it 6/10, noting it "lacked heart and substance." Players have expressed skepticism, with some stating they would require compensation just to play the title.
The second title, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, is notable primarily for being over 15 years old. Originally releasing in 2010, the remastered version enhances visuals but many feel it does not compare favorably with newer titles launching on platforms. Gamers often discuss nostalgia rather than innovation when referencing this older game.
Meanwhile, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, which is an enhanced version of the cult classic, is regarded as the standout title of January. While it incorporates fresh endings and areas, its age still puts it at risk of falling short of players' expectations, particularly when pitted against newer, more dynamic offerings from the gaming world.
The sentiment among the gaming community has been palpable, especially on platforms like Reddit where players vent their frustrations. One disgruntled subscriber remarked, "Easily the worst January of all those years listed.” Such remarks highlight just how low gamers' expectations have fallen with this month’s selection. Another user echoed this disappointment with, "What a crock of s***," illustrating the depth of dissatisfaction surrounding this lineup.
Looking back, January is typically when PlayStation has rolled out strong titles. For example, January 2024 included highlights like A Plague Tale: Requiem and Evil West, creations much more widely regarded within the community. With past offerings such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Deep Rock Galactic still fresh on the minds of subscribers, the current lineup appears particularly underwhelming.
There’s significant worry among subscribers about the continuity of this trend. Many questions arise as players are left wondering what February may hold, or whether they will continue to receive subpar selections throughout the year. "2025 off to a good start! Concord in February?" speculated one user on Twitter, hinting at the anticipated titles but also the trepidation filling the community.
It's worth noting, too, the disparity between current offerings and previous years highlights the low expectations for the service moving forward. Subscription services, as they become omnipresent within the industry, require sumptuously curated libraries to retain subscribers. Dunking on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League being included within the lineup became somewhat of darkly humorous commentary on the quality of the entire offering.
The distress seen across social media also urges PlayStation to pay attention to its fanbase's discontent. With subscriptions often reliant on the quality of offerings, it remains to be seen how the platform will rectify consumer perception and embrace meaningful change.
This month’s underwhelming selection may soon turn the tides for fan loyalty; after all, where there’s competition, there’s also the chance of improvement. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions surrounding this month’s title selection, players can hope for changes to be seen as early as the coming months.