PS Plus Free Games for July 2024 Controversy Explained

Highlights

• PS Plus faces backlash for one of the games in July’s Essential lineup, Among Us.
• The Among Us controversy stems from its low price compared to PS Plus subscription costs.
• July’s PS Plus Extra and Premium games may need to impress to offset the Among Us controversy.

PS Plus has been shrouded in quite a bit of controversy over the last couple of months, as many subscribers have felt the service has been providing a rather lackluster lineup of games to choose from. While the PS Plus Essential games for May were more than okay, the Extra and Premium selections were nothing to write home about, with some dated online games that were no longer populated as they once were and several poorly reviewed titles being offered. June’s PS Plus Extra and Premium selection then atoned for May’s sins with noteworthy titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Anno 1800, and Far Cry 4, although its PS Plus Essential games were fairly disappointing. Now, July’s PS Plus Essential games have arrived as of July 2, and the service is once again facing backlash.

Headlining the PS Plus Essential lineup for July 2024 is Borderlands 3, which, though it has been on the service many times before, has never been offered as an Essential game. This means that once players claim it, they can hold on to it as long as it is in their library. Borderlands 3‘s addition to the service also means the franchise could be gearing up for a sequel, but that remains to be seen. Another of July 2024’s PS Plus Essential games is NHL 24, an ice hockey simulation game that has received some mediocre reviews due to many critics feeling its gameplay doesn’t stack up well with previous installments. Finally, one other title in July 2024’s PS Plus Essential lineup has caused quite a stir in the community, despite it arguably being one of the best indie games ever made: Among Us.

Among Us Is the Latest Controversial PS Plus Title

Again, Among Us is one of the most popular indie games ever made, as well as one of the best multiplayer games, having seen a massive spike in its population in 2020 and remaining popular to this day. While the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged widespread social distancing, Among Us thrived, as it allowed gamers to socialize with one another despite the need to stay physically separate. Among Us has been the source of many memes, even to the point of being almost solely responsible for the commonly used word “sus,” which is used to describe someone who is acting suspicious or suspect. However, none of this has anything to do with the controversy stirred up by the game. For that, one should look at the price tag for Among Us.

Among Us Is the Cheapest Game to Be Offered on PS Plus Since 2019

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding Among Us being added to PS Plus Essential, primarily on account of the game’s price in comparison to what a PS Plus subscription costs. Among Us currently costs a mere $2.99 to purchase (regularly $4.99) until July 11, whereas a PS Plus Essential subscription costs $9.99/month, $24.99/three months, and $79.99/year. This means that, even with an annual plan, subscribers are paying around $6.67/month, which is still more than double what Among Us costs currently and over 30% more than its regular price. That doesn’t include PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers, who pay even more for the service.

This price discrepancy makes Among Us the cheapest game to be offered on PS Plus since 2019, with Divekick‘s $4.99 price tag previously earning it that claim. Needless to say, PS Plus subscribers aren’t happy with Among Us compromising a spot in July 2024’s selection of games, and they’ve been taking to various online forums to express their frustration. However, hopefully, this just means that July 2024’s PS Plus Extra and Premium games are just as good as last month’s, as it might be enough to make up for the controversy caused by the addition of Among Us to the service.