March 2017 PS Plus Free Games Predictions

THE BIGGER GAME

When it comes to Sony’s monthly free games for those with a PS+ subscription, there’s usually one headliner title considered a “bigger” game due to its past popularity with players. For March 2017, it would be a money-saving and crowd-pleasing move by Sony to make the original 2005 Psychonauts one of the free PS+ games for a variety of reasons.

With PSVR launching in October, Sony has had to compete with both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift systems to acquire VR consumers. A great way to do this is to offer platform exclusives, such as the upcoming PSVR exclusive Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin. Set to release later this month on Feb. 21, Rhombus of Ruin takes places after the events of the first Psychonauts and before the yet to be released sequel Psychonauts 2. By offering those who might have never gotten around to playing the first title, it might inspire PS4 owners to try out PSVR and check out its VR continuation, and likewise those who already own PSVR and enjoy the first title for free might be more inclined to try out Rhombus of Ruin.

It would make sense for Sony financially as well, since Psychonauts is currently offered as a free inclusion for those who pre-order Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin. The original Psychonauts is only $9.99 currently on the PlayStation Store, and has gone on sale in the past for as little as $2.99.

Other possible bigger titles could include Ratchet and Clank or Infamous: Second Son, which both received PlayStation 4 Pro patches including HDR visual advancements. Including Pro patched games would be a great way to support PS4 Pro purchasers who paid for the more expensive system, and those who own the original PS4 could enjoy them as well.

INDIES

Usually a couple indies make it into the monthly PS+ line-up as well. The first prediction for this category is the adorable platformer Unravel. Released last February, it features gorgeous backgrounds with puzzles you solve while using a continuous string of yarn in creative ways. In May 2016, a sequel was confirmed by EA to be on the way, with no details on when we should expect it. It’s currently listed on the PlayStation Store for $19.99, and got a great score from us in our review.

Another possible indie inclusion is Abzu from developer Giant Squid. With stunning visuals, extremely fluid gameplay, and an intriguing but soft-spoken story, Abzu released in August to widespread critical praise. It featured music from Grammy-nominated video game composer Austin Wintory, who also composed the music for other popular games including The Banner Saga, Flow, and Journey. In a lot of ways, Abzu is very similar to Thatgamecompany’s Journey, and it was just recently that Journey made its way to the PS+ line-up in September 2016. Abzu just kind of feels like the type of game that would eventually end up on PS+ and, like Unravel, it is currently listed on the PlayStation Store for $19.99.

VR GAMES

Wrapping up our predictions is guessing what VR games Sony might include in their PS+ line-up. Surprisingly, Sony has not included a single VR game in their free PS+ list since the Oct. 13 release of their PSVR system. Perhaps it’s been long enough now that Sony will feel those who did pick up PSVR should get a little support by including a free VR title for them to try out.

If there is ever a game for showing off the whacky possibilities of VR’s technology, it’s Job Simulator from Owlchemy Labs. It first released for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift back in April 2016, and made its way to PSVR as a launch release on Oct. 13. Job Simulator is one of those games you use to show off VR to your friends or family, as its simplistic missions and cartoonish visuals allow for a fun time that isn’t too difficult even for those not at all familiar with video games. It would be a great inclusion to the line-up since it is already so well-known in the VR world, and those who want to have it in their library to just enjoy it with others can do so without having to spend $39.99.

Another VR inclusion worthy of Sony’s consideration is Eagle Flight from Ubisoft. Since Eagle Flight is a PlayStation exclusive, it would be a great inclusion for PlayStation Plus as a way to further promote their headset. As previously stated with Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Sony’s best bet in staying in the VR game is to produce as many PSVR exclusive titles as possible. By also continuing this support over on PS+ by rewarding players loyalty to PS4 by providing games that PC VR users can’t access, it’s bound to make them feel happier about purchasing a PSVR headset over the competitors.

Do you have any predictions for games you think will make the PS+ list for March? Let us know down below.