Sony’s newPS PlusTier system sees fans get a video game drop every two weeks or so, with the PS Plus free games becoming available at the start and the Premium games about halfway through. On the other weeks, Sony will typically announce the PS Plus free game selection and the Premium game selection, and this keeps the service on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Indeed, the hype for thePS Plus Extra and Premium games for November 2022are palpable, but one of them sticks out like a sore thumb.
PS Plus Premium is adding five classicRatchet and Clankgames, while PS Plus Extra is addingChorus,a couple ofEarth Defense Forcegames,Ghost Recon Breakpoint, a handful ofKingdom Heartsgames,Oddworld: Soulstorm, Onee Chanbara Origin, Rainbow Six Siege, The Division 2, Skyrim, The Gardens Between, andWhat Remains of Edith Finch. While perhaps it’s easy to look over, as the game tends to appear everywhere,Skyrim’s presence on PS Plus Extra comes at a surprising time.
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PS Plus Premium, Game Pass' Competitor, is Adding a Microsoft-Owned Game
On the one hand,Skyrimturned 11 on November 11 (11 on 11/11), so the timing makes sense as far as the addition and anniversary go. However, many fans are aware that Microsoft acquired Bethesda some time ago, soSkyrimis technically a game owned by Microsoft (through Bethesda). Now, what happens behind closed doors between companies should stay there, but Sony, Bethesda, and Microsoft agreeing to putSkyrimonPS Plus Premiumis unusual for so many reasons.
First off, PS Plus is more of a direct competitor to Xbox Game Pass following its restructuring, and providing a title as popular asSkyrimto a direct competitor is certainly a choice. It brings to mind whenMLB The Show, a former PlayStation console exclusive developed by Sony San Diego, came to Xbox and Game Pass. Furthermore, Sony and Microsoft have had some very public and heated debates regardingCall of Duty’s future, should Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard King go through.
If regulators are looking at what Microsoft’s acquisition could do, specifically in regard toCall of Duty, ifSony is insinuating it would loseCall of Dutyand the acquisition would overall hurt its player base, and Microsoft is insisting that it has no problem sharing certain games that would lead to increased profits (likeMinecraftandCall of Duty), this decision…however it was made…pretty heavily leans toward Microsoft. Therefore, Sony adding it to PS Plus Extra seems counterintuitive to its own arguments.
Skyrim on PS Plus Premium vs. Call of Duty on PlayStation Consoles
Of course, not everything made by Bethesda and Activision Blizzard (should the acquisition be approved) will be playable on PlayStation consoles.Starfieldis an Xbox exclusive launching day one Game Pass.The Elder Scrolls 6is likely to be an Xbox exclusive, while many of these titles being day one releases on Xbox Game Pass would sway many to Sony’s competitor (perhaps even in the case ofCall of Duty). But for diehard PlayStation fans,Call of Dutyseems to be anotherMinecraftunder Microsoft’s umbrella. It’s going to share, even if it prioritizes its own platform in some ways.
Again, it’s hard to understand what happens between companies behind closed doors, but havingSkyrimon PS Plus Extranow of all times is a weird sign of cooperation by Microsoft that many allege it is incapable of. Even if it was Bethesda and Sony’s decision alone, and it very well could be, that still shows Microsoft’s overall attitude here.
The whole situation is confusing and there is certainly some posturing going on between all sides. But if Skyrim can be on Xbox Game Pass' most direct competitor, thedebate aroundCall of Dutyseems null and void.
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