PlayStation Plus users download controversial game just to get free store credit

In a surprising twist, Saints Row (2022) has become the second-biggest PlayStation Plus debut ever, but not for the reason you’d expect.

PlayStation Plus is on a dramatic downward spiral, as more and more fans express their outrage with its offerings. Not only do the three free monthly games disappoint fans every time a new batch is announced, but the Extra catalogue is lacking AAA additions as well.

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To add insult to injury, PlayStation recently announced it’d be increasing the price of all PlayStation Plus memberships, with its reasoning being it’ll enable the subscription service to add higher quality titles to the catalogue, as well as bonus freebies for fans.

Unfortunately, fans are perceiving the whole thing as empty promises, and swear they’ll cancel their subscriptions due to it seemingly getting worse for it gets better. The recent free monthly games haven’t helped, consisting of Black Desert – Traveler Edition, Generation Zero, and Saints Row.

The latter has actually made an impressive debut on the subscription service, though not being it's considered a good game.

Reddit user LBVectormen shared the game’s success on PS Plus in a post saying: “Saints Row pulls off the second-biggest PS Plus game debut of 2023”, which was followed by comments explaining why.

One user said “I only installed it as it's the smallest sized game to launch among the 3 in order to get the 50 points PS Stars reward.” If you didn’t know PS Stars essentially act as store credit when redeemed, and while they’re offered for various things, downloading and playing certain games is an easy way to rack up points, even if you just play for a minute.

Other fans claimed the game was the lesser of three evils, and simply wanted to try it following all the negative reviews and press it received at launch.

“Downloaded to see if the bad reviews were warranted. They were. The aiming is atrocious.”

“Ps plus is the best place to try mediocre games you don't want to pay”

“Good thing I just cancelled my sub”

Whether PlayStation Plus can claw its way back is another question, though with some better titles, and perhaps a U-turn on the price-hike, it just might be possible.