Blue Prince’s Triumph: A Game Changer for PS Plus Future?

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By April 2025, PS Plus has gained significant popularity due to its impressive lineup of games, making higher tiers and the service as a whole increasingly attractive. One standout title on PS Plus Extra in April 2025, Hogwarts Legacy, has certainly added to its allure, especially considering the possibility of a sequel to the beloved Harry Potter adventure. In fact, it’s one of the best games added to the service in recent times. However, even Hogwarts Legacy pales in comparison to the introduction of Blue Prince, a new puzzle-adventure game from Dogubomb and Raw Fury, which features roguelike elements. As of now, it’s the highest-rated game of 2025.

The game titled “Blue Prince” is currently enjoying high ratings of 92 on Metacritic and 89 on Opencritic, making it the top game of 2025 thus far. Its arrival on PS Plus Extra not only enhances the appeal of the service for those yet to subscribe, but could also establish a pattern for PS Plus’ future, which some say is necessary given its performance over the past year. With several missteps in the recent past, PS Plus significantly benefited from the success of “Blue Prince”. However, to replicate this success, it will need to leverage this momentum and use it as a blueprint for future strategies.

Blue Prince’s Success Could Define PS Plus’ Future

Blue Prince’s Critical Success Might Force Sony to Change Its PS Plus Headliner Approach

In essence, although PS Plus subscribers pay for a range of games, the main attraction has historically been the monthly headliner titles, often being big-budget AAA games. However, popularity doesn’t necessarily mean enjoyment. Now, given the critical acclaim for the indie game “Blue Prince“, there might be a shift in PS Plus’s focus since “Blue Prince” is something that AAA headliners can’t replicate – an independent game.

Following numerous missteps throughout the past year, PS Plus could greatly benefit from a triumph like “Blue Prince”. However, to replicate this success and continue thriving, they must learn from it and apply its principles when plotting their future course.

Regardless of being an independent game without a well-known franchise or big promotional apparatus, the game “Blue Prince” has successfully garnered widespread praise and attention. This unexpected success may lead Sony to reevaluate their criteria for selecting headliners in their PS Plus service, as many recent AAA headliners, with the exception of February 2025’s “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor“, have not been particularly well-received by subscribers. If critical acclaim and originality are given more consideration than brand recognition, future PS Plus lineups might focus on discovering hidden indie jewels like “Blue Prince” instead of relying solely on blockbuster AAA games.

Sony’s Growing Investment in Day-One Indie Releases Might Be the Service’s Smartest Move Yet

As a devoted fan, I must say that what truly sets Blue Prince apart on PS Plus is the unique fact that it wasn’t just a success there; it actually debuted there. Perhaps Blue Prince serves as something of a test case, but it proved to be a smart move regardless, making it one of Sony’s best decisions for PS Plus in the last year. In the grand scheme of things, Blue Prince could clear the path for more indie developers to consider PS Plus as a launchpad for their games, which would not only strengthen the service but also potentially provide those developers with an easy route to the limelight.

Blue Prince, seemingly slipping under the radar with its arrival on PS Plus, has made quite a stir, much more than anticipated. Given that PS Plus has been grappling with finding its stride over the past year, this could be a chance for a fresh start. If Sony capitalizes on the factors that made Blue Prince successful, it might finally alter the general impression of what PS Plus is intended to provide. Some might argue that PS Plus isn’t merely about playing backlogged games or half-year-old AAA titles, but rather about offering captivating indie games players may not have encountered otherwise. Blue Prince serves as proof of this concept.

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2025-04-19 13:34