This PS Plus August 2025 Day One Title is a Spiritual Successor To an All-Time Classic

The second half of this year has been particularly successful for PlayStation Plus, with Sony extending celebrations for the subscription service’s 15th anniversary throughout much of the summer. Since the Days of Play event commenced at the season’s start, PS Plus members have enjoyed numerous additional benefits and exclusive offers. August’s Essentials selection even included highly acclaimed Gothic Soulslike game, Lies of P.

However, the upcoming Day One release for the Extra tier, Sword of the Sea, is also generating a lot of excitement. For good reason too – Sword of the Sea is set to make its debut on PS Plus soon and boasts a lineage that positions it as the natural successor to one of the most renowned indie games in history.

Day One PlayStation Plus Extra August 2025 Game, Sword of the Sea, Promises Plenty of Journey Vibes

Journey is an Enduring and Innovative Indie Classic

The game titled “Journey,” developed by Thatgamecompany, initially debuted on PlayStation 3 in the year 2012. Sony was the publisher of this masterpiece, and it became available on PlayStation Plus in 2016. “Journey” is known for deviating from many traditional gaming norms and assumptions. The indie gaming community was still growing when “Journey” was launched over a decade ago, leading to the release of numerous innovative and experimental games. However, some of these games didn’t quite take off, either due to excessive ambition or other factors that could potentially undermine an otherwise promising title. In contrast, “Journey” was overwhelmingly praised by both players and critics when it first came out.

The game’s title positions players as an anonymous adventurer gliding a mystical shawl over a captivating landscape of mountains and deserts concealing enigmatic ancient relics. Goals are left vague, and the gameplay in Journey is largely influenced by curiosity and the sheer pleasure of exploring the world to uncover what breathtaking sights lie beyond the next hill. There’s an engaging interactive aspect, where players may encounter other wanderers but can only communicate through enigmatic signals; a charming feature that offers fleeting moments of connection amidst solitude. Journey’s straightforward yet fulfilling controls and visually impressive stages create a deeply introspective gaming experience.

The title Journey, initially released, has since gained significant acclaim and is fondly remembered by many. It was recognized with numerous prestigious gaming awards, such as those from DICE and the BAFTAs. One of its most notable achievements is being the first and only video game soundtrack to be nominated for a Grammy in 2013, although it didn’t win. In the future, Sword of the Sea will reunite some of the creators responsible for Journey, as they join forces once more to deliver another enchanting and tranquil gaming experience set within an equally captivating world.

Sword of the Sea Coming to PS Plus Extra in August is a Perfect Full-Circle Moment

Giant Squid, creators of ‘Abzu’ and ‘The Pathless’, are developing the game titled ‘Sword of the Sea’. Matt Nava, who previously served as the art director on ‘Journey’ and is now directing ‘Sword of the Sea’, was part of Giant Squid. The composer Austin Wintory will be scoring this new game, and given the haunting yet lively atmospheres in both ‘Abzu’ and ‘The Pathless’, it is expected that the music in ‘Sword of the Sea’ will also be a beautifully moving soundtrack.

On August 19, the game titled “Sword of the Sea” becomes available on PlayStation Plus Extra. With Xbox Game Pass gaining quite a bit of attention this year, this is a significant victory for PS Plus. Given that “Sword of the Sea” has many similarities with the popular title “Journey“, and Sony’s history with the latter, it makes an excellent candidate for a Day One PS+ Extra release. Fans of “Journey” or anyone else seeking an immersive, contemplative, and relaxing game with breathtaking visuals and audio will find “Sword of the Sea” to be just right.

Read More

2025-08-17 18:06