Saturday, 30 January 2021 23:55

PS Plus Free Games for February 2021 Show How Sony is Going All-in on PS5 Games

Written by Dalton Cooper
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The PlayStation Plus free games for February 2021 serve as further evidence that Sony is going all-in when it comes to the service and PS5.

Prior to the PlayStation 5's launch, it was unclear exactly how Sony was going to change PlayStation Plus for the new console. Previously, it had been giving subscribers two free PS Vita, PS3, and PS4 games each month, until the PS Vita and PS3 offerings were phased out. Considering this, some expected Sony to start offering two free PS5 games through PlayStation Plus each month, but it's clear by now that it will be giving away one PS5-focused game, alongside the usual two PS4 titles.

While some PS5 early adopters may be disappointed that they aren't getting more free games each month, Sony is clearly still going "all in" on the new console when it comes to PlayStation Plus. And as it so happens, the free PS Plus games for February 2021 are perfect proof of that, showing how Sony is still giving PS5 owners significant value in exchange for their PlayStation Plus subscription.

RELATED: Some PlayStation Plus Subscribers Are Getting An Extra Free Game for February 2021

Here is how the free PS Plus games for February 2021 prove that Sony is going all in when it comes to PS5 and PS Plus.

One of the free PS Plus games for February 2021 is Control: Ultimate Edition from 505 Games and Remedy Entertainment. Control: Ultimate Edition is, at its name suggests, the "ultimate" version of Control, collecting the base game together with its two DLC expansions, The Foundation and AWE. Besides Control: Ultimate Edition coming with the base game and all its DLC, it has another bonus to offer fans.

Technically Control: Ultimate Edition is one of the free PS Plus games for PS4 in February, but it includes a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version of the game. This essentially means that PS5 owners are in fact getting two free PS Plus games in February 2021 instead of just one. And while some may still write it off as being a mere cross-gen port, it's clear that Control: Ultimate Edition on PS5 is going to be the premiere way to experience the game.

Control: Ultimate Edition on PS5 supports the DualSense controller, which means players can experience things like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. Not only that, but it's also expected to perform significantly better than its PS4 counterpart, with a smoother frame rate and improved overall performance. Considering how much acclaim Control earned when it first launched in 2019, it's certainly a big "get" for PS Plus subscribers on PS5 in February.

Occasionally, a game debuts on PlayStation Plus the day it comes out. This was true for Rocket League when it first launched years ago, and can be credited with helping the car/soccer game becoming a worldwide phenomenon. As far as the PS5 goes, nearly all of the free PS Plus games for PS5 fit into that category as well, with Bugsnax debuting on PS Plus in NovemberWorms Rumble launching the same day it joined the service in December, and Destruction AllStars hitting PS Plus alongside its February 2 release date.

Having brand new games on PS Plus gives the service added value, but there is an additional benefit for Destruction AllStars that is further proof Sony is fully invested in making the service worthwhile for PS5 owners. As it so happens, Destruction AllStars will be free to claim for PS Plus subscribers for a whopping two months, not leaving the service until April. Sony did something similar with Bugsnax, and while Worms Rumble and Maneater were only available for one month at a time, it shows Sony is willing to extend the availability period for some of these PS5 games.

It's unclear exactly why Sony is doing this for some games and not others. With Bugsnax, it could be due to the fact that the game wasn't released until halfway through the month it was supposed to be free. As for Destruction AllStars, Sony may want to maximize the game's potential playerbase by making it available for an extended period of time, as it is primarily an online multiplayer experience. But with Sony itself not providing any clear answers behind its choices, all of that is just speculation at this time.

While the free PS Plus games have typically featured less PS5 games than PS4 titles, it's worth pointing out that all of the PS4 games can be played on PS5 as well thanks to the console's backward compatibility. So for someone to get the absolute best value out of their PlayStation Plus membership, they need to have a PS5 console, further proof that Sony is working to make the service especially appealing to those with a next-gen console.

While the new free PS Plus games for February 2021 certainly sweeten the pot, Sony has already been making it a point to make PS Plus worthwhile to PS5 owners. Right out of the gate, Sony released the PlayStation Plus Collection, allowing PS5 owners to download some of the PS4's most critically-acclaimed and celebrated titles. No new games have been announced for the PlayStation Plus Collection lineup, but what's already there should keep fans busy for months.

MORE: PlayStation Plus Has Started 2021 Off on the Right Foot

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