PlayStation Plus has recently faced backlash for its underwhelming game offerings and a looming price hike. Amidst this negative sentiment, Saints Row (2022) surprisingly became the second-largest PlayStation Plus debut ever. However, the reasons behind this success tell a more complex story about user dissatisfaction with the subscription service.

The Downward Spiral of PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus has been a topic of heated discussions, mainly because of its unimpressive roster of free monthly games. The three recent titles—Black Desert – Traveler Edition, Generation Zero, and Saints Row—did not improve the situation. To compound matters, PlayStation also announced a price increase for its memberships. The company claims that the price adjustment will enable the addition of higher quality titles and bonus perks for subscribers. However, these justifications have not sat well with fans. Many view them as empty promises and express intentions to cancel their subscriptions.

The Unconventional Success of Saints Row (2022)

Saints Row’s strong debut on PlayStation Plus comes as a surprise. Reddit user LBVectormen reported the game’s significant uptake in a post titled “Saints Row pulls off the second-biggest PS Plus game debut of 2023.” While the game itself has not received favorable reviews, comments on the Reddit post reveal that its newfound popularity on PS Plus is driven by entirely different factors.

Redeeming PS Stars for Store Credit

One of the primary reasons for the high download rate of Saints Row (2022) is the PS Stars reward system. PS Stars serve as store credits and can be redeemed for various items. One Reddit user mentioned, “I only installed it as it’s the smallest sized game to launch among the three in order to get the 50 points PS Stars reward.” It appears that many users downloaded Saints Row (2022) just to take advantage of the PS Stars, even if they had no intention of playing the game for an extended period.

Exploring the Negative Reviews

Other users downloaded Saints Row (2022) out of curiosity, fueled by its poor reviews and controversial reception. For example, one user wrote, “Downloaded to see if the bad reviews were warranted. They were. The aiming is atrocious.” The consensus seems to be that the game serves as a cautionary tale more than anything else. Some players believe that the platform offers them a chance to try out mediocre games without financial repercussions, reinforcing the view that PS Plus has failed in delivering quality content.

The Future of PlayStation Plus

The inclusion of Saints Row (2022) has sparked a discussion on whether PlayStation Plus can regain user trust. There is a glimmer of hope if the service revisits its decision on the price hike and includes better titles in its monthly offerings. However, whether these changes can bring back the disenchanted users remains uncertain.

Conclusion

The unexpected popularity of Saints Row (2022) on PlayStation Plus is less a testimony to the game’s quality and more an indication of user discontent with the subscription service. Players are downloading the game primarily to earn PS Stars or to validate the negative reviews. This development is a concerning signal for PlayStation Plus, especially as it faces increasing criticism for its underwhelming game line-up and rising subscription costs. The platform is at a pivotal point, and only time will tell if it can recover from this downturn.

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