Former Sony Executive Believes PlayStation Plus is ‘Healthier’ than Xbox Game Pass

I don’t know about you, but the way these subscription services are duking it out is like watching a soap opera with game controllers. Former PlayStation bigwig, Shuhei Yoshida, had a chat (no idea why it stayed with me, but his tone was catchy), revealing he’s into Sony’s PS Plus approach over Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Yeah, he’s got history with Sony, so maybe he’s a bit biased? But he warns, like, launching those first-party games into a subscription from day one, he calls it “dangerous.” What’s that about?

Sony’s strategy is kinda simple if you think about it — they sell their big games at full price, milk the sales for what it’s worth, and then slide them into PS Plus later. Works like a charm, according to Yoshida. Keeps the hype alive, he claims. Anyway — or wait, was I getting ahead of myself?

Xbox Game Pass crashed onto the scene around 2018, shaking things up with a buffet of games. It’s got fans, especially among Xbox players, but not everyone’s excited about it, fearing it might pinch developers’ pockets. Indie folks seem cool with it; big studios, not so much. They think long-term, right?

Back to Yoshida — he’s wandered into a slightly turbulent sea of interviews since departing Sony earlier this year. At this particular talk at Gamescom LATAM, he compared Sony’s tactics to Microsoft’s Game Pass. And sure, maybe his old ties influence his views, but he stands by his belief: PS Plus is the “healthier” sibling in the gaming family.

Is tossing blockbuster games straight into subscriptions sketchy? Yoshida seems to think so. Microsoft’s direct-to-Game Pass model might backfire, he warns. Meanwhile, Sony’s tactic involves holding back first-party games, selling them high first, and once they’ve raked in the cash, they hit PS Plus. More players get hooked that way, getting those who missed out to catch up before sequels roll out.

Right now, Xbox Game Pass is rolling in goodies like Doom: The Dark Ages and the like, having players’ hearts fluttering. But Yoshida’s comments are timely, sparking discussions about whether these subscription-first models are sustainable, especially with game development costs skyrocketing.

The drama unfolds, and it’s anyone’s guess where this ride will end up. But for now, Yoshida’s thoughts add a serious twist to the unfolding tale of gaming’s future.