Sony disappointed a lot of fans with the free PlayStation Plus games for December 2021. The free PS Plus games for December 2021 included a stripped-down version of the looter-slasher game Godfall that took out the main story in favor of sending players straight to the endgame content, plus an outdated version of Mortal Shell that didn’t allow fans to upgrade to the superior PlayStation 5 version.
It’s hard to say if fan feedback has played a role in this or if it’s just coincidence, but it seems that Sony may have been listening. The free PlayStation Plus games for January 2022 have been announced and they avoid the same pitfalls as the free PS Plus games for December 2021, offering players both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of the games when relevant. Not only that, but PS Plus subscribers are able to look forward to the full versions of the games with no caveats.
The free PS Plus games for January 2022 have been much better-received than the free PS Plus games for December 2021 because of this, and it seems that next month’s lineup should be especially appealing to PS5 gamers.
Free PS Plus Games for January 2022
- Deep Rock Galactic (PS4/PS5)
- Dirt 5 (PS4/PS5)
- Persona 5 Strikers (PS4)
Having a PlayStation 5 is necessary to get the most out of a PlayStation Plus subscription because the PS5 is backward compatible with PS4. This means that PS4 gamers usually get two new games they can play from PS Plus each month, whereas PS5 gamers are able to get their hands on all three of the new games. However, the free PS Plus games for January 2022 allow PS Plus subscribers to grab both the PS4 and PS5 versions of the games, so all PlayStation gamers win next month.
The free PS Plus games for January 2022 are headlined by Deep Rock Galactic, an interesting co-op game about mining a mysterious planet for resources. Players get to choose a unique class and team up with friends in co-op to complete their mining missions, all the while fighting back hordes of alien enemies. Deep Rock Galactic has earned mostly positive reviews since its release, and it’s making its PlayStation debut as a PS Plus title.
Another game that will have both its PS4 and PS5 version available for PS Plus subscribers to claim is Dirt 5. Like Deep Rock Galactic, Dirt 5 earned mostly positive reviews at the time of its original release. It should greatly appeal to racing game fans that haven’t had the chance to play it yet, and it being available to both PS4 and PS5 gamers is just icing on the cake.
And finally, Persona 5 Strikers is the last free PS Plus game for January 2022. It doesn’t have a native PS5 version, but those with Sony’s next-generation console will still be able to play it thanks to its backward compatibility with PS4. Persona 5 Strikers is a spin-off/sequel to Atlus’ critically-acclaimed JRPG Persona 5, so PS Plus subscribers should definitely make sure they play that first before they jump into Strikers.
It shouldn’t be too difficult for PlayStation Plus subscribers to check out Persona 5 if they own a PlayStation 5. As it so happens, Persona 5 is part of the PS Plus Collection, which gives PS5 gamers instant access to some of the most popular games that were ever released for the PlayStation 4. Those that have yet to complete Persona 5 can add Persona 5 Strikers to their collection once it becomes available on January 4 with the other PS Plus games and then wait to check it out until after they’ve beaten the original game.
PS5 gamers have a lot to look forward to next month thanks to PlayStation Plus, but it will be interesting to see if this is the start of a new trend for the service in 2022. While both Deep Rock Galactic and Dirt 5 are offering the PS4 and PS5 versions of the games, it’s always possible a future PS Plus title will only give players access to the PS4 version and stir up the controversy all over again.
After all, the free PS Plus games for December 2021 weren’t the first time that PlayStation Plus left PS5 upgrades out of the equation. As some may recall, the free PS Plus version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake did not allow for a free PS5 upgrade at first, locking those that acquired the game through the service out of getting the Yuffie DLC. This decision was reversed months after the fact, and the same could very well happen with Mortal Shell, but it goes to show that fans don’t really know what to expect from PS Plus and PS5 upgrades.
For now, though, Sony seems to be starting 2022 off right when it comes to PlayStation Plus, giving subscribers access to both the PS4 and PS5 versions of the games it has on offer. Whether or not that starts a trend for the rest of the year remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to find out.
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