With noteworthy titles like Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood all slated to release this July, it’s safe to say that gaming is alive and well during the summer. It would be wise for Sony and Microsoft to keep their respective fans appeased through the month’s PS Plus and Games With Gold offerings, lest they leave for the competition come this holiday season. The following are our July 2019 PS Plus and Games with Gold predictions.
July 2019 PS Plus Xbox Games With Gold predictions | The big ones
Rebellion Development’s Sniper Elite 3 released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 1, 2014. It has players take on the role of Karl Fairburne as he attempts to assassinate Nazi general Franz Vahlen and expel Germany’s troops from North Africa. Given its premise, it’s the perfect title to play before Youngblood releases on July 26. Sniper Elite 3‘s presence on PS Plus or Games with Gold could also remind shooter fans of Sniper Elite V2 Remastered, the likes of which launched last month on May 14.
In a way, I Am Setsuna is the complete opposite of Sniper Elite 3 because it revolves around themes of sadness. Players are tasked with escorting a maiden to a sacred shine so that she may offer herself as a sacrifice and end the perpetual winter that’s currently engulfing her world. The title’s Active Time Battle system is reminiscent of early Final Fantasy games and offers a great trip down memory lane for fans of the genre. This July would be a great time to include it in Sony’s service given the fact that it released for PlayStation 4 on July 19, 2016.
Given the upcoming film, Godzilla: The Game is also a worthy candidate for next month’s PS Plus catalog, as it released for PlayStation 4 on July 14, 2015. While this admittedly isn’t the best Godzilla title to grace consoles, it’s worth a casual playthrough just to witness all the havoc that players can unleash in God of Destruction mode.
Red Faction Guerrilla: Re-Mars-tered Edition and the Prototype Biohazard Bundle have a good chance of showing up on either service too, seeing as how the former released in July 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and the latter released in July 2015 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Even in 2019, it’s fun to destroy every Martian building in sight as Alec Mason or terrorize Manhattan’s inhabitants as the shape-shifting Alex Mercer. Should either of these be included in PS Plus or Games With Gold next month, they’ll serve as great throwbacks to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 eras.
Another remaster, The Last of Us Remastered, could show up on PS Plus in July given the fact that it released for PlayStation 4 on July 29, 2014. Having it on the service would be a great way to drum up anticipation for the sequel should it launch later this year. Of course, other exclusives like Gravity Rush Remastered, Gravity Rush 2, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, and Knack 2 could also appear next month. Similarly, Gears of War 4 could show up on Games With Gold, considering how its sequel is set to launch this fall.
July 2019 PS Plus Xbox Games With Gold predictions | The indies
Action RPG Pyre seems poised to appear on PS Plus this July considering how another Supergiant Games title, Transistor, has already showed up on the service. For those who didn’t check out Pyre when it launched on July 25, 2017, the game tasks fans with destroying their opponent’s goals by alternating between three characters. It’s an addictive experience when played locally with friends and worthy enough for a get-together after a long day at the beach.
Insomniac’s Song of the Deep could appear on either service, seeing as how it released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 12, 2016. This charming Metroidvania stars a young girl who’s searching for her missing father. It’s perfect for kids, as it emphasizes exploration and puzzle solving above all else. Curious adults could play it too, if only to see what else the studio behind last year’s Spider-Man is capable of.
Hyper Light Drifter is also a worthwhile prediction, as it released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 26, 2016. The game is considered one of the generation’s best independent titles for good reason, as its fast-paced gameplay and beautiful 16-bit visuals are distinct and hard to forget. It could serve as an excellent means for veteran fans on either service to relive their glory days.
It’s worth nothing that excellent AAA games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered and For Honor and award-winning indies like Celeste and The Witness have appeared on each platform this year. Sony and Microsoft should keep up the momentum in July, as it’ll show how each strives to deliver enticing software every month. This strategy will also help build trust among consumers who haven’t decided if they’ll invest in new console hardware. At the end of the day, each company can do no wrong by offering critically acclaimed games on their services.
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