The free games being added to PlayStation Now for July 2020 are an impressive collection, as Sony announced today it would be bringing Watch Dogs 2, Street Fighter V, and Hello Neighbor to the service. PlayStation Now is the subscription service equivalent to Xbox Game Pass, and though the latter has tended to be more popular among consumers, a late current-gen push from Sony has seen PS Now's stock rise right in time for the launch of the PlayStation 5 later this year.
That shouldn't be much of a surprise to consumers, as Sony has previously indicated that the company believes PS Plus will be a major component of the PlayStation 5's services once the next-gen console releases in holiday 2020. That belief likely extends to PS Now, though it remains to be seen just how that platform will evolve - with Xbox Game Pass operating more as an umbrella term for several Microsoft offerings, it's possible Sony will do the same and integrate PS Plus with PS Now on the PlayStation 5. Regardless of its future plans, however, the company has certainly begun making PS Now a more compelling service in the short-term, adding several appealing titles to its roster over the past few months.
That trend continued today when Sony announced on the PlayStation Blog that PS Now's July 2020 additions would be Watch Dogs 2, Street Fighter V, and Hello Neighbor. Of those titles, the most interesting addition is Ubisoft's Watch Dogs 2, which will also temporarily be free on PC during the Ubisoft Forward presentation later this week. With some intriguing Watch Dogs Legion leaks surfacing earlier and a major presentation from the game's developer coming, the timing of making Watch Dogs 2 so readily available on several platforms certainly seems to indicate a big announcement - including, potentially, a release date - on the way.
Street Fighter V is another big addition, though the game has been iterated on several times and is so widely available it's likely most fans who wanted to own it already do. Still, it's a nice bonus for those who haven't picked it up or just have a casual interest in fighters, as the game remains a relevant one when it comes to competitions and online streaming. Finally, there's also Hello Neighbor, a stealth horror game with an advanced AI system that makes playing against it more than just finding one strategy that works over and over. It's exactly the kind of well-received niche title that strengthens a service's lineup, and those interested will be pleased to have access to the game.
Overall, it's a stellar month for new games on PS Now for July 2020, and it's made the service look more like a legitimate counterpart to Xbox Game Pass, even if the latter has demonstrated excellence over a longer period of time. Building up fan interest in streaming services seems like a very real goal for both Sony and Microsoft heading into next-gen consoles, so anything that gets people to even remember PS Now exists is likely a win. When it's something as appealing as the PlayStation Now games for July 2020, however, it's even better PR for a service that's needed it for years.
Source: PlayStation Blog