PlayStation Plus Catalog Expands June 16 with Final Fantasy 16, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Black Desert

Sony has officially unveiled an impressive lineup of eight new games joining the PlayStation Plus catalog on June 16, 2025. Subscribers on the Extra and Premium tiers will gain access to some of the most acclaimed titles of recent years, including the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy 16, the immersive medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and the popular MMORPG Black Desert. Additionally, Premium subscribers will receive access to classic PlayStation 2 titles, continuing Sony’s commitment to preserving gaming history for modern audiences.

Major AAA Titles Lead the June Update

Final Fantasy 16 stands as the crown jewel of this month’s additions. Released in June 2023 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the game marked a significant departure for the beloved franchise, embracing real-time action combat over the traditional turn-based systems that defined earlier entries. Developed by Square Enix’s Creative Business Unit III and directed by Hiroshi Takai, the game received widespread critical acclaim for its stunning visuals, emotionally charged narrative, and refined combat mechanics. Set in the war-torn realm of Valisthea, players follow Clive Rosfield on his journey of revenge and redemption. The game sold over three million copies within its first week, cementing its status as one of the generation’s defining RPGs.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers an entirely different experience, transporting players to 15th-century Bohemia in one of the most historically accurate open-world RPGs ever created. Developed by Warhorse Studios and released in 2018, the game eschews fantasy elements in favor of realistic medieval combat, survival mechanics, and a meticulously researched historical setting. Players assume the role of Henry, a blacksmith’s son seeking vengeance after his village is destroyed. The game’s dedication to authenticity extends to its combat system, which requires players to master actual medieval fighting techniques. With a sequel currently in development, this addition comes at a perfect time for newcomers to experience the original.

Diverse Gaming Experiences for Every Player

Black Desert rounds out the major additions, bringing its action-oriented MMORPG gameplay to PlayStation Plus subscribers. Originally developed by Korean studio Pearl Abyss, Black Desert has captivated millions of players worldwide since its 2014 Korean launch with its seamless open world, deep character customization system, and fluid combat mechanics. The game continues to receive regular updates and expansions, making it an excellent value for players seeking a long-term gaming commitment without additional purchase costs.

The Premium tier’s inclusion of PlayStation 2 classics demonstrates Sony’s ongoing dedication to gaming preservation. The PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling console in history with over 155 million units sold worldwide, and its library includes some of the most influential games ever created. By making these titles playable on modern hardware with enhanced features, Sony ensures that younger generations can experience the games that shaped the industry while allowing veterans to revisit cherished memories.

PlayStation Plus Continues to Evolve

Since its restructuring in June 2022, PlayStation Plus has operated on a three-tier system: Essential, Extra, and Premium. The Essential tier maintains the traditional benefits of monthly free games and online multiplayer access. Extra adds a substantial catalog of downloadable PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 titles, while Premium includes everything in Extra plus classic games from PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PSP, along with cloud streaming capabilities and time-limited game trials. This structure directly competes with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service, which has similarly revolutionized how players access gaming content.

The gaming subscription market has grown substantially, with analysts estimating its global value at over $11 billion in 2024. Sony’s aggressive catalog additions reflect the intensifying competition for subscriber loyalty. By including recent AAA releases like Final Fantasy 16 less than two years after its initial launch, Sony signals its willingness to provide exceptional value to retain and attract subscribers in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Expert Opinion: The inclusion of Final Fantasy 16 represents a strategic shift in Sony’s approach to PlayStation Plus, bringing major first-party-adjacent titles to the service faster than ever before. This aggressive content strategy suggests Sony is prioritizing subscriber growth and retention over traditional game sales revenue, potentially indicating that subscription services will become the dominant distribution model for console gaming within the next five years. Players who haven’t yet committed to the Extra or Premium tiers may find June 2025 to be the ideal moment to upgrade.