Newest PlayStation Plus Day-One Release Puts Game Pass To Shame

While PlayStation Plus isn’t as infamous for its exciting day-one releases as Xbox Game Pass, the service has been steadily growing over the years, offering some significant competition to Microsoft’s flagship program. Even though it’s rare for PlayStation to secure highly anticipated indie titles ahead of their launch, they were able to grab one indie game that’s been turning heads for all the right reasons.

While it might not reach the same heights as a Triple-A title partnered with Game Pass, the first free PlayStation Plus game for December is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting surprises of the year. Originally slated for a 2023 release, Devolver Digital’s long-awaited Skate Story is finally arriving on December 8, combining the classic skating games of the past with a brand new psychedelic twist.

Day-One Releases On PS Plus Are Always Nice

PlayStation Plus has been slowly creeping up on Xbox Game Pass over the years, with 2025 seeing the simultaneous release of both Blue Prince and FBC: Firebreak, alongside the exclusive day-one launch of 2025’s most beautiful game with Sword of the Sea.

On top of games arriving on the service just in time for the season, PlayStation Plus has also been slowly creeping towards day-one indie games and other titles, rather than purely focusing on bolstering its catalog with past PlayStation games.

Offering even more value for both Extra and Premium subscribers, the addition of games like Sake Story is always a welcome sight to see, especially when it comes to rivaling the competition.

Skate Story Is Already Getting A Lot Of Hype

While Devolver Digital’s published games have always been a step above the indie genre, Skate Story is making plenty of waves with its incredibly stylized visuals and unique gameplay concept. Defeating enemies, overcoming obstacles, and saving lost souls from the underworld through the power of skating, it’s easy to see why Skate Story has been drawing so much attention.

With Skate Story‘s trippy release date trailer receiving plenty of praise over its creative aesthetic and excellent sound design, it already looks like one of the most creative games of the year, making it an easy win for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Game Pass’ Day-One Launches Have Been Mixed This Year

Although Xbox Game Pass is well known for offering day-one access to plenty of Triple-A and indie titles alike, the actual quality of the games varies significantly, with several of the biggest releases for the year falling short of expectations. Rather than releasing a wide

array of games that get buried underneath each other, PlayStation Plus is already one step ahead with unique indie games like Skate Story, with fewer but higher-quality day-one titles helping to compete with Game Pass’ stacked lineup in 2026,

Systems

Released

December 8, 2025

Developer(s)

Sam Eng

PC Release Date

December 8, 2025

Xbox Series X|S Release Date

December 8, 2025

PS5 Release Date

December 8, 2025