The next few months are shaping up to be “the real season of love” for online gaming, especially for PlayStation 5 (PS5). After all, you know: the classic “State of Play” event has been held just a week, and Sony has unveiled a series of innovations that could transform the multiplayer experience on its flagship console. From new titles that push the limits of cooperation and competition, to PlayStation Plus updates, to the trends that are shaping the future of the industry, there is a good amount of everything that passionate gamers can expect from now on. Let's explore “the map of future events” together.
New Multiplayer Games: Innovation and Adventure
The lineup of multiplayer games that take full advantage of the technical capabilities of the PS5, offering unique and immersive experiences, is very rich. Here are the most anticipated titles:
- Borderlands 4: Coming soon September 2025, this looter-shooter continues the series tradition with a cooperative experience for up to 4 players. Set on the planet Kairos, the game promises dynamic exploration and fast-paced combat, perfect for extended online sessions.
- WWE 2K25 (The Island): available from March 2025, introduces “The Island,” a multiplayer social hub that hosts up to 50 players. Here, users can interact, compete, and create custom storylines with their wrestlers, adding a new social dimension to the franchise.
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Expected for the 28 2025 February, raises the bar for cooperative hunting with cross-play support between PS5, Xbox, and PC. Lobbies for up to 100 players make it easy to form teams to take on colossal monsters.
- Abiotic Factors: A 6-player co-op survival game, available from day one on PlayStation Plus Extra in February 2025. Set in an underground research complex, it offers an experience sci-fi unique with cross-play support.
These games not only expand multiplayer options, but introduce innovative mechanics that promise to keep players glued to the screen.
PlayStation Plus Upgrades: More Value for Gamers
PlayStation Plus remains a central element for online gaming on Playstation 5, with its easy access to multiplayer and a monthly selection of free titles. Starting in February 2025, the offer is enriched with:
- Essential Level: From February 4th to March 3rd, subscribers can download games like High on Life, Pac-Man World Re-Pac e PayDay 3. The latter, in particular, offers a multiplayer heist experience that requires strategy and teamwork.
- Extra and Premium Levels: Titles like Lost Records: Bloom and Rage, mordhau, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Top Spin 2K25 e Abiotic Factors enrich the catalog, ranging between single-player and multiplayer experiences.
The most significant change, however, is scheduled for 2026: Sony will gradually remove PS4 games from the Essential tier and Games Catalog, focusing entirely on the PS5. This transition could incentivize developers to optimize titles for the new generation, improving the quality of online gaming. And then, maybe, we'll see some great things.
Industry Trends: Cross-Play and Stability Challenges
2025 marks an expansion of cross-play, with games like the aforementioned Monster Hunter Wilds e Abiotic Factors that allow players from different platforms (such as PC and PlayStation 5) to join together. This trend fosters larger, more inclusive communities, and that's a great thing. However, there are problems, and you've probably heard about them already. In February 2025, a disruption in the Playstation Network (PSN) has cut off access to popular titles such as Fortnite e Call of Duty, highlighting the fragility of online infrastructure. Sony compensated users with 5 extra days of PlayStation Plus, but the incident raised questions about the future stability of services. Improving network resilience will be essential to maintaining player confidence.
Not just PS5: what's cooking for the competitors
While the PlayStation 5 dominates the online gaming landscape, rival platforms are certainly not sitting idly by with a joypad in hand:
- Nintendo Switch: With Sid Meier's Civilization VII, due out in February 2025, Nintendo's little one will also offer a strategic experience with online multiplayer. It must be said, however, that the focus remains on single-player or local co-op titles, such as Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer.
- PC: on Steam, Splitgate 2, a free-to-play shooter with cross-play due out in 2025, aims to win over PC gamers with fast, accessible gameplay. And something tells me it will certainly succeed.
Despite these proposals, however, the PS5 seems to maintain an advantage thanks to the variety of its lineup and the support for cross-play in the main titles: did you have any doubts?
Yes, but what's around the corner?
The PS5 continues to evolve with technological updates that enhance online gaming. The PS5 Pro support, for example, offers optimized performance for games capable of achieving more stable frame rates and much improved graphics. If that wasn't enough, Sony has promised more frequent firmware updates in 2025, which could introduce new features and improve the stability of the console, which will benefit online gamers.
That's why the next few months are a watershed moment for online gaming on PS5. Gamers around the world (even those who don't own a Sony console) have a future full of possibilities ahead of them. For fans, this is just the beginning of a new era of online gaming. Hit play, and happy gaming!
