After a March that was dominated by news regarding Microsoft's plans for Bethesda and Xbox Game Pass, Sony is starting April off strong with an impressive lineup of PlayStation Now additions. While Sony's service is widely seen as inferior to Game Pass, the high-profile nature of these games could indicate that things are slowly but surely shifting, and that PS Now could someday become a true competitor to Microsoft's popular service.
Starting April 6, PlayStation Now subscribers will be able to access three more games. But while that number in itself is small, these titles make up for that in scope. Plus, starting April 7, there will also be a seven-day free trial available to new PS Now subscribers, allowing those who have not yet joined to play these newly added games along with the many others already on the service.
Marvel's Avengers
While Marvel's Avengers is a multiplatform game, it's generally been more strongly associated with PlayStation thanks to its initial PS4 preorder beta and upcoming DLC character Spider-Man being exclusive to PS4 and PS5 players. Now, the game's ties to Sony's platforms is strengthening with its addition to PS Now.
The third-person action-RPG has had a rocky start, which Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix are working to turn around with performance improvements and new content. Though major aspects of the game, particularly its lack of meaningful late-game content and progression, have been criticized, many have called the gameplay itself solid and enjoyed the main storyline starring Kamala Khan. For those Marvel fans who have so far held off on Avengers, this is the perfect opportunity to experience it hands-on.
Marvel's Avengers will be available on PlayStation Now until July 5.
Borderlands 3
The Borderlands series created the now-popular looter-shooter genre, and its most recent release, 2019's Borderlands 3, is coming to PS Now this month. The first-person shooter and action-RPG features plenty of worlds to explore and enemies to take out in either single or multiplayer. Set years after the events of Borderlands 2, the game allows players to choose from four different Vault Hunters and take on the Calypso Twins and their cult from taking over the galaxy.
Of course, the game is all about getting new loot, which allows players to improve their Vault Hunter. It also features deep skill trees, abilities and customizations that allow each player to create the build that works best for them.
Borderlands 3 will be available on PlayStation Now until September 29.
The Long Dark
While it doesn't have the name recognition as this month's other PS Now titles, The Long Dark is a challenging indie survival game worth playing. A first-person game set in an open world, players must brave the frozen wilderness alone after surviving a plane crash. Unlike many survival games that feature supernatural elements like zombies, The Long Dark focuses on real-world dangers like lack of food, extended exposure to freezing temperatures and wild animals.
The game features several modes with varying difficulty levels. For those who want a story, there's the episodic Wintermute mode, which currently features three episodes out of a planned five. There's also Survival Mode, which is a straightforward sandbox with permadeath and little direction, meaning players will have to think through every choice. Survival Mode also features several difficulty levels, plus a Custom Mode that lets players decide exactly what kind of game they want to play.