PlayStation Plus’s upcoming game trials will reportedly be at least 2 hours long

Image: Sony

There are new details about the time-limited game trials that will be part of the new subscription tier. According to sources speaking to Game Developer these free trials will be required for any game with a wholesale cost of $34 or above, and must be at least two hours long. They will not be required for previously released games.

Game Developer's initial report raised concerns that requiring developers to offer these time-limited trials could place a significant burden on smaller teams. The trials will be created by the team at the PS Store, suggesting that developers shouldn't have to put in more work.

Source tells me PlayStation Store team will create the 2 hour timed trials for developers, so it shouldn't be extra work, though I've heard concerns from others about Sony monetizing a perk and not sharing that revenue with studios https://t.co/0fYZZSVQxq

— AmericanTruckSongs8 (@ethangach) April 27, 2022

The Game Developer states that custom demos with original content could be allowed in some cases, but only if a trial is available within three months of a title going on sale. Outside of the Premium tier, developers will still be able to offer promotional material.

It sounds like good news for anyone planning to sign up for Sony's $18 a month PlayStation Plus Premium tier, which is currently penned for release in the US on June 13th and in Europe on June 22nd. Two hours is a good amount of time to work out if a game is worth buying, if the reports are accurate.

Kotaku is concerned that people might not buy a game if they are given a limited demo instead of a full game. A trial might encourage a purchase from someone who was previously on the fence.