The April lineup for PlayStation Plus Essential appears to have surfaced ahead of its official announcement, following a pattern of early disclosures that has become increasingly common around Sony’s subscription service.
According to a leak attributed to billbil-kun, a widely followed source with a strong track record, one of the main titles joining the service next month will be Lords of the Fallen. A second game, Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream, has also been identified in subsequent updates, though Sony has yet to confirm the full lineup.
The official announcement is expected on April 1, with the games becoming available to subscribers beginning April 7.
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A modern revival of a familiar franchise
Developed by Hexworks and published by CI Games, Lords of the Fallen is a 2023 reboot of the original 2014 title. The game belongs to the soulslike genre, popularized by FromSoftware through its Dark Souls franchise, and is characterized by methodical combat, high difficulty, and exploration-driven design.
Set more than a thousand years after the events of the original game, players assume the role of a Dark Crusader tasked with defeating the demonic god Adyr. A defining feature of the game is its dual-world system, which allows players to shift between the realm of the living and a parallel dimension known as Umbral. This mechanic opens alternate paths, hidden areas, and additional tactical possibilities during combat and exploration.
At launch, the game received mixed-to-average critical scores, reflecting both its technical ambition and some inconsistencies in balance and performance. Despite this, it achieved notable commercial success, selling over one million copies within ten days of release.
Strategic placement within the subscription service
The inclusion of Lords of the Fallen in PlayStation Plus appears to serve multiple purposes. The original 2014 title was previously featured in the service in 2016, and bringing the reboot into the catalog may help reintroduce the franchise to a broader audience ahead of a planned sequel.
The timing also aligns with Sony’s broader strategy of offering relatively recent, high-profile titles to maintain the perceived value of its Essential tier, which sits alongside higher-priced Extra and Premium tiers.
What remains unconfirmed
While two titles now appear to be known, the third game in April’s lineup has not yet been identified. Sony is expected to reveal the complete selection during its scheduled announcement on April 1.
Subscribers will be able to claim the monthly games starting April 7, typically around mid-morning local European time, and keep them in their library as long as they maintain an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
A transitional moment for subscribers
In the meantime, March’s lineup remains available for redemption, including titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, PGA Tour 2K25, Slime Rancher 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online.
As April approaches, attention now turns to Sony’s official announcement, which will confirm whether the leaked titles are accurate and reveal the final piece of the month’s lineup. Until then, much of the discussion remains speculative, but increasingly grounded in credible early reports.