PlayStation Plus subscribers gained access to Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Rise of the Ronin on July 21. The two AAA releases signal Sony’s commitment to day-one or near-day-one inclusion of major titles on its subscription service—a direct response to Game Pass pressure from Microsoft.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a Ubisoft open-world game set in Pandora where players create a custom Na’vi and explore the world. Rise of the Ronin is Team Ninja’s open-world action RPG. Two substantial games dropped simultaneously for subscribers at no extra cost.
What Avatar Brings
Avatar is a massive production. Ubisoft partnered with Disney to use the Pandora IP. The game offers exploration, creature taming mechanics, and a story that expands the Avatar universe beyond the films. Graphics are demanding. Gameplay depth remains to be determined by players, but the production budget is evident.
Rise of the Ronin
Team Ninja’s game is less mainstream but appeal to action-RPG fans. The studio built Dark Souls and Nioh. Rise of the Ronin continues that DNA: challenging combat, open-world exploration, multiple endings. It’s deeper and harder than Avatar but carries less mainstream buzz.
The Strategy Behind Including These Games
PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers now include hundreds of titles. Adding AAA releases on or near launch day costs Sony money via licensing agreements or co-development deals. The bet is that subscribers perceive value and renew. If Game Pass includes day-one releases across Xbox’s portfolio, PlayStation needs parity.
The math works only if subscribers stick. That requires a pipeline of meaningful releases, not just filler.
These two games give PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers legitimate reasons to stay subscribed in July. Both have 50+ hour campaigns if you play deep.
