Sony has revealed the PlayStation Plus Essential lineup for July 2025, and at the top of the list is none other than Diablo IV—the critically acclaimed action role-playing game from Blizzard Entertainment. This marks a major milestone in the game’s lifecycle and a huge win for PlayStation subscribers, especially with the announcement coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the PlayStation Plus service.
Available to all PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium subscribers beginning July 2, Diablo IV will be downloadable at no additional cost through the monthly subscription tier. The lineup also includes The King of Fighters XV and Jusant, rounding out a strong and diverse offering for July.
Why Diablo IV Still Matters in 2025
Although Diablo IV has been out for over two years, its relevance in 2025 remains strong due to Blizzard’s live service strategy and ongoing content updates.
As of June 2025, the game is in its Seventh Season, titled The Blighted Tithe, which introduced:
- A new seasonal questline centered around corrupted Inarius cultists;
- Additional endgame dungeons and Nightmare Sigil challenges;
- Expanded item crafting mechanics and rare loot modifiers;
- Seasonal PvP events and leaderboard systems.
With each season lasting roughly 12 weeks, Blizzard has successfully kept the game alive with engaging seasonal mechanics and limited-time gear rewards. Players also benefit from cross-progression and cross-play with PC and Xbox, ensuring a large, active player base.
A Gateway to Diablo’s Rich Legacy
For those unfamiliar, Diablo IV is the latest installment in Blizzard’s legendary action-RPG franchise, which debuted in 1996. Set in the dark fantasy world of Sanctuary, the game sees players face off against demonic forces led by the antagonist Lilith, daughter of Mephisto, who has returned to plunge the world into chaos.
Diablo IV blends the best elements of its predecessors—Diablo II’s grim tone, Diablo III’s fluid combat, and modern live service design—to offer a deeper, more dynamic experience. Players choose from five character classes:
- Barbarian – brutal melee warrior;
- Sorcerer – master of elemental magic;
- Rogue – agile assassin/ranged hybrid;
- Druid – shapeshifter with nature-based magic;
- Necromancer – summoner and dark magic user.
With rich skill trees, gear customization, and an expansive open-world design, Diablo IV offers hundreds of hours of potential gameplay.
Accessibility and Performance on PS5
Diablo IV performs particularly well on PlayStation 5, leveraging the hardware’s power for smooth gameplay, fast load times, and enhanced graphics. The game supports:
- 4K resolution at 60 FPS;
- Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers through the DualSense controller;
- Seamless multiplayer lobbies and quick matchmaking;
- Couch co-op with split-screen support—rare in modern ARPGs.
These features make the PS5 version one of the best ways to experience the game, especially for players who prefer consoles over PC.
How This Fits PlayStation Plus Strategy
The decision to offer Diablo IV aligns with Sony’s broader strategy of using PlayStation Plus Essential as a tool to introduce players to premium experiences, sometimes just ahead of new expansions or live content drops.
This move also signals a potential shift in Blizzard’s platform engagement under the Microsoft umbrella. While Microsoft now owns Blizzard Entertainment, this gesture to PlayStation users suggests a continued multi-platform approach—at least for legacy franchises.
By including such a major title, Sony reaffirms the value of its subscription tiers amid increasing competition from Xbox Game Pass, which has long offered day-one AAA releases.
July’s Full PS Plus Lineup
Alongside Diablo IV, July’s PS Plus lineup includes:
- The King of Fighters XV (PS4/PS5) – The latest entry in SNK’s iconic 3v3 fighting franchise, offering 39 characters, rollback netcode, and flashy supers.
- Jusant (PS5) – A meditative climbing adventure developed by Don’t Nod, praised for its atmospheric design and creative gameplay mechanics.
This blend of genres—action-RPG, fighting, and narrative puzzle platformer—ensures something for nearly every type of player.
The decision to include a major live-service game like Diablo IV in a subscription service speaks to broader trends in the industry:
- Player retention over upfront purchases – Blizzard benefits from keeping players engaged in seasonal content where microtransactions are optional.
- Platform cooperation – Even as Microsoft owns Blizzard, this suggests ongoing partnerships with Sony, at least in the near term.
- Subscription services becoming core – As more premium titles join PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, traditional game purchasing models continue to evolve.
It also reflects the growing importance of keeping blockbuster games in the spotlight long after launch through smart partnerships and strategic content timing.
For PlayStation Plus subscribers, July 2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest months yet. Whether you’re a newcomer to the Diablo universe or a seasoned demon-slayer looking for an excuse to return to Sanctuary, there’s never been a better time to play.
With its ongoing seasonal support, cross-platform features, and strong console performance, Diablo IV is not just a great freebie—it’s a flagship experience in modern action RPG gaming.
