accession PlayStation Plus and the Xbox Game Pass has increased the player base of two games by an incredible 3,000%. Both services offer a rotating selection of games each month, offering a mix of new and popular games as well as older and lesser-known titles. Two games in particular have seen an incredible increase in player numbers since appearing on the two popular monthly subscription services.

Two websites, TrueTrophies And True successesexamined data from over 3.1 million active PSN accounts and 2.4 million Xbox accounts. They report that Ender Lilies: Quietus the Knight has seen a player increase of over 3,200% since joining PS Plus in August 2024. On the Xbox page Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy has gained 2,808% more players since it was added to Xbox Game Pass on August 7. The massive player growth has caused a crash landing Crash Bandicoot the eleventh most played Xbox game. Ender Lilies has gone from not even appearing in the top 500 to an impressive eighth most played game this month.

Related

This 2020 RPG with over 800,000 players is not on Game Pass, but on PS Plus

An iconic open-world game that reached an all-time high of 800,000 players on Steam is on PS Plus, offering subscribers a limited-time trial.

PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass introduce new players to old games

Curiosity and nostalgia increase the number of players

Ender Lilies is an atmospheric souls-like Metroidvania developed by Adglobe and Live Wire and released in 2021. The game offers a challenge to lovers of the genre, with dark graphics similar to Salt and Sanctuary and a dynamic fighting style inspired by Hollow Knight. The game was well received upon its release but has since disappeared from people’s minds. Its appearance on the PS Plus service has brought the game to the attention of many new players.

Many were unfamiliar with the game and simply decided to download it and try it out because they could. A reedit thread by user Freespur is full of new fans who have discovered Lilies are coming for the first time this month. Although they tried it out of curiosity, the game has apparently won over its new fan base with its well-thought-out design and gameplay.

While Ender Lilies‘ large player growth comes from curious new players, Crash Bandicoot is a much more well-known name. The N. Sane Trilogy combines the first three Crash Bandicoot Games in the series in which the title character Crash plays 3D platform games across colorful levels. The games are known for their distinct cartoon style, but also for their challenging character. In contrast to Ender lilies, The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy The impetus probably came from a feeling of nostalgia.

The sudden increase in player numbers shows how important marketing and availability are for games. Xbox Game Pass And PlayStation Plus were both criticized for not including a larger selection of newer games in their season lineups. Ender Lilies: Quietus the Knight And Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy are a testament to the ability of these services to breathe new life into old titles.

Sources: TrueAchievements, TrueTrophies, Freespur/Reddit

PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus is a subscription service from Sony that gives gamers access to additional PlayStation features for subscribers, such as full online game access, free games, and exclusive discounts. The program was originally released with the PlayStation 3 in 2010 and has since evolved into a larger platform for the brand, allowing Sony to expand the service to include game streaming via the console or apps from various providers.

brand

Sony

AppStore

PlayStation Store

Original release date

29 June 2010

Original MSRP (USD)

$59.99 (Essential), $99.99 (Extra), $119.99 (Premium) – per year