Sony is giving away three games on PlayStation Plus for July. There's a big hit!

Sony has revealed the July PlayStation Plus Essential lineup, and this time it's hard to call it boring. Subscribers received three titles: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King II, and CrossCode. The biggest excitement, of course, comes from the presence of Call of Duty, especially as conversations around PlayStation increasingly return to digital distribution and the gradual move away from physical media.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

The highlight of July's lineup is undoubtedly Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. It's a title that offers a story campaign, an extensive multiplayer mode, and a Zombies mode on a large open map. The game arrives on PlayStation Plus as the Cross-Gen Bundle, so both PS4 and PS5 owners will benefit.

It may not be the most beloved entry in the series, especially if you look at reviews of the campaign, but the Call of Duty brand itself still makes a huge impression. For many players, it will definitely be the main reason to check their PS Plus library in July.

For the King II

The second game in July's lineup is For the King II, a turn-based RPG with roguelike and board game elements. The title allows solo play or co-op for up to four players, which immediately makes it an interesting option for people looking for something less predictable than another big shooter.

CrossCode

The third title is CrossCode, a 2D action RPG inspired by 16-bit-era classics. The game combines fast-paced combat, environmental puzzles, and a science fiction story, and it’s very well regarded by players.

Will Call of Duty overshadow Sony's recent controversies?

The arrival of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on PlayStation Plus certainly looks impressive. Sony is giving players a major franchise, a recognizable title, and an offering that at first glance looks really strong. However, it's hard not to notice that this is happening at a time when there's growing discussion around PlayStation about the future of physical media. Players have every reason to be concerned. More and more content is disappearing from digital libraries, subscriptions are being pushed harder, and disc-less consoles are no longer a curiosity; they're becoming a major direction for the market. That's why a major title on a subscription service can be interpreted two ways. On one hand, it's great news for subscribers. On the other hand, it's another argument that the industry is moving ever more toward a "you don't buy it, you rent access" model. Will Call of Duty actually improve the recent negative perception some players have of Sony?