Valor Mortis Comes to PS Plus and Game Pass, and You Can Try It for Free
One More Level Games is releasing Valor Mortis on 13 October across PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. The title launches simultaneously on Game Pass with full access, whilst PlayStation Plus subscribers receive a 90-minute free trial, granting many players access to the game without purchasing it.
Valor Mortis is a first-person soulslike game priced at $39.99, deliberately positioned cheaper than typical full-price titles to compete during the crowded autumn release season. The protagonist William, a revived fallen soldier in Napoleon's army, battles plague-infected soldiers whilst searching for Catalysts and Ambers to unlock new abilities and modify stats. With an expected completion time of around 20 hours, the PlayStation Plus trial provides access to a substantial portion of the game, and trial progress saves and carries over if players later purchase the full version. No digital pre-orders are available, preventing exclusive content being paywalled, though physical editions can be pre-ordered.
- Game Pass subscribers get full access; PlayStation Plus members receive 90-minute trial
- Priced at $39.99, cheaper than typical full-price games this season
- Trial progress carries over if players later purchase the full version
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Valor Mortis is a first-person soulslike game, a genre characterised by challenging combat that requires learning enemy patterns and tactics. Players control William, a resurrected soldier in Napoleon's army, fighting plague-infected enemies whilst collecting items called Catalysts and Ambers that unlock new abilities and modify character stats.
The game launches on 13 October across PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 with immediate integration into major subscription services. Game Pass subscribers get full access to the game, whilst PlayStation Plus members can play a 90-minute trial, enabling access without a separate purchase for millions of players.
At $39.99, the game is priced below the standard full-price tier, a strategy designed to help it stand out during autumn's crowded release calendar. The game offers approximately 20 hours of gameplay, and trial progress saves and transfers if players later purchase the full version, with no digital pre-orders available to avoid paywalling exclusive content.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This distribution strategy makes economic sense for a mid-tier release during a crowded season. By pricing at £31.99—below the standard £47–£55 console price—One More Level is already offering strong value. Game Pass ensures guaranteed licensing revenue whilst expanding reach dramatically. The 90-minute PlayStation Plus trial provides sufficient time to evaluate the soulslike's mechanics without surrendering the full experience, and save data carrying over encourages purchase conversion. This multi-channel approach monetises different audiences: subscribers gain access, trial players convert to purchases, and price-conscious players buy outright.
The case against
The strategy may leave considerable revenue on the table by providing too much free or subscription access. A 90-minute trial representing roughly a fifth of a 20-hour game, combined with full Game Pass access, allows substantial content consumption without purchase. Even accounting for the lower price point, subscription licensing fees may not offset lost direct sales from players who would otherwise have paid. Soulslike players form a dedicated, affluent audience typically willing to pay premium prices, meaning aggressive free access potentially undervalues the product and sacrifices margin for reach.