Here’s what’s happened most recently with Destruction AllStars on PS5, based on reported updates through late 2020 to early 2021.

Short answer

• Destruction AllStars was delayed from a PS5 launch title to February 2021 and released as a free PlayStation Plus game for two months, instead of a standard paid launch title. This shift was intended to maximize player participation online at launch. [Cited reporting from TechRadar and GamesRadar at the time][1][2]

Context and details

• Original plan: Destruction AllStars was positioned as a PS5 launch title for November 2020. However, Sony and the developers decided to push the game to February 2021 to ensure a larger online player base at launch, given its multiplayer focus. This reasoning was highlighted by official statements and subsequent coverage.[2][1]
• PS Plus strategy: When the delay was announced, Sony also stated that Destruction AllStars would be offered free to PS Plus members for a two-month period starting February 2021, effectively making it a free-to-play-style launch for many players and allowing more people to try it without paying upfront.[3][2]
• Refunds for pre-orders: Players who had pre-ordered the game were refunded, aligning with the new model of a delayed, PS Plus–driven release.[1][2]
• Reception at launch: While some outlets noted the shift reduced the immediate launch catalog of PS5, others framed the move positively because it could boost long-term engagement through PS Plus distribution and word-of-mouth once the game is playable online. Early hands-on and review coverage from early 2021 reflects mixed verdicts but acknowledges the PS Plus strategy as a differentiator.[9][10][2]

What this means for you (as of now)

• If you’re evaluating whether to buy on day one: expect that the initial launch window favored a wider online population via PS Plus rather than a standard full-priced release. You could compare this to other PS Plus launches that benefited from the free-period approach.[10][2]
• If you’re a PS Plus subscriber: you could have had Destruction AllStars access for free during its two-month PS Plus window, making it effectively costless during that period.[2][3]

Illustrative note

• The game’s design centers on multiplayer mayhem, with vehicular and on-foot combat in a chaotic arena setting, which aligns with the decision to maximize online participation by launching as a PS Plus title rather than a standalone paid release. See contemporary coverage of the shift and its rationale.[8][2]

Would you like me to compile a brief timeline of the key announcements and a quick pros/cons summary of the PS Plus launch strategy, or pull in more recent perspectives if there have been further updates beyond early 2021? I can also provide a direct comparison to similar PS Plus launches for context.[3][1][2]