The turn-based strategy game Humankind, recently added to PlayStation Plus Extra's game catalog, has been making headlines for an unfortunate reason - its platinum trophy remains impossible to unlock. Developed by Amplitude Studios, this 2021 release drew comparisons to the legendary Civilization series for its innovative approach to historical strategy gameplay.

Humankind offers players a unique journey through 60 distinct cultures across six eras of human development. Unlike traditional historical strategy games, it encourages players to diverge from actual history, creating hybrid civilizations with mixed cultural traits - a feature that initially won praise from critics and players alike.

After its stint on Xbox Game Pass in 2023 and a free giveaway on Epic Games Store in February 2025, Humankind joined the PS Plus Extra lineup in May 2025. This means strategy enthusiasts across all major platforms have now had opportunities to experience this "Best Sim/Strategy" Game Awards nominee at no additional cost.

However, new players accessing the game through PS Plus Extra should be aware of significant trophy-related issues. According to TrueTropies, six trophies - including the coveted Platinum - have been impossible to unlock since the game's launch. This creates particular frustration for completionists who enjoy the challenge of earning every available achievement.

The Problematic Trophies in Humankind

• Nec pluribus impar - The unattainable Platinum trophy
• Wonder-Full (Gold) - Requires building every Cultural Wonder across multiple games
• Polymath (Bronze) - For researching every technology
• Landstalker (Bronze) - Finish a game controlling at least half the territories
• Nerdopolis (Bronze) - Produce 1000+ Science per turn in a single city
• One True Faith (Bronze) - Lead a religion followed by 8+ Empires

Community reports suggest these issues aren't consistent across all players. Some Xbox users reported unlocking achievements they hadn't actually earned, while others completed the game without trophy problems. Theories range from mod detection false positives (despite console versions having the same issues) to fundamental bugs in the achievement-tracking system.

For trophy hunters, this situation presents a unique dilemma. While many players enjoy games regardless of achievements, others find trophy collection an essential part of their gaming experience. Some dedicate themselves specifically to trophy hunting as its own game, making Humankind's broken system particularly disappointing.

With the game approaching its fourth anniversary, hopes for a fix are fading. The persistence of these issues across multiple platforms and years suggests Amplitude Studios may have moved on from Humankind support. This leaves trophy-focused players with a difficult choice: enjoy the game's otherwise solid strategy experience knowing some rewards will forever remain out of reach, or seek their completionist satisfaction elsewhere.

The situation serves as an interesting case study in how technical issues can impact player satisfaction long after a game's release, especially when introduced to new audiences through subscription services like PS Plus Extra. As the gaming industry increasingly embraces service models, maintaining older titles' functionality becomes an important consideration for developers and publishers alike.