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Sony: Driveclub upgrade still playable for lapsed PS Plus subscribers
Sony has revised its PlayStation Plus release plans for Evolution Studios' upcoming PlayStation 4 racer Driveclub, announcing that it has modified availability in response to fan feedback. Previously, players who paid $49.99 to upgrade to the full version of Driveclub from the free PlayStation Plus edition would lose access to the game after their Plus subscriptions lapsed. According to Sony's newly revised terms, Driveclub's upgrade will now remain playable even after a player's subscription expires. Sony also issued a pair of new trailers showcasing Driveclub's unique social-focused features. The trailer above shows off Driveclub's Challenges, while the video after the break below focuses on player-driven Clubs. [Video: Sony]
Here's what Driveclub has in store for PlayStation Plus members
Sony has outlined its release plans for the PlayStation Plus edition of Evolution Studios' sim-styled racer Driveclub, revealing that the upcoming free version will feature around one-fifth of the total content found in the full retail release. The PlayStation Plus version of Driveclub includes all game modes, 11 tracks, and 10 playable cars. Additional vehicles and tracks can be unlocked either individually via in-game purchases or all at once with a full upgrade option priced at $49.99. The retail and upgraded versions of Driveclub boast a total of five locations, 55 tracks, 50 cars, and 50 tour events. Driveclub will launch digitally and at retail on October 7. [Image: Sony]
Driveclub is still free for PlayStation Plus members
Evolution Studios reiterated release plans for its PlayStation 4 racer Driveclub, confirming that a free version will be available for PlayStation Plus subscribers upon the game's launch in October. Evolution Studios announced last year that PlayStation Plus members would receive a free, content-limited version of Driveclub at the PlayStation 4's launch. Driveclub's release was subsequently pushed past the console's debut, and met with further delays before solidifying its release date this week. "I'd also like to confirm that the PS Plus Edition of the game will be available on the same day as the full release," Driveclub game director Paul Rustchynsky said. "Offering a selection of cars and tracks from the complete version, we think it's the perfect way for those new to the genre to get an idea of what the full Driveclub experience is all about. Look out for more details on the PS Plus Edition very soon." [Image: Sony]
Vita shooter Velocity Ultra free this week on PlayStation Plus
FuturLab's Velocity Ultra is this week's featured addition to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection, giving subscribers a chance to check out an underrated PS Vita gem free of charge. Velocity Ultra is both a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up and a frantically paced puzzler, challenging players to warp back and forth throughout each level to rescue survivors and uncover hidden collectibles. We liked it quite a bit, even though the final few trophies remain elusive. Drat those impossible high-speed levels! Plus subscribers get an additional round of discounts throughout PSN's Golden Week sale, starting tomorrow. This week is also the last chance for PlayStation Plus members to pick up free copies of Mercenary Kings on the PlayStation 4 and the PS3 version of Batman: Arkham City before both games return to full price next Tuesday. [Image: FuturLab]
PS Plus Europe in May: Stick it to the Man, Puppeteer, Muramasa Rebirth
Stick it to the Man is the next PlayStation 4 offering for Plus subscribers in Europe, starting next week on April 30. The eccentric 2D adventure is due in North America on May 6, which perhaps suggests a later start for May's stateside batch of Plus, or possibly a different PS4 game. We will have to wait and see. Returning to Europe, there are four other games entering the PS Plus service at the end of April, including two on PS3 and two on Vita. The first of the console offerings is performer plaformer Puppeteer, while the second is first-person robber Payday 2. The latter is a neat addition for subscribers who downloaded the first Payday last summer. The Vita newbies are two very different games hailing from Japan, namely hand-painted 2D adventure Muramasa Rebirth and cutesy sports sim Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational. That's Everybody's Golf if you're European, but Loads of Fun no matter where you're from. As ever, five games in means five games out: Make sure you grab Mercenary Kings, Pro Evo 2014, BioShock Infinite, Hotline Miami and MotoGP13 before Plus drops them on April 30. [Image: Ripstone]
Castle of Illusion free on PlayStation Plus this week
Mickey Mouse tackles a remade 16-bit classic this week on PlayStation Plus, as the PlayStation 3 version of Sega's Castle of Illusion is this week's featured entry in Sony's Instant Game Collection. Developed by Sega Studios Australia, Castle of Illusion expands on Mickey's classic platformer with new exploration elements, 3D platforming sequences, and retooled boss encounters. The result retained the playful spirit of its inspiration, earning 4 out of 5 stars in our review. The PlayStation Plus version of Castle of Illusion also includes a downloadable copy of the 1990 Sega Genesis edition of the game, previously available exclusively for pre-order buyers. PlayStation Plus members can download Castle of Illusion for free starting tomorrow, and the bundle will remain available through April 28. [Image: Sega]
Newegg offering one-year PS Plus memberships for $40
Online electronics retailer Newegg is offering a $10 discount on PlayStation Plus subscriptions via its eBay store, discounting a one-year subscription to $39.99. PlayStation Plus subscriptions, normally priced at $49.99 for 12 months, entitle users to a rotating bundle of free PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and PS4 titles from Sony's Instant Game Collection, with new games arriving weekly. This month's additions include Batman: Arkham City, Mercenary Kings, and Velocity Ultra, among other featured games. [Image: Sony]
PS Plus weekly: Stealth Inc. free for subscribers starting tomorrow
Curve Studios' sneaky puzzle-platformer Stealth Inc. A Clone in the Dark is set to join the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection this week. Both the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions of the game will be available as free downloads for PS Plus subscribers starting tomorrow. Originally known as Stealth Bastard, Stealth Inc. features more than 80 levels in which players must avoid detection and outwit deadly traps while searching for an escape. An enhanced version, Stealth Inc. Ultimate Edition, hit the PlayStation 4 last month, bundling the core game and all previously released DLC in a single standalone package. PlayStation Plus subscribers also get a 20 percent discount on the upcoming PlayStation 4 version of Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut this week, dropping its price to $15.99. [Image: Curve Studios]
PS Plus Weekly: Mercenary Kings, Batman: Arkham City free to download
This week's PlayStation Plus lineup has something in store for both longtime PlayStation 3 fans and PS4 die-hards, offering up Batman: Arkham City and the debuting console version of Mercenary Kings free of charge. Mercenary Kings, developed by Wizorb creator Tribute Games, melds the run-and-gun gameplay of the arcade classic Metal Slug with an online cooperative multiplayer mode and an in-depth item-crafting component. Tomorrow's PlayStation 4 release marks the first time Mercenary Kings is available on a console platform, following up on its Steam Early Access debut last year. Batman: Arkham City, originally released in 2011, finds the Dark Knight trapped in a walled-off section of Gotham City filled with classic villains and other miscreants. The downloadable PlayStation Plus version of Arkham City includes the Catwoman Bundle Pack, which adds a series of exclusive story missions and in-game collectibles. Both games will be available for PlayStation Plus members in North America starting tomorrow. Other PS Plus games premiering in April include Castle of Illusion, Stealth Inc, and Velocity Ultra. [Image: Tribute Games]
Secret Ponchos taking a siesta, won't arrive on PS4 in April
Secret Ponchos is staying holstered for now, after dev Switchblade Monkeys confirmed it isn't releasing its Wild West-themed combat game next month. The gunslinging online game was previously confirmed as a PS Plus freebie in April, but we now know Mercenary Kings is next month's PS4 offering on the service. Fans did the math and Switchblade Monkeys in turn confirmed the delay on Twitter, adding that Secret Ponchos is to go into beta testing to ensure it's "rock solid" ahead of release. We've reached out to Switchblade to find out the new ETA. Secret Ponchos wants PS4 players to get in tune with their inner John Wayne through its isometric Spaghetti Western gunplay, and the upcoming downloadable has a choice of one-vs-one standoffs, gang fights, and free-for-all shootouts. While gunslingers-to-be have to wait a bit longer for the game proper, Switchblade previously announced it's showcasing Secret Ponchos at next month's PAX East conference in Boston. [Image: Switchblade Monkeys]
PS Plus in April: Mercenary Kings, Arkham City, Pixeljunk Monsters
PlayStation Plus subscribers get Mercenary Kings as a PS4 freebie when the Kickstarted run-and-gunner scrolls onto PSN next week. Developed by Wizorb and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World studio Tribute Games, Mercenary Kings makes its Metal Slug-style action interesting by chucking in a weapon crafting system based around hundreds of different parts. The rest of April's Plus line-up in North America features Batman: Arkham City, Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark, and the Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse remake on PS3. As for Vita, Velocity Ultra and Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD are next month's dynamic duo. Except for Mercenary Kings, the roster of PS Plus games in Europe is totally different: On PS3 it's Pro Evo Soccer 2014 and on Vita it's MotoGP 13, while Hotline Miami and Sly Cooper Thieves in Time are unlockable on both platforms as Cross-Buy games. That means if you get the PS3 version of Sly on Plus, for example, you'll also get access to it on Vita. Devolver Digital recently revealed Hotline Miami is coming to the PS4 with Cross-Buy enabled, so if you're planning to get the top-down kill-fest on that platform, be sure to grab it as a Plus freebie this month. The quintet including Mercenary Kings join Europe's Plus collection on April 2. [Image: Tribute Games]
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite takes a swing at PS Plus tomorrow
Sony confirmed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, the last of March's PlayStation Plus games, joins the Instant Game Collection tomorrow. The PSP action-RPG is playable as a download on Vita, and if you're in to big weapons, big creatures to defeat, demanding combat and playing with friends, you might lose a lot of hours to it. Plus members can also take advantage of discounts on the new PlayStation versions of Fez, which arrive on PS4, PS3, and Vita tomorrow in North America. Fez is a very different game to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite but its puzzles are no less demanding in their own right. The colorful 2D-or-is-it-3D platformer has a regular price of $13 that comes down to $10.39 with a Plus membership. Meanwhile, there are also discounts on BioShock 1 and 2, each half-price at $5, and on DLC for BioShock Infinite including the first episode of Burial at Sea. You can find the full list of discounts on the PlayStation Blog. [Image: Capcom]
Thomas Was Alone, Unit 13 free on PlayStation Plus this week
Sony expands its Instant Game Collection this week with Thomas Was Alone and Unit 13, which will be released as free downloads for PlayStation Plus subscribers starting tomorrow. Mike Bithell's Thomas Was Alone, available for both the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, takes a gang of quadrilateral shapes through a series of puzzle-platforming levels bridged by clever narration. The PlayStation Vita-exclusive Unit 13 serves up tactical third-person shooter action, debuting in 2012 as SOCOM series developer Zipper Interactive's swan song. Both games will be released as free downloads for Plus members after the PlayStation Store updates tomorrow evening. Thomas Was Alone is a Cross-Buy release, and Plus subscribers will receive both the PS3 and Vita versions with tomorrow's update. [Image: Mike Bithell]
Tomb Raider, Brothers head up Europe's PlayStation Plus lineup in March
Sony has revealed next month's additions to its PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection in Europe, mirroring much of the content set for a free release in North America throughout March. Starting next month, PlayStation Plus subscribers in Europe can pick up a no-cost copy of Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition, an enhanced PlayStation 4 version of Super Stardust developer Housemarque's top-down zombie shooter. PlayStation 3 owners will receive free downloads of Square Enix's Tomb Raider and Starbreeze's Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which hit the PlayStation Plus program in North America last month. March's PlayStation Vita freebies include the brain training app Smart As... and Q Games' tower defense game Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD. Launch dates for featured games have not been announced. [Image: Square Enix]
March's PlayStation Plus freebies are Tomb Raider, Thomas Was Alone, more
PlayStation Plus subscribers have six free games to look forward to across Sony's three current platforms as part of its Instant Game Collection program. PS4 owners signed up to PS Plus will receive arcade shooter Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition for free this coming month. Three more games will be free on PS3 in March: Tomb Raider, Thomas Was Alone and Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut. Lastly, Vita players will get to add military shooter Unit 13 and beast-slayer Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite to their download queues. Those with copies of Monster Hunter Freedom 2 can transfer their data to Freedom Unite to continue progressing their characters. Penny-pinchers would also be wise to remember the Back to 2013 and Vita anniversary sales Sony is hosting at the moment. The sales offer discounts on games like Hotline Miami, Escape Plan, Flower, Killzone Mercenary, Tales of Xillia, Dragon's Crown, Ni no Kuni and more. [Image: SCEA]
PSN Tuesday: Strider, EDF 2025, Rayman Legends PS4, Tomba 2
The PlayStation Store updates later today, adding download versions of retail games Earth Defense Force 2025 and Rayman Legends PS4. On the download-only side it's a busy week, with three new releases and three restored classics to sink time into. Leading the new releases is a game with plenty of retro about it: We gave Capcom's Strider resurrection four stars in our review, lauding the PS4 and PS3 game's "absorbing fusion of action and platforming." If sci-fi ninjas aren't your bag, the PS3's Forest Legends: The Call of Love offers some lighter puzzling, and Vita indie Gunslugs brings dynamically generated run-and-gunning to the mix. As for the classics, you can choose from fan favorite PSOne platformer Tomba! 2, the PSOne version of Mr Driller, and the divisive PS2 outing of Neo Contra. If you've come this far and you're still shrugging your shoulders, head back to the top for the first ever PS Plus TV spot. [Image: Capcom]
PS Plus weekly: Remember Me, Street Fighter X Tekken free
PlayStation Plus members, don't forget: Remember Me for PS3 and Street Fighter X Tekken for PS Vita will be free to download to your Instant Game Collection starting tomorrow. This week also marks the release of Gunslugs, which will be discounted to $1.99 until February 25. Lastly, if you need some brainteasers in a nice little to-go package, this week is your last chance to download Smart As... to your Vita for free. [Image: Sony]
PSA: Payday 2 goes free on PlayStation Plus tomorrow
While it would be thematically appropriate to steal a copy of Payday 2, come tomorrow that's no longer necessary as the PS3 multiplayer heist game will be added to the roster of free games on offer to PlayStation Plus members. Payday 2 centers on a group of criminals attempting to swipe cash and other valuables from targets like banks and jewelry stores. Solo play is possible, but the real potential of Payday 2 is found when playing with three other people. The game's AI is relatively predictable, but when you're attempting to loot a mall with a crew of like-minded felonious humans, you never know when one of them is going to shoot a hostage or set off an alarm, sending the heist into chaos. "Payday 2 is a nonstop series of little stories and moments of surprise like this, challenging your ability to absorb and adapt with each succeeding moment," Dave wrote in our review, before awarding the game 4 of 5 stars. As with all Instant Game Collection releases, a PlayStation Plus membership is required to pick up Payday 2 for free. Full details on how to attain that membership can be found on the PlayStation Plus website, or by visiting any iteration of the PlayStation Network Store. [Image: Overkill Software]
PS Plus: Outlast on PS4, Metro: Last Light on PS3 this week
Outlast, a PlayStation 4 survival-horror game set in a psychiatric asylum, will be available free to PlayStation Plus subscribers starting tomorrow. The service also has a prominent freebie for the PlayStation 3 with Metro: Last Light, the atmospheric first-person shooter based on the post-apocalyptic Metro series from Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky. A PlayStation Blog post also reminds us of a discount for Dustforce, down to $8 tomorrow, and the imminent end of free downloads for the PS3's remastered Shadow of the Colossus. [Image: Red Barrel]
PS Plus in February: Outlast, Metro: Last Light, Payday 2
It's memories, robberies, and underground monstrosities for PlayStation Plus subscribers next month, with February's line-up featuring Remember Me, Payday 2, and Metro: Last Light. As for Vita, it's the cutesy karts of Modnation Racers: Road Trip, and the less cutesy cross-beats of Street Fighter X Tekken. No, Plus hasn't forgotten about the PS4, silly billy. Sony's newest console is getting asylum horror Outlast on Plus next month, but we already knew that. The real question is when: PlayStation UK's website says next week on February 5, so going by PSN traditions that'd mean a February 4 showing in North America. We'll find out for sure soon enough. Looking at the PS3 games specifically, we'd recommend checking out the "suffocating despair" of shooter sequel Metro: Last Light - no really, it's fun! - and the heist-em-up capers of Payday 2 if you haven't already have. As for Remember Me? Well, if you like neo-action games full of neo-jargon, then sure - but maybe read Ludwig's neo-review first.
