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PlayStation Plus nabs Road Not Taken, Dragon's Crown in August
Sony has unveiled next month's PlayStation Plus lineup, announcing that subscribers will receive free downloadable copies of Road Not Taken, Crysis 3, and other featured games across its platforms in August. PlayStation 4 owners will receive Polytron's brain-bending puzzle-platformer Fez and Spry Fox's stylish roguelike Road Not Taken. PlayStation 3 subscribers get Crytek's futuristic FPS Crysis 3 and Ed Key's first-person exploration game Proteus, while PS Vita owners can look forward to Vanillaware's fantasy-themed beat-'em-up Dragon's Crown and Digital Dreams' "infographics action game" Metrico. Fez, Proteus, and Dragon's Crown are also available as Cross-Buy titles for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. All featured games will be freely downloadable for PlayStation Plus members in North America when the PlayStation Store updates next Tuesday. [Video: Sony]
PSN Tuesday: Sniper Elite 3, July's PS Plus freebies
PSN this week gets a bunch of goodies for PS4, PS3 and Vita, and a sneak peek at the free games heading to PS Plus in July. PS4 gets Sniper Elite 3, Puddle and Guacamelee Super Turbo Champion Edition, and PS3 has Sniper Elite 3, ConstantC, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn and El Chavo Kart. Vita this week gets Ubisoft's "playable poem," Child of Light. In July, PS Plus members can snag Doki Doki Universe, Muramasa Rebirth, Vessel, Dead Space 3, Strider and Towerfall: Ascension for free. [Image: 505 Games]
PS Plus in July: Towerfall, Muramasa, Dead Space 3
July is soon to arrive, and with it comes six games for PlayStation Plus subscribers to freely download. Falling in line with the program's rule changes introduced in late May, the six games are split evenly among PS4, PS3 and Vita, though some are Cross Buy-compatible. Leading the group on PS4 is Towerfall: Ascension and Strider, followed by Dead Space 3 and Vessel for PS3. The two Vita games going free this coming month are Doki-Doki Universe and Muramasa Rebirth. The former is Cross Buy-enabled, so PS4 and PS3 owners will also have access to the game, whereas Muramasa will only be available for free in North America. European PS Plussers will instead receive Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Heavy discounts for the six games will available as of July 1, so those that haven't picked up June's free games should do so this week before it's too late. [Image: Capcom]
Terraria on Vita goes free for PlayStation Plus members this week
The PlayStation Vita version of 505 Games' Terraria is this week's featured addition to the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection, launching tomorrow as a free download for service subscribers. Inspired by Mojang's Minecraft, Terraria presents its survival-oriented gameplay from a side-scrolling perspective, giving players innumerable options when it comes to crafting items, equipment, and weapons from collected materials. The PS Vita port boasts touchscreen controls and Cross-Save functionality with the PlayStation 3 version, and supports up to eight players in its online co-op multiplayer mode. Tomorrow's PlayStation Store update also introduces a lineup of discounts for Plus subscribers, pricing Thatgamecompany's Flower at $3.49, Vita roguelike Sorcery Saga: Curse Of The Great Curry God at $12.59, and PS3 car combat game Twisted Metal at $5. [Image: 505 Games]
PlayStation Plus to offer 2 free games for Vita, PS3, PS4 each month
Sony is adjusting its Instant Game Collection schedule for PlayStation Plus starting in July, promising to dish out six free games per month. The games will be divided evenly among its three active platforms, two for each of PS4, PS3 and Vita, and will all debut on the first Tuesday of every month, lasting until the first Tuesday of the following month. Current freebies on PS Plus that had a "nice, long stint" will be gradually phased out in the coming weeks. The House of PlayStation also announced the six games that will be free for the month of June, starting next Tuesday. PS4 owners will have access to Trine 2: Complete Story and PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate, PS3 players can download NBA 2K14 and Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and Vita owners will get Terraria and Mutant Mudds Deluxe for the month. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is Cross-Buy eligible, so Vita owners will be able to download that game as well. [Image: Sony]
Joystiq Discussion: Are you playing on PS Vita?
"Honestly, Vita owners are the ****ing best," said Chris McQuinn, designer at Drinkbox Studios, in an April interview with GamesIndustry International. McQuinn's team has put their impressive talents to work multiple times on PS Vita, pumping out inspired games like Mutant Blobs Attack and Guacamelee. Some might say, though, Drinkbox would have been better off bringing its vivid slapstick adventures to Steam or home consoles first rather than a handheld with such sluggish sales. McQuinn disagrees. There may not be many Vita owners out there compared to PC players or iPhone owners, but Vita owners are proven game players. "People rag on the Vita so much, and I think people who rag on the Vita don't understand, at least from a business perspective, the purchasing power of Vita owners. Vita owners are serious purchasers of games. It's an amazing system." He's not wrong. PS Vita's blend of inputs, both traditional button controls and multi-touch surfaces, has proven revelatory in myriad games, from Sony and Media Molecule's Tearaway to scrappier independent productions like Roll7's OlliOlli. Those are just two games in what's become one of modern gaming's most quietly impressive libraries. For the classically minded player, Vita's got HD remasters like Final Fantasy X HD as well as a treasure trove of PS1 and PSP games on tap. For the modernity obsessed, it hosts a who's who of independent gaming, from Hotline Miami to Luftrausers. That's not to mention its handful of big budget originals like the sublime Gravity Rush. For all its merits, though, Vita's rough reputation persists. Why? Why is there a perception that Vita doesn't have any games when it's flush with new games and classics alike? For those that have resisted its wiles, why haven't you picked one up and what would convince you to take the plunge? Take the poll and discuss in the comments. Are you playing on PS Vita? [Images: Drinkbox Studios]
Puppeteer, Surge Deluxe go free on PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus subscribers are set to receive a pair of free games this week as part of Sony's ever-growing Instant Game Collection, including quirky PlayStation 3 favorite Puppeteer and PS Vita puzzler Surge Deluxe. Puppeteer, originally released at retail in September of last year, is a side-scrolling adventure game presented in the context of a wood-and-strings puppet show. Our own Susan Arendt awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "an excellent example of the 2D platform genre" and "a brilliant production." Surge Deluxe, a PlayStation Vita exclusive from Velocity Ultra developer FuturLab, challenges players to harness electrical energy and earn points by drawing lines between like-colored blocks. Both of this week's featured additions will be free to download for PlayStation Plus members starting tomorrow. [Image: Sony]
PlayStation Plus in May: Puppeteer, Skullgirls and more
In May, PS Plus members get six games free across PS4, PS3 and Vita. On PS4, it's the wacky-waving flailing-spaghetti-arm adventure game, Stick it to the Man, which hits US PS4s on May 6. On PS3, Plus members can look forward to Puppeteer, Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 and Skullgirls Encore. Vita gets Surge Deluxe and Limbo. That's a lot of men, women and puppets on PlayStation devices (plus quite a few Ps). In Europe, PlayStation Plus members get Stick it to the Man, Puppeteer, Payday 2, Muramasa Rebirth and Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational in May.
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]
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]
PS Plus weekly: Lone Survivor Director's Cut scares you for free
Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut is this week's free game for PlayStation Plus members. It's the gift of intense survival-horror and psychological thriller madness that keeps on giving, mostly when you're lying alone in bed, in the dark, and you spy one shadow just a tad darker than all of the others. Lone Survivor has players attempt to escape a city overrun with a terrible disease, and they must make choices that shape the game – play it without resorting to violence or shoot everything you see, take drugs or stay sober, travel alone or collect potential allies along the way, watch your sanity or go mad. Did that shadow just move? The Spring Fever sale is still on, and Plus members get extra discounts. Towerfall: Ascension and Vessel launch with sales tomorrow, $12 and $8, respectively. Segments of the Call of Duty franchise are also on sale this week, along with Ethan: Meteor Hunter. [Image: Jasper Byrne]
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]
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]
The Elder Scrolls Online won't require PS Plus, will require Xbox Live Gold
The Elder Scrolls Online will not require a PlayStation Plus membership to play on PS4, ZeniMax Online Studios Game Director Matt Firor wrote in a PlayStation Blog update. Bethesda confirmed to Joystiq that the subscription-based MMORPG will require an Xbox Live Gold membership to play on Xbox One, however. Bethesda was in talks with Microsoft to allow Xbox One owners to play the game online without the Live subscription in August. That was after Firor revealed the developer's decision to go with a monthly subscription for the game instead of moving to a free-to-play format. The Elder Scrolls Online will cost players $14.99 per month when it launches April 4 for PC and Mac with next-gen console versions following in June. The game was recently handed a Mature rating by the ESRB, to which Bethesda said it is "unwilling to change the game's content to achieve a different rating."
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons free on PS Plus starting tomorrow
Starbreeze's inventive teamwork-based puzzle-platformer, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, heads up this week's PlayStation Plus lineup in North America, and will be available as a free download for members starting tomorrow. Brothers stars a pair of siblings who must work together and solve environmental puzzles as they search for medicine for their sick father. The game boasts a unique control scheme that maps each brother to an analog stick, while the controller's shoulder buttons provide context-sensitive action. Think of it as Ico meets The Adventures of Cookie & Cream. Brothers (also known as Bros: A Tale of Two Dudes) ranked in at #3 in Joystiq's editor-chosen list of 2013's best games. PlayStation Plus members also receive access to a selection of exclusive price drops starting tomorrow, including discounts for Sound Shapes, Rock Band Blitz, and Retro/Grade.
BioShock Infinite free for PS Plus members tomorrow
BioShock Infinite will be available to download on PS3 tomorrow, and it'll be completely free for PS Plus members as part of the Instant Game Collection. That's a hefty freebie. The 14 for 14 Vita and PS3 sale is also happening now, with games up to 75 percent off for Plus members, including Crysis 3 for $5, Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (a Cross Buy title) for $5.25, Puppeteer for $7 and The Wolf Among Us season pass for $13.50.
