Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

PlayStation Plus is adding this classic sci-fi shooter series, but only for Premium members

By

A man jumping and shooting in action in TimeSplitters.
Plaion

PlayStation announced new additions to its Plus catalog on Wednesday, and they’re set to hit the service on August 20. The update includes the three cult classic shooters from the TimeSplitters franchise, including one that hasn’t been available on newer consoles until now.

Recommended Videos

There’s a catch, though: You can only play the series if you have PlayStation Premium, the most expensive PlayStation Plus tier. This gives you access to the classics catalog, which is where the TimeSplitters games will live.

Related

But maybe an upgrade might be worth it. First off, these are well-loved first-person shooters in the same vein as Perfect Dark, so it’s almost a mandatory option for fans of these kinds of games. The first TimeSplitters was also PlayStation 2 exclusive, and its inclusion here is the first time it’ll be available on another console (the other two were released on the Xbox and GameCube, and were made available via backward compatibility on newer Xbox consoles).

These additions to PlayStation Plus are also sort of retribution for the series after developer Free Radical Design was shut down in December 2023 as part of Embracer Group’s prolific financial struggles. The studio has had a rough life, going bankrupt, getting picked up by Crytek, being shut down, and getting reformed as part of Deep Silver (owned by Embracer) to revive the TimeSplittersfranchise. The future of the series is still in limbo, but in the meantime, you can play the whole series for free.

There’s still plenty of must-play games being added to the PlayStation Plus service that Extra subscribers can check out. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt needs no introduction, and if you have a PlayStation 5, you’ll get access to the enhanced version with improved visuals, ray tracing, and shorter loading times. Cult of the Lamb is a strangely charming dark comedy about building a cult full of adorable creatures. Its addition to PlayStation Plus also coincides with its major Unholy Alliance update, which brings two-player local co-op.

There are also a ton of Sword Art Online games, Ride 5, and more. Check out the full list below.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, PS5)
  • Wild Hearts Standard Edition (PS5)
  • Cult of the Lamb (PS4, PS5)
  • Ride 5 (PS5)
  • Watch Dogs 2 (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Last Recollection (PS4, PS5)
  • Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization (PS4)

PlayStation Premium: PS VR2 and Classics

  • Vacation Simulator (PS VR2)
  • TimeSplitters (PS4, PS5)
  • TimeSplitters 2 (PS4, PS5)
  • TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (PS4, PS5)
  • Sword Art Online: Lost Song (PS4, streaming version only)
Topics
Carli Velocci
Carli Velocci
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…

Editors’ Recommendations

3 PlayStation Plus games to play this weekend (April 11-13)
The key art for blue prince.

PlayStation has been quiet for this month while the Nintendo Switch 2 takes up the spotlight, and not in a completely positive way. Game prices, in particular, are a growing concern with the price tags we've seen on some upcoming Switch 2 games. It is inevitable that PlayStation and the rest of the industry will follow suit, but PlayStation Plus is still offering a massive amount of value for one subscription cost. Even though we're between drops of new games to the service, we still have a day-one release that we can't recommend highly enough. Anyone looking to save a bit of cash this weekend by diving into PlayStation Plus before the upcoming PS5 games dominate your wallet should put these games on your download queue.

Blue Prince

Read more
All PlayStation consoles, ranked
best ps1 games sony ps1

The origins of PlayStation are a direct result of a deal gone bad with Nintendo. To make a long story short, Sony was planning on making a disc-based Nintendo console, but Nintendo backed out of the deal at the last minute and partnered with Phillips. After that betrayal, Sony launched the PS1, and the rest is history. We're now enjoying the best PS5 games, with new and old PlayStation franchises keeping the console popular. But which of Sony's consoles had the greatest impact on the gaming industry? We need to take more into consideration besides great games when ranking a console, and the result is by no means scientific. Based on the cultural impact, reception, and nostalgia, these are all the PlayStation consoles ranked from worst to best.

7. PSP

Read more
3 new PlayStation Plus games to play this weekend (April 4-6)
A big robot shooting a machine gun.

There's never an official theme for PlayStation Plus Essential games each month, but April's lineup is clearly catering to gamers' nostalgia. We've got a tight, focused single-player FPS game, a thrilling mystery RPG, and a rip-roaring multiplayer game all up for the taking. None of these games were necessarily smash hits upon release, but not for lack of quality. They each found a passionate fanbase that has been singing their praises for months (or years), and with a small break between big upcoming PS5 games, now is the perfect time to give these games a second chance. We're not playing an April Fool's prank on you here; these are the best PlayStation Plus games to play over the weekend.
Robocop: Rogue City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5XGFgEUFzk&pp=ygUacm9ib2NvcCByb2d1ZSBjaXR5IHRyYWlsZXI%3D

Download and play Robocop: Rogue City. You have 20 seconds to comply. Just kidding, but this is a rare movie tie-in game that does the source material justice. You play as the iconic Robocop between the second and third films, enforcing justice on the streets of Old Detroid. You are free to explore various open zones to do basic police work, solve crimes, and get into shootouts. The game has light RPG and even immersive sim elements to it, but the style and tone of the game are where it really shines. As a shorter experience with an expansion on the way, it is a perfect game to dive into over the weekend.

Read more