‘Bloodborne’ and ‘Ratchet & Clank’ lead March’s PlayStation Plus lineup

By Steven Petite February 28, 2018

We’re exiting the post-holiday game lull in March with big titles like Far Cry 5, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, and A Way Out. But if you’re wallet is still hurting from the holidays, March’s PlayStation Plus lineup has a couple of worthwhile alternatives. Seriously, March features two of the very best PlayStation 4 games available free of charge for PlayStation Plus subscribers: Bloodborne and Ratchet & Clank.

Bloodborne, a spiritual successor to the Dark Souls series, is not a game to approach lightly. The world of Yharnam has been afflicted by a strange illness which turned all of its people into mystifying beasts who will try to hack you to death at all times. While Bloodborne retains the notorious difficulty of Dark Souls, the combat is much more fluid and reactionary. The dark and dreary setting has a Lovecraftian vibe. Coupled with the fast, demanding combat, Bloodborne is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

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On a lighter note, the cartoony Ratchet & Clank offers some of the best platforming and gadget-focused action available on PS4. A reimagining of the PlayStation 2 classic, the platformer reworks the origin story of the young Lombax and his robot pal, and includes gameplay refinements seen in more recent entries in the series. Not only is it loads of fun, Ratchet & Clank also happens to be one of the most visually stunning games on PS4.

For those still powering on Sony’s virtually extinct PlayStation Vita, pixelated horror game Claire: Extended Cut and Bomberman clone Bombing Busters will be up for grabs. Both of the Vita freebies are cross-buy enabled, so you can play them on PS4 as well.

Again, PS3 users receive a pair of underwhelming titles. Legend of Kay, originally a PS2 game, is an action-adventure game that follows a cat who seeks to restore order to his home island, which has been overrun by tyrannical gorillas and rats. And if you skipped out on the extremely disappointing spiritual successor to Mega Man, now’s your chance to take Mighty No. 9 for a spin without paying for it. Mighty No. 9 also has cross-buy with PS4.

Sony also announced that it will stop giving out free games for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on March 8, 2019. The change was bound to happen at some point. The offerings for PS3 and Vita have been scraping the bottom of the barrel for quite some time. Considering the fact that PS4 users technically will receive five free games in March thanks to cross-buy, it will be interesting to see how many PS4 games Sony will give out per month when the change kicks in.

As always, make sure to download February’s free games before the new deals begin March 6.

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Gaming

Over 100 PlayStation VR2 games are in development, Sony says

Playstation VR2 headset on a PlayStation-themed wallpaper.

Sony has released a massive FAQ about the PlayStation VR2 on the PlayStation Blog ahead of the headset's February 22 launch. It reveals some key new details about games for the platform, namely that over 100 PS VR2 titles are in development, and that Sony doesn't plan on giving its games physical releases for now.
For the most part, the FAQ is full of basic information about the PlayStation VR2's specs, how to set it up, and what's required to use it. But the Games section of this FAQ reveals quite a few illuminating details about the future of the system. It reiterates that there will be around 30 launch titles for the system, but also reveals just how much is in the works for the headset. In response to the question, "How many games are in development for PS VR 2?" Sony writes, "There are currently more than 100 titles in development for PS VR2."

That's a good sign, as a new, expensive VR headset like this lives or dies on its game lineup. PSVR2's early days might be a bit odd as Horizon Call of the Mountain is one of its only true exclusives -- and it's not backward compatible with PlayStation VR titles (something this FAQ reiterates. However, those picking one up can still know that lots of games are in the works for it.
Another FAQ question asks, "Will PS VR2 games be digital only or will there be physical disc releases?" -- which is sensible to clarify as this headset's predecessor had physical games. "Initially at launch, PS VR2 games will be digital," Sony says. "Physical disc releases for select titles may be available at a future date." So don't hold on to the idea of picking up a physical copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain; you'll be getting PS VR2 games through the PlayStation Store for the time being.
Check out the full FAQ if you have any technical questions about PS VR2's setup and which games it supports. PlayStation VR will be released on February 22.

Gaming

PS Plus adds Evil Dead, OlliOlli World, and more in February

A still from Evil Dead: The Game showing a man holding a gun in a supermarket.

PlayStation Plus Essential's February game lineup was announced today, and it consists of four titles: OlliOlli World, Evil Dead: The Game, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and Destiny 2: Beyond Light. These games will be available to download starting February 7. Overall, this is a really solid batch of games.

OlliOlli World was one of my personal favorite games of 2022 because of its amazing level design and 2D skateboarding gameplay that only becomes more fun as you get better with the game. "Like the best games of the genre, it knows that easy-to-learn-but-hard-to-master mechanics, rewarding obstacles, and high speeds that test one’s reaction time are the hallmarks of a great platformer," I wrote in a four-and-a-half star review of the game last February.

Gaming

MLB The Show 23 returns to Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch this March

Jazz Chisholm's cover art for MLB The Show 23.

Sony San Diego Studios announced MLB The Show 23 today, and confirmed that it will launch across all major PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo systems on March 28.
No new platforms were added this year, so PC players aren't getting in on the fun. Still, this announcement makes it clear that MLB The Show is a multiplatform series across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms for the foreseeable future. Xbox's version of the trailer also confirms that MLB The Show 23 will be on Xbox Game Pass at launch, making this first-party Sony series a day-one Game Pass title three years in a row.
MLB The Show 23 - Cover Athlete Reveal
As is typically the case with sports games, MLB The Show 23's reveal was primarily focused on its cover athlete. We learned that Jazz Chisholm Jr., a second baseman for the Miami Marlins, will grace the cover of the game. Like last year, the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions of the game will cost $60, while players on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S without Xbox Game Pass will need to pay $70. So far, no new gameplay features have been teased, although a blog post confirms that cross-platform multiplayer, saves, and progression across all versions of the game will return this year.
So far, there's not a lot that actually seems new about MLB The Show 23, but this reveal concludes the genesis of a new era for the long-running baseball series. MLB The Show 23 will be released for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on March 28.