Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

PS Plus bolsters its lineup with Deathloop, Sly Cooper, and more

By Billy Givens August 31, 2022

Sony has revealed its PlayStation Plus offerings for September, and it’s looking to be quite a haul for subscribers, with substantial new additions across every tier of the service. Revealed via the PlayStation Blog, the company has shared that next month will see huge hitters like Deathloop, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Need for Speed Heat join the catalog – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The most notable release to come via September’s Extra tier is no doubt Deathloop. Arkane Lyon’s immensely popular time-looping shooter was one of 2021’s best-reviewed games, so it should incentivize some subscribers to upgrade to the second tier of the service. The arrival of Assassin’s Creed Origins, Watch Dogs 2, and Rayman Legends also show that Ubisoft is following through with its goal to bring plenty more of its expansive catalog to PS Plus.

Elsewhere, the Premium tier is receiving a host of new classics, including Syphon Filter 2 and all four entries in the beloved Sly Cooper franchise.

Need for Speed Heat leads the Essential tier, PS Plus’ entry-level subscription. Though it should make for a fun time for racing enthusiasts, it may not be the standout entry in September’s freebies if TOEM has anything to say about it. Last year’s hand-drawn photography-focused adventure impresses with its unique visuals and adorable gameplay. Also joining the Essential tier is Granblue Fantasy: Versus, a fighting game set in the popular anime universe.

Here’s the full list of everything coming to PS Plus in September.

Essential – September 6

Need for Speed Heat
TOEM
Granblue Fantasy: Versus

Extra – September 20

Deathloop
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Rayman Legends
Watch Dogs 2
Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Dragonball Xenoverse 2
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition

Premium – September 20

Syphon Filter 2
The Sly Collection
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Bentley’s Backpack
Toy Story 3
Kingdom of Paradise

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Gaming Writer

Billy Givens is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. His work can be…

Gaming

PS Plus is adding Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and more heavy hitters

Tommy from Vice City on bike.

On October 18, Sony will add a hefty list of games to the PS Plus Extra and Premium catalog, including Grand Theft Auto: Vice City -- The Definitive Edition. The company shared the full list of titles being added to the games library, featuring over 20 new games. The lineup is comprised of a wide variety of games from the Dragon Quest and Assassin's Creed series, along with a handful of horror gems, as well.

These are the new games coming to PS Plus Extra and Premium this October.
PS Plus Extra and Premium

Gaming

The Last of Us Part I should launch on PlayStation Plus Premium

Ellie looking concerned.

The Last of Us Part I is one of the most notable PlayStation 5 games to launch this fall. It’s also one of the year’s most controversial titles.
Despite the acclaim associated with The Last of Us series, there is heated debate surrounding the remake’s $70 price tag, which is more than the original release and The Last of Us Remastered cost at release -- even though it's lacking the multiplayer mode that came with both. This situation turned what should be a certified slam dunk for Sony into a divisive release, and Sony could fix it with one key change: making The Last of Us Part I a day-one title on PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium.
This isn’t because The Last of Us Part I isn’t worth $70. In fact, its improved visuals and the vast amount of new accessibility features clearly warrant the price tag in the eyes of some. That said, even defenders of the heightened price can recognize the controversy arising from charging more than ever for a remake of a twice-released game. The Last of Us Part I is in a rough situation, and being a PS Plus game would ease some of those concerns.
Why being on PS Plus would work
As The Last of Us is one of Sony's most popular modern franchises and has a TV show on the way, it's understandable why Sony and developer Naughty Dog eagerly want a modernized version of The Last of Us Part I on store shelves at full price. Still, those who've already bought the game twice and aren't impressed by the visual and accessibility overhaul don't seem as compelled to pick up the game for the third time. Sony would remove this significant roadblock plaguing The Last of Us Part I by putting the game on a subscription service.
The Last of Us Part I Rebuilt for PS5 - Features and Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games
There are plenty of examples showing why this would be a wise idea. The Age of Empire series' Definitive Edition games showed how well remakes work on subscription services. Several years after their original release, many players are still actively engaged with the first three Age of Empire games. While interested players can still purchase the remakes individually, putting those games on Game Pass for PC on day one ensured that the community didn't have to pay full price for a game they were already playing daily. Instead, they could just get the remake through their subscription and continue.
The Last of Us Part I is in a similar situation, even with the multiplayer content removed. This demonstrates why a subscription service release could lessen some of the negative stigmas around the game. The successful Stray, which was included in PS Plus at launch, shows that day one PlayStation Plus games can still generate plenty of positive buzz. The game's subscription service availability ensured that the conversation stayed on the game's cute cats, not the fact that it was a $30 game that only lasted about five hours.
Sony has recognized the power PS Plus can have on embattled games before. Destruction All-Stars was originally a $70 PS5 launch title, but ultimately launched as a PlayStation Plus game that was free to subscribers. Although The Last of Us Part I seems like it’ll be a better game than Destruction All-Stars, a day one game makes even more sense on PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra now than it did on PS Plus in February 2021.

Despite all of those factors, Jim Ryan made it clear that he does not want AAA PlayStation Studios games on PlayStation Plus Premium or Extra on day one during an interview with Games Industry.
“We feel like we are in a good virtuous cycle with the studios where the investment delivers success, which enables yet more investment, which delivers yet more success,” Ryan said. “We like that cycle and we think our gamers like that cycle … We feel if we were to do that with the games that we make at PlayStation Studios, that virtuous cycle will be broken. The level of investment that we need to make in our studios would not be possible, and we think the knock-on effect on the quality of the games that we make would not be something that gamers want."
His argument makes sense from a business standpoint, but data from Microsoft shows that people play more games (and games they might not have played initially) when they are available on a subscription service. Even if it seems unfair to judge, many people weigh the amount of new, entertaining content a game offers to its price tag. Sony's can't truly say whether The Last of Us Part I is worth $70, but it can shift the discussion in its favor with an act of goodwill.
The Last of Us Part I will be released for PS5 on September 2, 2022.

Gaming

PlayStation Plus is adding the Yakuza series. Here are what tiers you’ll need

yakuza series joins playstation plus lad

PlayStation has revealed it will be adding all eight mainline Yakuza games to PlayStation Plus throughout the rest of the year, starting in August.

Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be added first into the service next month. Later in the year, Yakuza 3 Remastered, Yakuza 4 Remastered, Yakuza 5 Remastered, and Yakuza 6: Song of Life will be included too.