Sony gave away one of the best PlayStation VR games to some PlayStation 4 owners

By Aaron Mamiit August 25, 2019

Sony, which looks like it is getting into the holiday spirit very early, gave away free copies of PlayStation VR exclusive Astro Bot Rescue Mission to some lucky PlayStation 4 owners.

Several gamers took to websites and online forums to report that they received free copies of Astro Bot Rescue Mission. A post on the official PlayStation 4 sub-Reddit showed the email that the lucky people received.

“No catch, no strings… we’re just giving you a free PlayStation VR game,” said the image in the email, which contains a voucher code that the recipient will redeem on the PlayStation Store to start downloading Astro Bot Rescue Mission. According to the terms and conditions of the email, the offer is valid until December 2019, and that it is targeting select PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Sony’s selection process for who gets free copies of the popular PlayStation VR game remains unclear. The initial impression was that the Astro Bot Rescue Mission was being gifted to players who already own the virtual reality system, but according to the Reddit thread, some players who received the email do not own it. Perhaps the giveaway is serving the dual purpose of thanking those who have purchased the PlayStation VR, while also enticing those who do not own the system yet to buy it.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission, with a Metacritic score of 90, is widely considered one of the best virtual reality games not just on the PlayStation VR, but across all platforms. The game, which was released in October last year and is currently selling for $20, places players in the role of Astro, the captain Bot, as he goes on a mission to rescue his crew.

Sony previously said that improvements are heading to the design of the PlayStation VR‘s headset, to make it lighter and less encumbered by wires. There is also the possibility of the headset going wireless and integrating eye-tracking technology, though such a successor will likely not be ready to launch alongside the PlayStation 5.

For those who own the virtual reality system for the PlayStation 4, Digital Trends has compiled the best PlayStation VR games available for the platform.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Gaming

PlayStation VR2 is my first headset. Here’s what I think after one week in VR

A side view of the PlayStation VR2, which sits on a wood table.

Before my PlayStation VR2 arrived at my doorstep last week, my experience playing in VR was minimal. I'd reported on the industry and its games for years, but my actual playtime in a headset was limited to an Eve: Valkyrie demo at a GameStop ahead of PlayStation VR's launch, a couple of demos at trade shows, and one 15-minute session of Phantom: Covert Ops on Meta Quest 2 while hanging out with a friend.
Despite claims by companies like Meta that VR would serve as the future of communication and entertainment, the technology seemed too scattershot and underdeveloped for my liking, with many competitors putting out underpowered headsets, many of which need a wire or two. That said, part of me still wondered if it would take the right headset with the right features and game library to transform the gaming medium forever. Although the Meta Quest 2 has tempted me for some time, it was the PlayStation VR2 that finally got me to bite the bullet and embrace VR.

PSVR2 is expensive at $550, but it appealed to me with its impressive specs and the fact that it only requires one wired connection to the PS5. That was all I needed to bite the bullet. Since it arrived, I've gone all-in on the tech to make up for lost time, trying out games like Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded. Although I'm impressed by the headset's power and how comfortable it is, don't consider me a convert just yet. I can't imagine it replacing traditional gaming on my PS5 or becoming my preferred social setting anytime soon, and that leaves me to wonder how high VR's ceiling can actually go.
Strapping in
My first thought when I got my PSVR2 was that the package was much smaller and lighter than I expected. VR always seemed large and clunky from an outside perspective, so I was impressed by the sleek and easy-to-unbox packaging and the headset's manageable size. Next, I had to set up the headset, which was something I was dreading as a first-time user. Surprisingly, the setup process was pretty quick after I plugged in the headset.
Within about 15 minutes, I had completed the initial setup and was already familiar with the passthrough tool. It didn't dig into my head and nose like I thought it would, mercifully. The few times I've strapped on other VR headsets, they've always felt like they're squeezing my face. That was not the case here, as I easily adjusted the headset to my liking. Even the feeling of the wire quickly became a non-factor for me as I played more and more.

Gaming

The best video games of February 2023: Metroid Prime, Wild Hearts, and more

Samus stares up at Meta Ridley in Metroid Prime Remastered.

After a shockingly strong January for video game releases, February 2023 was relatively quieter, held up by just a couple of big releases, remasters, and the launch of a new VR headset. There are still plenty of games worth playing, but you probably got the most out of February if you're a Nintendo Switch owner.
We've combed through this month's big releases to share our favorites, but let's address the elephant in the room: Hogwarts Legacy was the most notable release of February, despite being mired in controversy. While Harry Potter fans are enjoying the title, Digital Trends was a bit less enamored with it in our two-and-a-half star review. Writer Giovanni Colantonio criticized the open-world game's uninspired use of magic and generic design, noting that nostalgia for the IP does a lot of the heavy lifting.
As such, we've left it off this month's list for a simple reason: There were just better games released in February. Our goal with this series of lists is always to compile the very best gaming has to offer every month, not necessarily the most talked-about games. From excellent remasters to a surprisingly robust rhythm RPG, these were no shortage of titles that deserved a shout-out. These were our six favorite games released in February (plus one great piece of hardware).
Metroid Prime Remastered

GameCube classic Metroid Prime is already considered one of the best games of all time by many people. As such, it’s no surprise that a Nintendo Switch remaster that adds dual analog supports and makes the game look even better is one of the best releases of the month. Metroid Prime Remastered even got a surprise launch during a Nintendo Direct, adding even more excitement to its release ahead of a physical release on February 22.
“While it might have been tempting to give the original a Dead Space-type remake treatment, the GameCube title didn’t need modifying,” Colantonio wrote about the game. “Instead, the remaster does some quiet technical work to remind players why Samus’ first 3D outing is still an unparalleled adventure two decades later.”
This refurbished version of a GameCube game has no glaring technical shortcomings. If you enjoy beautifully crafted sci-fi worlds and excellent game soundtracks, and want to experience one of the best-looking Switch games, we recommend picking this remaster up. Metroid Prime Remastered is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Wild Hearts

Gaming

Everything announced at Sony’s February 2023 State of Play

Harley Quinn lays down while speaking to Amanda Waller in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's reveal trailer

Following shows from Nintendo and Microsoft, Sony held its first major showcase of the year on Thursday. PlayStation has had a busy 2023 so far with Forspoken's release in January and the February 22 launch of the PlayStation VR2. The February 23 State of Play serves more as a stopgap, highlighting many notable third-party games and indies coming to the PlayStation 5 and PSVR2 over the next several months. The presentation ended with a lengthy segment dedicated to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, giving us our clearest look yet at Rocksteady Studios' next game.
State of Play | February 23, 2023 | [ENGLISH]
It was a pretty packed show, although none of the announcements were quite able to match the ones made at Nintendo and Microsoft's early 2023 game showcases. Regardless, there are still plenty of reveals that PlayStation fans should know about from this State of Play. That's why we rounded up everything announced during the event right here.
5 games announced for PlayStation VR

The February 2023 State of Play started with a look at five upcoming PlayStation VR2 games. The first was a supernatural shooter called The Foglands. After that, we got a look at the PSVR2 port of Green Hell VR. Then, nDreams announced a first-person shooter where players can manipulate gravity called Synapse. That was followed up by a trailer for the sci-fi shooter Journey to Foundation, based on Issac Asimov's creation. Finally, we saw Before Your Eyes in VR. These games will launch throughout 2023.
March's PlayStation Plus games revealed