December 3, 2012December 4, 2012

PlayStation Plus Update: Return To Rapture Free in BioShock 2

It may be gift-giving season, but PlayStation Plus delivers gaming gifts all year round, and this week is no exception. While many of you might still be getting acquainted with the PS Vita Plus games, PS3 gamers can welcome BioShock 2 into their Instant Game Collection. Download it for free if you’re a Plus member when the PlayStation Store updates on Tuesday.

Don’t forget that the Music Unlimited offer is still on as well. You can pick up the 1 year subscription for only $12! If you have questions on the service, you may want to check out this handy FAQ. To take advantage of the offer, you’ll need to subscribe from your PS3 or PS Vita Plus enabled account.

Don’t have PlayStation Plus? Go to the PlayStation Store on your PS3 or PS Vita or click here to get access.

December 4th PlayStation Plus Update

BioShock 2 (PS3)

Free for Plus members
Years after the events of the original BioShock, a monster has begun snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. Players step into the boots of the most iconic denizen of Rapture (and recent star of PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale), the Big Daddy, as they travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers.

Rockstar Games Collection Edition 1 (PS3)

10% off for PlayStation Plus members (Regular price: $59.99, PS Plus Price: $53.99)
An amazing value, this collection features Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, L.A. Noire, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles Complete Edition. Plus members can enjoy a 10% discount on this new release to PSN.

Puddle (PS3 and PS Vita Versions)

50% off for PlayStation Plus members (PS3 Plus Price: ~~$3.50~~ $5.00; PS Vita Plus Price: ~~$2.80~~ $4.00)
Experience a brilliantly designed physics-based puzzle/platform game where you must guide a puddle of fluid to its target destination, not by moving the fluid, but by tilting the game world. It’s a unique twist on the puzzle genre and both PS3 and PS Vita versions are 50% off. Please note, this game is not cross-buy or cross-play enabled; so choose the best version for you, or if you’re a big fan, buy both!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s update. Tune in next week where we’ll have another fantastic title to keep you gaming with PlayStation Plus. Head to the PlayStation Plus forums to continue the conversation and find other Plus fans, and make sure you make your voice heard in the comments below. As always, thanks for your feedback and we’ll see you next week!

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741 Comments

21 Author Replies

terminode
December 3, 2012 at 4:19 pm PST

This is one of a very few Plus games I’ve had the slightest interest in (that I hadn’t already owned for years) since the reboot, and it’s been on sale on-and-off for $5-10 from every online retailer for the past two years. I miss getting unique PSN titles day one (like Stacking or Where is My Heart); EU users are getting those same kinds of deals, with games like Hell Yeah or Machinarium. Playstation Plus used to offer games that were likely to fly under the radar but still worth something; now it’s a graveyard of unsellable titles- unsellable due to either extreme market saturation (e.g. Infamous 2), or just being bad (e.g. Choplifter). My most valued thing from the new Plus is my avatar (a character from a game that was frankly terrible, and not at all coincidentally, free for Plus members). It’s at the point where I won’t even bother downloading most of the free titles because the annoyance of having yet another item clutter my still unsortable downloads list far outweighs the slim chance that I’d ever want to play them in the future.

And the constant teasing and patronizing “We’ve got something really special for you next week,” routine is irritating, if not insulting. Please stop.
liledawg
December 3, 2012 at 4:20 pm PST

Nice update as always. PS Plus is still a great deal, I never played a Bioshock game, so can’t wait to give Bioshock 2 a try. SometimesI like toI read comments on here to see what people say, everyone has opinions on things, but come on posts don’t need to be repeated, or copied and pasted, one post is enough and I think repeat posts that are copied and pasted should be removed, guess I should just quit reading peoples posts and just read the update and be happy and move on, Thank You Sony for offering a great service like PS Plus and on the Vita with no extra charge.
- Morgan Haro
  December 4, 2012 at 9:00 am PST
  
  Agreed on the ‘copy and pasting’ of comments. If anything, it hurts the overall voice of the community.
  
  But I certainly do encourage all feedback as it’s all valid; and debates between the community is always good too. But yeah, copying and pasting comments is ineffective and won’t help anymore than one post about it.
sab_krit
December 3, 2012 at 4:25 pm PST

@275 I dont know whats going on behind the screen. maybe MAYBE Rocksteady prohibited Arkham City to be added in US plus and agreed to be added in EU plus which seems to be dumb because Sony is going to get rights using their funds, Morgon may shed some lights on this, hmmm no problem switch my account to EU plus that you can do, since its all under sony, dont say people here cant have EU plus, they just want a EU address, I can provide it. I just want my existing plus account to be transferred to EU account, if US plus is not good enough to bring better games to our plus library or reduce the renting fee from 50 bucks a year to 30 bucks (that is under Sony’s control again) . I know that I can create a fresh EU account and subscribe for EU plus but I dont want a fresh account and I already paid for an year’s plus in US.
Sevyne
December 3, 2012 at 4:28 pm PST

Everyone is wasting their time trying to voice their discontent for the plus offerings we get compared to EU. All you are going to get every month is a response along the lines of, “But wait until you see what we have to offer next month! You’re going to LOVE this!” and then be left with nothing but disappointment when that day comes. It’s an endless cycle. They aren’t listening and they don’t really care.
- Morgan Haro
  December 4, 2012 at 9:08 am PST
  
  Nope, no one’s time is ‘wasted’ by making their voice heard. Take a tally at the end of December; and take a look at the number of PS3 Full Games in the program overall over time since E3 and you’ll see a giant increase in PS3 Full Games in Plus. Remember when that was the big piece of feedback? Because of the feedback from you guys, we moved quicker than we would have.
  
  Feedback takes time to get implemented Sevyne, as there are other factors to consider. But I think re-framing how we position and show the Plus content through the month will be a big factor in lending perspective to what Plus has in Store to make for more accurate comparisons between the regions. There will likely continue to be differences between the games of EU and NA, but in terms of the overall value and the tendencies of the communities in both regions, these two are the same.
  
  I’m sure there are just as many folks in EU who dislike getting Batman in the IGC as much as those in NA who may dislike getting BioShock 2. Gaming preferences differ from person to person, so that there, is another subject to tackle, but with everyone’s feedback, we’ll continue to move Plus in a better direction.
portugatentante
December 3, 2012 at 4:31 pm PST

I have both plus, and im very happy!
Because i dont have money to spent in games, so the ps+ is like a salvation for me D
SolusPrime
December 3, 2012 at 4:34 pm PST

Yay, another free ps3 game. I’ve had a Vita since release day but JUST got a ps3 for the first time 3 days ago. Im a ps plus member so loving all these free games, ive never even played any of the Bioshock series. Thanks for the awesome stuff, keep it coming.
sab_krit
December 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm PST

@300 I guess you dont pay from your pocket for the plus else you might know that you are paying for this product named PLUS. It’s not free, so when I get cheated compared to EU people, I will definitely complain cuz this is my hard earned money which I spend on this inferior US version of the same product which EU gets for a better deal. From your comments I guess either you dont pay for plus from your well earned money or you get paid by US plus or you are a rich dad`s kid who dont respect money.

If telling them their lack of making their customers satisfied compared to what their EU counterparts do to their customers is disrespectful then I guess either you still live on your parents money or you are just plain ignorant.
Starwarsgeek76
December 3, 2012 at 4:38 pm PST

thanks plus……. I loved owning them back in the day!
i will be playing this again tomorrow!!
bigimpactpooch
December 3, 2012 at 4:39 pm PST

Soo bummed out. On “Sony Playstation” facebook page it said Batman Arkham City was going free for psPlus. I was lied to or they weren’t specific.
The_Dukenator
December 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm PST

@306 Try to play the first BioShock as well. Plus does have a lot of free games.
The_Dukenator
December 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm PST

@309 So maybe we might still get it.
nolo451
December 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm PST

@307, Nah, I actually have a steady job, plenty of money (actually stashing ore than I wanted into my IRA, but I digress). I don’t have a problem with it because I knowingly accept that whatever is added to the IGC, I will either like or not like and I have no problem with that. Seems if you think $50 isn’t worth this to you or is somehow hurting your wallet, maybe its you that is still living off of parental support (which isn’t a bad thing, I used to do that up until I was 19).

What I do find in bad taste is when people area accusing them of blatantly ripping them off on purpose or that they have an agenda to give preferential treatment to the EU region, it starts sounding very stupid…..because it is.

But if it makes you content, fine we can just say I’m the ignorant one.
rera121989
December 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm PST

AWESOME !!
PS+ Keeps getting Better and Better
I’m going to continue with my membership until their price is right.
Cyb3rfr34k-iso
December 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm PST

i cant beleive tomorrow! MASS EFFECT 1!!!
Sevyne
December 3, 2012 at 4:53 pm PST

@312: I have to agree with you that saying we’re being ripped off is stupid. You definitely get your money’s worth with Plus. My complaint isn’t that. My complaint is that the discrepancy between EU and NA Plus when we’re all paying the same for the same service is unacceptable. It’s like calling us second rate consumers.

Maybe it’s just that EU Plus is too good for it’s own good, but their really needs to be some line of communication between the two to make all things equal. They may be different regions, but they are both under the same banner. I don’t expect to see both regions get the same exact games as each other every month, but I do expect the quality, quantity, and overall value if we’re paying the same as them. It’s just not right otherwise.
Cyb3rfr34k-iso
December 3, 2012 at 4:56 pm PST

pls stop giving “free” games and put 75% sale on 3~4 retail games every months.
bt1234567892010
December 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm PST

@315

you are definitely right, I wish Sony would actually listen, plus is worth the money, but when we don’t get as good of a selection as Europe, it feels like they prefer EU to us in the US, it’s just not right, there needs to be a line, as you said. I say we get the same amount of games a week, whether they’re the same ones or not doesn’t matter, but it’s funny, all three games Europe gets, I haven’t played and want, but yet in the US, as I said in my comment earlier, Bioshock 2 is a fantastic game, but I already own it, Plus will be less worth the money if Sony keeps giving us only one game a week, giving us less for our money, Plus will lose its value, Europe pays the same, as you said, and they get a lot more value for their money.
Sevyne
December 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm PST

@316: Ya used to get both the free games and 50-75% discounts. The discounts since the IGC have been pretty horrible.
FeistFan
December 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm PST

It’s not childish, greedy, or demanding to point out that a company isn’t treating its customers consistently. Nor should someone paying for a product — and Plus subscribers are pre-paying for a service based in large part on a promise of unspecified future content — be expected to be happy no matter how the product turns out. We’re not beggars thankful for whatever scraps Sony throws our way — we’re paying customers, buying into a promise of future content, discussing what content is provided.

Clearly, Sony can’t please everyone all the time. It’s absurd to assume that they will consistently release games on Plus that you don’t already own, unless you simply don’t purchase any games and only play those available on Plus.
Otolap
December 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm PST

@289, Ok let me put this in terms that you may understand, “no one knows” how the licensing process works ergo is a theory, getting the worst deal in PSN+ is a fact, do i need to say more?

And please back up your post with arguments not theories and derogatory remarks.
FeistFan
December 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm PST

That said, while it may be silly to repeat the same post over and over, the point has some validity. Are there any games released for free on Plus that were NOT released in Europe? What are they? There are several games I’d dearly LOVE to play that were released on Plus for Europe, but not the US. That’s disappointing, and since I’m paying (again) for a Plus membership, I have a right to be unsatisfied with that decision, and to explain how Sony can change my mind.

THAT said, I’m looking forward to Bioshock 2. I never did play it (or the first one, which I’d also love to see added to Plus — why not?!?), and I’m hoping I’ll enjoy it.
smoothboarder540
December 3, 2012 at 5:02 pm PST

@303 Well it would actually be Warner Bros. Rocksteady is the developer.
Mihalick
December 3, 2012 at 5:03 pm PST

Europe gets a better deal than America yet again.
sab_krit
December 3, 2012 at 5:03 pm PST

@312 Then let the sony people try to convince us that they are not ripping us. Give us some valid reason why EU gets better deal than us. If you had answers for this then carry on and shed some light why (no guesses) why EU gets better deal than US else I might ask you to keep quiet instead of calling the people complaining as kids or whiners. SO my guess about you is good you are rich dad’s kid who disrespects money well I know the value for money and I am not going to lick their backs or keep quiet when I know that EU gets best deals for their money when we dont. If its hurting my wallet I wouldnt have subscribed for plus. Even now I am not asking for refund transfer my account to EU (hope you understand that wanting to get the better deal than whining that I get ripped off). And prolly you are not matured enough to understand when I said its my hard earned money I spend for plus that its my money and I dont live off my parental support, oh well you answered it yourself in the last sentence.
sab_krit
December 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm PST

@322 hmmm so you are saying its not sony but its Rocksteady games who is discriminating US plus subscribers and EU plus subscribers. Where you got theory from?
migabyte5000
December 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm PST

People will complain about anything…I’m happy, I beat batman, haven’t played this bio 2..
Blind-Lunacy
December 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm PST

im excited for this…Bioshock 2 is a incredible game and the Multiplayer is going to be booming again thanks to PS+
Cyb3rfr34k-iso
December 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm PST

@ Sevyne

its never 75% off on good games… sure they’ll put 75% for 6 month in a row for hydrophobia.
but where’s the sales for new games like max payne at 19.99. they just builded 9 new “ultimate bundle” to finally save 2$ compared to buy everything separatly.
the store cant even match up gamestop~ebgames weekly sales. that make absolutly no sense to me.
KiLo_Fr3sH
December 3, 2012 at 5:18 pm PST

well then looks like i gotta get plus
Otolap
December 3, 2012 at 5:19 pm PST

Ok, ppl here must have a little knowledge of economy, so lets us cut the chase and go to the point…

Cost of Bioshock 2 $13.49 (Amazon) (3 Year old title)
Vs
Cost of Batman AC $36 (Amazon) (1 Year old title)

So one is paying the same for a 3 year old title while the other gets a 1 year old title, Do I need to say more…
Kingdebane
December 3, 2012 at 5:23 pm PST

@324 Just as I assumed, the majority of PS+ users don’t understand how the corporate world works. Lets say that SCEA & SCEE decided to do what people are clamoring on about and make sure that the content available is equal across both regions. Do you realize that you would end up with maybe 1 to 2 new games each month, of course unless the games were absolutely rubbish. The reason being is that Sony alone does not determine which games come to PS+, that is determined first and foremost by the publisher of the game, so if you want to get upset and someone for not making a game available in the NA Region, then point your fingers at them.

Publishers of games use PS+ and the instant game collection in a variety of ways. For example, Gearbox used PS+ to bait and hook gamers who have never played the Boderlands series by making sure BL1 was free just prior to BL2 release. Another example is where a game may have reached its peak and need a bigger audience in time for the release of downloadable content or to buy existing DLC or do micro-transactions (LB2 or King of Fighters).
Kingdebane
December 3, 2012 at 5:31 pm PST

@324 continued. Lets take for example Red Dead Redemption, nearly 60% of total sales were in the NA region, that is why they (the publisher) offered it to the EU region, as their sales (EU) were around 30% of the total. Guess which other game sold exactly the same way – oh that’s right, Batman Arkham City….surprise surprise. This is all about the publishers and what they want, bottom line….so go on the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment website (publisher for BAC) and complain until they add the game to the NA PS+ IGC.
Moofboy
December 3, 2012 at 5:31 pm PST

Can we not use PS + as a promotional tool for upcoming games? Most are quite aware that Infinite is coming out. I really don’t think that Sony is actually supporting PS+ members right now, but are rather trying to hype an upcoming game just like they did with the “free” download of Borderlands.
This update is truly a disappointment for me personally. If you want more subscribers, offer recent games making sure that it is the full retail version of the game. This shouldn’t be an issue if it can happen on the other side of the globe. C’mon Sony, keep people happy! I hope next week is better than this.
Ricddr
December 3, 2012 at 5:33 pm PST

What a disappointment!
Yohmaru_EX
December 3, 2012 at 5:34 pm PST

wtf?? Bioshock 2?? that very old game, are you serious? WE WANT BATMAN LIKE EURO GUYS!!!!
death_by_wabbit
December 3, 2012 at 5:40 pm PST

“+ Morgan Haro on December 3rd, 2012 at 9:26 am said:

EU shows their content monthly; so naturally it’ll appear to be more than how we show it via weekly updates. We’re also looking at monthly updates as well, but there are a number of considerations to review before moving forward with that outlook too. Thanks for the feedback to everyone on that note!”

That’s not even true but even if it was how can you compare a bargain bin reject like Bioshock 2 to any of the games they got EU. Who do you think you are bull*******? You may be feeling all arrogant since PS+ did so well on Black Friday week but you keep treating us this way & you’ll lose us all
DonkeyKongKilla
December 3, 2012 at 5:40 pm PST

For the people complaining about complainers, you sound a bit contradictory, your complaining about something… No not about the horrible game selection we get compared to EU. But about the people who want more bang for their buck, I’m sorry i honestly feel like I should’ve just bought a brand new game for $50 that would keep me busy with a awesome storyline with great multiplayer, instead I thought i would buy this instead and have a selection of at least decent games to play, I didn’t expect BRAND new games to hit Plus but I did expect some good titles at least to make its way. I kind of feel sad I would of loved to gotten this when Saints Row 2 was up D:
DonkeyKongKilla
December 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm PST

Oh well snooze ya lose, but being dis satisfied helps them pick better selections for us. Sorry, we spent our money on this service we have every right to be upset! We all can’t be Robotic zombies that will be happy with anything :D that’s what makes the community, A GOOD ONE. so they can make better decisions! But i see all the people talking about how it hasn’t really gotten much better, I wish I would have did my research before buying the year deal!.
death_by_wabbit
December 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm PST

and I don’t really care about Batman AC, I already played it. I wanted Vanquish
nolo451
December 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm PST

@ Kingdebane: Thanks for putting it into words better than I did.

Sadly, many will just read what you said (or ignore it most likely) and still believe that there is some type of agenda by Sony to give less discounts to NA users and reward EU users.

I’m sure if you were to see who was making the majority of these “complaints” (in quotes because I think they are not very valid complaints) it would be composed of 90% children, and 10% adults who sadly think that acting like children will somehow convince Sony to give them whatever they want, ignoring the fact that they more than likely have no say in which games to include in future drops.
PrimeroIncognito
December 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm PST

Sounds like some of you guys should just quit gaming. It doesn’t seem to be a good fit for you. I really don’t like it when you wanna-bees try to fit in with us true gamers. Get out of our community, posers. You’re disturbing the peace with your incessant petty demands and empty threats. We don’t like the stench of your soiled pampers either. Be sure to let your mommies know that you need to be changed again.

It’s $4.17 per MONTH, you idiots.

I spent more than that on a burrito yesterday.

ONE meal, on ONE DAY, cost more than Plus does for an entire MONTH!
neuropunk
December 3, 2012 at 5:44 pm PST

More generic shooter crap??

:(
YuNeoxus
December 3, 2012 at 5:46 pm PST

Good, I hope BATMAN please
death_by_wabbit
December 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm PST

#341 Who do you think you are saying that about people that you don’t even know. I think that people like you who just accept whatever crap you are given are the same sort of folks that would agree with Sony if they told you that BBQ sauce is a good ice cream topping.

#342 I have every right to voice my opinion, do I think that it will change their policy? No, but I’m going to tell them what I think anyway. You don’t like it? You can leave, no one will miss you
YungShep
December 3, 2012 at 5:52 pm PST

i haven’t played Bioshock 2 yet..so this is a win for me! huzzah!
Tjoeb123
December 3, 2012 at 5:55 pm PST

To those of you complaing about…

Bad discounts and the IGC: It’s one thing if you already own the game in question, but it’s another when you’re COMPLAINING about the fact that it’s FREE. Free games are ALWAYS better than discounts IMO, whether you’re into the genre or not. Now, if there were to be no Holiday Sale on PSN (I hope there is, and from a lot of publishers like NISA, not just Sony), then I understand that, but at least appreciate what you DO get. For FREE.

Vita IGC games: We JUST got 6 Vita games. It’ll take you AT LEAST a month to beat every one of them, maybe two for plat. They’re all good games (even though I already beat FFT back in 2007-8). Hell, I just beat Jet Set Radio moments ago on my Vita and it was a fun game.

EU getting what you want, but not the US: Talk to the publisher (if it’s not Sony)…?
death_by_wabbit
December 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm PST

@Tjoeb123

So, are you trying to tell me that you didn’t have to pay for your PS+ subscription? If not, then you didn’t get it for free. I’m sure that Sony is glad that you are so easy to please though LMAO
PrimeroIncognito
December 3, 2012 at 6:00 pm PST

“For the people complaining about complainers, you sound a bit contradictory, your complaining about something…”

Stop trying to sound clever. Our complaints are legitimate.

When you brats whine about obviously petty nonsense, it disturbs the peace. It ruins the fun atmosphere that real gamers come here to enjoy. We want to keep the fun times flowing, and you won’t allow it for some selfish reason. After you and your kind drop by and screw it up for the rest of us, we’re obviously going to have a problem with you. You started the negativity train rolling.

I can understand one complaint, even a few actually, voicing your concerns here and there in a respectable manner, but when it’s just “waaa! waaa! waaa!” every single day, you’re doing nothing but making an ass of yourself and killing the good vibe. The rest of us have every right to question what the hell you think you’re doing here if you’re not enjoying the service provided by the company. Just leave. Switch to another console, or even better quit gaming entirely and find a new hobby.
Recon19D3
December 3, 2012 at 6:02 pm PST

An American and a European walk into the gas station. They both walk over, grab their newspapers and head to the cashier. The European complains there’s never anything good in the newspaper, but he pays for it anyways. It’s only a couple of bucks. The American looks at the European and says ” yeah, it’s only a couple of bucks but if you don’t enjoy it your still wasting money”. The European then looks at the American and says “why are you complaining? I pay a little more for my newspaper then you have to”. The American looks back at the European and says ” Well I surely hope you do. You only paid a few more cents then I did and got the whole newspaper. All I got was the stupid crossword puzzle and the coupons.”
Erdricks_Boxers
December 3, 2012 at 6:04 pm PST

I kind of enjoy watching everyone melt down over the free plus games every month.