February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

PlayStation Plus: Plants vs. Zombies Free for Members

Hopefully you’ve been digging into some of the free PlayStation Plus content this month including Vanquish, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, and indie-hit Closure. This week, we’re excited to bring the crowd-pleasing Plants Vs. Zombies on PS Vita to the Instant Game Collection.

In addition, there are some fantastic sales to jump on as well including the Gamers’ Choice Awards discounts (winners announced tomorrow) and the PS Vita Anniversary Sale celebrating PS Vita’s first year. Read on to learn more about these exceptional sales.

Don’t have PlayStation Plus? Go to the PlayStation Store on your PS3 or PS Vita or click here to get access via the Sony Entertainment Network online store.

February 26th PlayStation Plus Update

Plants Vs. Zombies (PS Vita)

PSN Price: $10.49, Free for PS Plus members

Popcap’s irreverent take on the real time strategy genre is yours to play free on your PS Vita starting this week as a PS Plus member. At first glance, you may think it’s just another cute strategy game. Get your hands on it, and you’ll find an incredible amount of strategy that relies on everything from picking the right plants, determining their placement, and decisions while under fire from masses of zombies. The PS Vita version sports a ton of great features including co-op multiplayer, a ton of modes, and even some mini-games to keep you busy, making putting Plants vs. Zombies down an pleasantly tough proposition.

Retro/Grade (PS3)

PSN Price: $9.99; PS Plus Price: $2.44

Retro/Grade Soundtrack

PSN Price: $7.99; PS Plus Price: $1.74

The game that turned rhythm games upside down is now available at an irresistible price for PS Plus Members! Starting at the end of the game and working your way back to the sound of head-bobbing retro tunes, you’ll need to ensure the pilot makes it alive through his backward journey through time. With 10 dazzling ‘backwards’ worlds, epic boss fights, and a seriously fantastic soundtrack, it’s a deal that everyone should jump on. If you like the music, we also went ahead and put the soundtrack on sale as well! You can grab it for $1.74 on the PS Store as a PS Plus member.

Gamers’ Choice Awards Winners Discounts

Various Discounts for PS Plus Members

You voted, now you’re about to reap the rewards. This week the winners of the Gamers’ Choice Awards go on sale at various discounts across the board. Tune in to PlayStation.Blog tomorrow morning to find out which titles won as voting is still on as of today’s Plus Update and the race in some categories is pretty darn close. If you need a refresher on the nominees and still haven’t cast your vote, click here.

PS Vita Anniversary Sale

Various Discounts for PS Plus Members
It’s been 1 year since the PS Vita launched and to celebrate, we’re placing a number of crazy good PS Vita titles on sale. Take a look at the full list. Though the sale is for all of PSN, Plus members, as usual, get extra discounts on top these already good deals. Take a look at the full list below.

Game Title	Normal Price	Sale Price	PS Plus Sale
Escape Plan	$14.99	$10.49	$7.34
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational	$35.99	$25.19	$17.63
Hustle Kings PS Vita	$9.99	$6.99	$4.89
Little Deviants	$17.99	$12.59	$8.81
MLB The Show 12 PS Vita	$17.99	$12.59	$8.81
ModNation Racers: Road Trip	$17.99	$13.99	$9.79
MotorStorm RC Complete Edition	$11.99	$8.39	$5.87
PlayStation All Stars: Battle Royale	$35.99	$25.19	$17.63
Reality Fighters	$17.99	$12.59	$8.81
Smart As	$26.99	$18.89	$13.22
Sound Shapes	$14.99	$10.49	$7.34
Super Stardust Delta	$9.99	$6.99	$4.89
Unit 13	$26.99	$18.89	$13.22

What’s your favorite content from this week’s PS Plus update?

You should leave your thoughts by dropping them below and as usual, I’ll do my best to respond to key questions and comments. We’ve also got the PS Plus section in the PlayStation Community Forums where you can continue chatting about PS Plus, or find other topics to contribute your thoughts to, or start one for yourself. See you in the comments!

Comments are closed.

847 Comments

18 Author Replies

Squiggle55
February 25, 2013 at 10:26 am PST

@JoeGoodSnake

I’m pretty sure Far Cry 2 is the only retail game from last February. What is the other one? Receiving a retail game used to be a very rare anomoly with PS+, now we are getting at least one each month. Any month that included one used to be very few and far between. Usually, like you mentioned, we would get an entire collection of old ps1 classics like sega games, or all of the crash’s, etc. And a handful of minis: most were completely useless like Gold Medalist, some fantastic like Velocity. The highlight of most months was maybe 1 relatively new PSN game, which is what we are now getting every week that we don’t get a retail game. If you are the type of gamer that values ps1 classics and minis above all else, then, yes, ps+ used to be better for you.
PlatinumAura
February 25, 2013 at 10:27 am PST

the $10 voucher….. I don’t think those who didn’t get it should get it. Sorry welcome to life sometimes you qualify sometimes you don’t but I wish they’d give a list of what it took to get it so people can have a form of closure. But oh well not the biggest deal in the world
Hundredhandslap
February 25, 2013 at 10:27 am PST

@162

“Also, I guess I’m not “loyal” in Sony’s eyes. What is more “loyal” than owning a PS3 since launch, being a PS+ Member since Day One, being a PS Vita owner and having a trophy level of 18?”

“I should be sitting on $15 in store credits and an apology for taking my money last week. Instead, nada.”

Sounds like you think you should have got 10 bucks for being loyal. Sorry if I misinterpreted that.
Cedarson
February 25, 2013 at 10:28 am PST

This isn’t necessarily about this update, but the PS4 announcement was also my decision that I’m moving on from Playstation. It’s been a good time, but the sales/marketing department constantly sinks this brand. The hardware is great. I own both the PS3 and Vita, but I’m tired of being constantly frustrated with Sony going in my pockets and delivering every once in a while. $100 for a 32gb proprietary memory card? Not able to play PSN games on the PS4? I could go on. I still play my PS3 and my Vita, but after these systems have run their course, I’m moving on. This post pains me because I really like the hardware and services Sony offers, but I’m tired of investing so much money into systems just to always have the feeling that I’m lining Sony’s pockets with little benefit to me. Would it really be that bad to have made the Vita support MicroSD? I understand that you are concerned about piracy issues, but there are software options to alleviate this. Bottom line, if I felt like Sony looked out more (or even as much) for their customer as they do for themselves, I would stick around. After years of supporting the systems, I don’t feel that way, and I believe I have ample reasons to support my feelings.
Asphaltum
February 25, 2013 at 10:28 am PST

The Future Shop’s online site is advertising the PS Vita as a PS4 Controller. This is a sad day for Vita owners.
Michzadood
February 25, 2013 at 10:28 am PST

long as I have my free games I’ll be happy and thanks for PvZ, i am more than happy with the service of PS+ but i have to say this, i dont want to buy Modnation for PS Vita with the discount so that after you give it for free to PS+ Members.
dragoonlegend13
February 25, 2013 at 10:29 am PST

I’m also frustrated that I did not recieve any kind of psn money. I have owned a PS3 since 2008 and have been a plus member since 2010. I recently purchased a PS Vita and also had deal with network being hacked back in 2011. I am a 13 star gamer and yet I don’t even get $5?
four24twenty
February 25, 2013 at 10:29 am PST

Looking forward to see what next week has to offer, kinda…losing the faith……wasn’t supposed to be like this.
thebiglouie
February 25, 2013 at 10:30 am PST

I still think it’s lame that the regular price of HSG:World Invitational silently went back up to $36 after getting a price drop (not as a sale) down to $18 last November.

Sound Shapes is one of the games in the Gamers’ Awards. What happens if it wins a category? Will there be a replacement Vita game on sale if it happens?
swisstylez
February 25, 2013 at 10:30 am PST

Dear: Morgan

I would like to ask why you guys don’t mention the games that are going be release for plus at the beginning of the month, so that there are less controversy every week because most of us are always with high hopes for the contents that is going to be release, and we most of the time end up expecting for something it may not be possible for it to be release but that we think is going to happen, thus we end up down and disappointed. Then we think ahh probably next week, and when the next week comes nothing either, and that’s is not because we all hate the content being release. its just frustrating waiting waiting not knowing when something good its going to be release for YOU(us who have different preferences). Then we end up raging and talking trash on mostly every update(including me =P).

That’s why I think that if we knew the table of content that’s is going to be release during the month we might patiently wait for our turn and give a try to content that we dislike more easily while our content, game is being release.
- Morgan Haro
  February 25, 2013 at 11:53 am PST
  
  It’s looking like we’ll be able to roll something like that out starting in March, but it’s not for certain yet. Stay tuned!
JKar275
February 25, 2013 at 10:30 am PST

I’m very pleased to see that Smart As will be discounted down to $13.22 for PS Plus members. I’ve been waiting for the price to drop & I’ll be purchasing this ASAP tomorrow.

I’m also looking forward to see which games will be on sale in the Gamers’ Choice Awards Winners tomorrow.

On another topic: I’M VERY UPSET TO HEAR THAT NONE OF OUR PS3 PSN GAMES WILL BE PLAYABLE ON THE PS4. THIS IS NOT ALL FAIR TO PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT HAVE LARGE PS3 PSN GAME COLLECTIONS AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO PLAY THEM ON THE PS4. CAN YOU HAVE THE “POWERS THAT BE” WORK TOWARDS FINDING AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM?
MichelleCS
February 25, 2013 at 10:30 am PST

Garbage update, next week hopefully is better. Eu already knows they are getting great games in February. Are we going to get stuck with $10 psn games again?
NickMulder
February 25, 2013 at 10:32 am PST

Plants Vs. Zombies for VITA!!!! SWEET!!!! I’ve already got it on my PS3 but not my Vita :p thank you!!!!
FMF
February 25, 2013 at 10:32 am PST

I plan on getting a ps4 at launch but my plus subscription doesn’t end for about 16 months. I know the downloaded content on ps3 will not b playable on the ps4. But will I be able to download the new ps3&Vita plus content on the ps4 or do I need to keep my ps3 for that?
OleGunnar
February 25, 2013 at 10:32 am PST

@206

Wow. This is seriously the most pathetic troll I’ve seen in a while.

Thanks for the laugh and learn how to read.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Get outside for some fresh air, sunlight and exercise. It really sounds like you need it.
TitleOne
February 25, 2013 at 10:33 am PST

@Joe,

How can I address a declining value, when I see no such thing?

Why would you ask a loaded question like that? I can’t use a straw-man, yet you can ask such a loaded question?

You see less games, I see better content, I guess let’s just leave it at that.

Is it so hard to believe a majority of people don’t agree with you? Answer me this, why do you think there was such a jump in membership a short while after this new format?
PrimeroIncognito
February 25, 2013 at 10:34 am PST

@JoeBlow

Dude, get a grip. This is such a ridiculous argument.

I already mentioned that the value of these games all comes down to personal opinion. This is a FACT, and thus, any argument you have regarding “value” is immediately obliterated. You can’t change the FACT that people have varying tastes. All roads don’t necessarily lead to Metacritic.

In the gaming community, people who blindly follow reviews are people who aren’t worth listening to, because they have no thoughts of their own. They are simple sheep attempting to fit in where they most likely don’t belong.

I need to say nothing else on the matter unless I feel like it, because I already destroyed your side of the debate with a single, simple truth.

You just don’t want to let go of this silly image you’ve created for yourself… apparently you fancy yourself some great corporate equalizer fighting for the working man and the power of his dollar. But you really just look like a naive kid.
ZenTripleFour
February 25, 2013 at 10:35 am PST

@220 It was just after E3 which was a big advertisement for IGC. PS Plus never had that kind of media attention before that point.
neokid832
February 25, 2013 at 10:35 am PST

@Morgan

Great Update, PvZ is an awesome game.

Also do you know when Oddworld Strangers Wrath will be on sale for the vita?
I know Stewart had mentioned there would be a PS+ discount soon, was just waiting for sony approval.
saskamazon
February 25, 2013 at 10:35 am PST

Smart As is a great game … I’ve had it since Dec. & really enjoy it … the digital version is the way to go – as you need to do a daily session with it … I have the retail version & wish it was digital …. they did a good job with this game …. great deal. the US needs more players – as it’s always in last place (or close to it) globally ….
token_all_night
February 25, 2013 at 10:36 am PST

@ 217 trophy level doesn’t mean crap to true gamers only noobs use there trophy level to prove how good they are. So keep depending on your trophy level to prove your worth as a gamer you noob it’s just plan weak.
four24twenty
February 25, 2013 at 10:36 am PST

People arguing on a blog is funny….
ZenTripleFour
February 25, 2013 at 10:36 am PST

@221 Do you seem to forget the value of the PRICE of the games?
xClayMeow
February 25, 2013 at 10:37 am PST

Plants vs. Zombies as this week’s IGC??? Seriously? Wow, as good as the game is, this is highly disappointing.

Right now you can get the iPad and iPhone versions of this game for FREE.

Proof: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plants-vs.-zombies-hd/id363282253?mt=8

I mean seriously? It’s almost like you guys didn’t even try this week.
jayrabbit
February 25, 2013 at 10:37 am PST

im kinda sad to see no rpg’s discounted for the vita, and any insight on who you are working on getting in the instant game collection? from my talks with devs its more a issue with you saying yes then them, so as of now i dont find it plausible that its a problem working with you moreso you creating a small pipeline that is hard for the devs to get through.
djtripd
February 25, 2013 at 10:37 am PST

For those who were asking about the cheap Vita games in Canada:

Visit BestBuy Canada, Futureshop or EBGames Canada and you’ll find physical copies of all the “PSN on sale” Vita games for $9.99 to $19.99 blowing the PSN sale price out of the water. This is the thing that bothers me the most about PSN, if your not going to sell me a physical product then you better make sure that your pricing in the lowest in each region. Why would I pay $18.89 for Unit 13 on PSN when I can walk to a retailer a pick it up for $9.99? If you think these PSN sale prices are a great deal then I have a bridge I can sell you.
JoeGoodsnake2
February 25, 2013 at 10:37 am PST

@Squiggle55

My mistake, I was under the impression the Simpsons game was a retail one. Either way, that’s one well received retail game plus 17 additional games versus one poorly received retail game and 3 additional games. Wouldn’t you say that’s still a better value than this month?

I also checked to see previous months before February and we did not receive retail games much less than now (seems to be once every 2 months, which is really only one more per month than now). However, if you’re right about the change really being about offering retail games, then why is it that EU is doing so much of a better job at it?
Demonhunter84
February 25, 2013 at 10:38 am PST

Can’t wait to see who won the Gamer’s Choice Awards tomorrow.
bosskillerz87
February 25, 2013 at 10:39 am PST

Uk is getting mass effect 3 next month….:( and we get this.
mainkster
February 25, 2013 at 10:42 am PST

will our ps+ membership carry over to ps4 , i really wanted to take advantage of the 1 year + 3 months sale
TwinDad
February 25, 2013 at 10:42 am PST

@ZenTripleFour

Did you add the Mega Man X from last week to your February list of US PS+ content?
castonph
February 25, 2013 at 10:43 am PST

I’ve played through PvZ before, but not on the Vita, could be fun! I’ve played through 6 of the discounted games, I might grab Smart As… or Battle Royale

Is Battle Royale a cross-buy? Can you guys clearly label as cross-buy or not when it’s a PS3/PSV title.
diarrheavanfrank
February 25, 2013 at 10:43 am PST

@whoever makes the decisions on what gets added to the NA plus

Do you ever play video games? Serious question.
JoeGoodsnake2
February 25, 2013 at 10:44 am PST

@TitleOne

I guess in your opinion, games that are offered on the humble bundle, or that have 6 hours of gameplay are more valuable than a full set of a PSone or PS2 series. I’ll leave you to continue that opinion.

As for a majority being against my opinion, I think the PS Plus blog, the Facebook page and the forums all show that there is a large skew in favour of complainers versus praisers. Furthermore, I am not arguing this anyway, and I find it funny that you’d bring it up. I’d be willing to bet as well that the majority of these complainers are NOT old members (who probably already let their subscriptions end), but the very people you say were brought in by the new IGC.

In my opinion, the high amount of new subscriptions (although I don’t know where you get your numbers from) has more to do with the free subscriptions given away in various promotions, as well as the recent sales on PS3 during 2012 that got new exposure to the PLUS service. This makes a lot more sense than your idea of “less games = more subscriptions”.
enjionPS
February 25, 2013 at 10:44 am PST

I’m not one to whine on here much….

But man, the disparity between the two Plus updates (US/EU) is staggering.

Even the Vita sale is nothing special.

Come on guys.
flnettles
February 25, 2013 at 10:44 am PST

Morgan – I just renewed my PS+ membership. What’s going to happen in regards to PS3, current and future selections, once PS4 releases?
ZenTripleFour
February 25, 2013 at 10:45 am PST

@236 Europe gets PS Vita and PS3 games. Maverick Hunter X is a PSP game, so I don’t really count it.
oZc-Gauss
February 25, 2013 at 10:46 am PST

WHY!??

Plants vs Zombies? really?!!! Meanwhile in EU they have Metal Gear Collection HD. It’s just is not fair, is not fair.
DazeOfWar
February 25, 2013 at 10:46 am PST

Well was hoping for something good, which this game is, but I’ve had it since it released on the Vita. So another week down with nothing for me. I really hope next month is way better and at least somewhat in comparison to EU. I could go with what they are getting as I don’t have 4 of the games they get next month but it doesn’t have to be those. Just stuff that compares and makes many of us say man what an awesome month of Plus.

Please make NA Plus just as impressive next month. Also give it to us in a monthly update.
CrusaderForever
February 25, 2013 at 10:48 am PST

Truly astonishing what EU+ is getting this month. Hopefully, at some point in the PS+/PSWorld future you will start giving US+ the same games. I have seen this already in Darksiders and Vanquish. So I am optimistic, but it would be so amazing if you would release all games to both regions at the same time now. Maybe with PSWorld you will fix this problem. Thanks for the free games.
four24twenty
February 25, 2013 at 10:48 am PST

You know what NA has that EU doesn’t?

GAMEFLY!!!!

It is a subscription service where YOU pick out the games! If you don’t like what you get that week, you can complain about YOURSELF!

Just another option, for all those frustrated…might be a better choice.
JoeGoodsnake2
February 25, 2013 at 10:50 am PST

@PrimeroIncognito

Your “single, simple truth” of subjectivity in reality only destroyed your argument. You’re essentially saying that is completely okay for someone to subjectively feel that their value sucks ass, which in turn gives them a good strong reason to come here and complain and negates your reason to call them out on it. This is due to them commenting on their subjective idea of value (valid argument, according to you), and you detracting them for feeling the “single, simple truth” you just stated as undebatable (invalid argument, since it’s undebatable).

As for my “image”, I’d like to see where you get such an idea? Can you quote a comment or post where I sound like I think of myself the way you do yourself? I don’t have ego issues, which is why I don’t resort to skewing my opponents’ names or calling them “kid” or “son” in order to artificially seem authoritative.

Read a philosophy book, you may actually learn something about carrying a normal civil debate.
KwietStorm
February 25, 2013 at 10:50 am PST

OK. Europe officially has no reasons to complain anymore. It’s been making our PS+ look like PS- for months now, and its expected to at this point. Its been weak for a while now here.
Asphaltum
February 25, 2013 at 10:51 am PST

@230

You’re right! Smart as and Unit 13 $9.99 at the Future Shop. Good find. Cheers.
Squiggle55
February 25, 2013 at 10:53 am PST

@JoeGoodSnake

I think your argument for the discrepancy between current US and current EU PS+ is stronger than your argument for old US PS+ being better than current US PS+. Again, if someone likes ps1 classics more than anything, then old PS+ was better for them. I think those people are in the minority though. I think the majority of people are likely more satisfied with many more recent PSN titles and certainly more retail titles. Whether or not EU is currently giving a better value is another debate entirely.
yourtax1724
February 25, 2013 at 10:54 am PST

Another dissapointing update. Thank god the other guys have a huge sale going on all week long. 5 weeks left untill my plus expires and I can’t see myself dishing out another 60 bucks for lacklustre content., guess we’ll see.
Cole_MacGraft
February 25, 2013 at 10:54 am PST

I didn’t see it asked but how long will the vita games be on sale?
death_by_wabbit
February 25, 2013 at 10:55 am PST

Oh well, already own it but for those of you who don’t, you’re getting a fantastic Vita game. Still one of my favorite go-to time wasters on the handheld
buffalothc
February 25, 2013 at 10:55 am PST

Not a bad update. And Morgan I appreciate you answering #17. It should help some of us settle down about what we get for plus updates. Answers are what we want a lot of the time.
CrusaderForever
February 25, 2013 at 10:55 am PST

Oh yeah, can you please, please, please go to a monthly update format? I don’t like this weekly update format. Getting to know what is coming out all at once is the way to go.