This month, PlayStation Plus members can download Towerfall Ascension and Strider on PlayStation 4. Towerfall Ascension is a great excuse to invite a few friends over for an evening of fierce fun and local competition. It features simple mechanics, but it’ll take some time to master shooting and catching arrows, head stomping and strategically using power ups. Our second PS4 game is Strider, a reboot of one of gaming’s most renowned action series. As you aim to assassinate a heavily guarded target, you’ll employ a plethora of cyber-ninja skills and upgrades you collect along the way.
On PS3 we have the critically acclaimed action-horror title Dead Space 3 and a physics puzzle game called Vessel. Dead Space 3 continues the story of Issac Clarke and his constant run-ins with the freaky Church of Unitology and their Necromorphs. A new co-op mode is a nice addition to the franchise, and playing with a friend will unlock some exclusive content. If you enjoy puzzle games, try out Vessel – a title with an incredible liquid physics engine. Each puzzle requires you to think about the properties of various forms of liquid, whether it’s lava and steam or chemicals, in order to minimize the threat of chaotic robots you created.
Finally, on PS Vita Plus members get Muramasa Rebirth and Doki-Doki Universe. Muramasa Rebirth is one of the prettiest games on Vita, with equally lovely backdrops and boss designs. You’ll hack and slash via two different characters’ perspectives, a possessed princess and fugitive ninja, and you can craft consumables as well as new swords. Then there’s the unique experience of Doki-Doki Universe, where you’ll explore the universe as an adorable robot appropriately named QT3. As you investigate what humanity means, the game will track your decisions and develop a personality profile, so you’ll actually learn more about yourself as you play.
Since all these games will be free for PS Plus members starting next Tuesday, July 1st, we will wrap any additional Plus updates into our weekly Store post each Tuesday.
July PlayStation Plus Preview
Become a PlayStation Plus member
TowerFall Ascension (PS4)
Free for PS Plus members
TowerFall Ascension is the definitive version of the hit archery combat game. Inspired by classics from the golden age of couch multiplayer, it’s a local party game centering around hilarious, intense versus matches. The core mechanics are simple and accessible, but hard to master and combat is fierce. Loot treasure chests for game-changing power-ups, master the art of catching arrows out of the air, or descend on your foes and stomp them into submission. TowerFall is best played competitively with friends, cross-legged on the floor within punching distance of each other.
Strider (PS4)
Free for PS Plus members
Strider returns in a brand new adventure, complete with incredible side-scrolling action, and lightning fast combat all in a massive interconnected world! Download the full game now and become the original assassin!
Dead Space 3 (PS3)
Free for PS Plus members
Dead Space 3 brings Isaac Clarke and merciless soldier John Carver on a journey across space to discover the source of the Necromorph outbreak. Crash-landed on the frozen planet of Tau Volantis, Isaac must comb the harsh environment for raw materials and scavenged parts. He will then put his engineering skills to the ultimate test to create and customize weapons and survival tools. Play together with a friend or alone as Isaac Clarke using the seamless new drop in, drop out co-op functionality. Each mode offers unique story elements and gameplay.
Vessel (PS3)
Free for PS Plus members
Vessel is built on an optimized liquid simulation featuring flowing water, scalding lava and steam, reactant chemicals, glowing goo, the mysterious ‘protoplasm’, and more. Each liquid has unique properties and mixes with other liquids for dramatic effects.
Muramasa Rebirth (PS Vita)
Free for PS Plus members
From master video game developer Vanillaware comes Muramasa Rebirth, an action RPG that blends the vibrant and beautiful world of Japanese mythology and high flying, fast-paced action! Enter a world where demon, samurai and other deadly enemies vie to destroy you as you search for the fabled Demon Blades. Become the possessed princess Momohime, as you travel West, or the fugitive ninja Kisuke, as you travel East, through mythical Japan battling anyone who stands in your way.
Doki-Doki Universe (PS Vita)
Free for PS Plus members
Embark on a journey with QT3 to discover humanity and engage with bizarre characters to learn more about them, and hopefully, learn more about yourself along the way.
This Full Game Includes:
– 18 Story Planets: Venture to uniquely themed planets such as “Brrr” or “New Hawaii” and meet an array of quirky characters
– 15 Additional Personality Quizzes: Receive personality reports by taking fun quizzes
– Doki-Doki Universe™ Starter Pack contents: Doki-Doki Mail, 16 Personality Quizzes, QT3’s Home Planet, and Tutorial Planet
We want your feedback so please take a moment to take our poll and leave us a comment below. To chat about all things related to PlayStation with a massive community of gamers, head over to the PlayStation Community Forums and make your voice heard.
I think is hilarious the ones who complain about tha PS4 Plus lineup, we pay for PS+ on PS4 to PLAY ONLINE just like the xboxlive service, and in return we get free games! It’s not the same case as ps3 and psvita that the ps+ service is about free games, in the PS4 the focus of the service is keep the online multiplayer and we get an extra with the free games.
Want retail games on ps4? Grow up, get a job and buy your own games!
Thanks once again Playstation Team, awesome lineup, always interested on Strider and Towerfall, but without time to really enjoy these two games, since they’re free I’ll really try and finish them to honour your great service! ehehehe
Hey Fellow Plusers!
If i don’t own a ps vita but want doki doki universe I assume I can download it through the ps web store, but how do I get it on my ps 4 after that? Will it show as free to download in the store once I’ve checked out online?
Thanks for any help,
and super excited for Strider!
These ain’t video games… these are smartphone games
@ luckycreature
You can download it through the web store and it will give you instructions on there to transfer it to your PS4, (if it’s available to play on it) but if you own a PS3 you can get it from there. It’s also cross-buy so it’s playable on your PS3 as well.
Some nice options but nothing for me personally this month. I sincerely needed a month off where I’m not wanting to play all of the offerings as has been the case recently. It’s killing my productivity! :) So, it worked out. Happy that PS+ gives all types of games for all types of gamers.
Thanks Sony for the free games for July. Unlike the people on here who think they are God’s gift to gaming and deserve AAA games all the time for free (BahumatlsBack and Jibjab79) there are people out in the PlayStation ecosystem who play other kinds of games and are grateful that you reward subscribers with free games. You don’t have to, but you do. That is what Bahuma and Jibjab need to realize.
As far as the games go, just Doki-Doki and Muramasa for me as I have everything else. Thanks again!
One issue I’ve had in the past with playstation plus, Once you add a game to plus and download it, when plus runs out you are unable to purchase it. I’ve had this issue ever since day one of Plus.
Does anyone know the name of the song/backtrack playing on the Vessel part of the video?
I already own Dead Space 3 but haven’t completed it yet. Now I’m going to play co-op with a friend who doesn’t own it. Thanks a lot! Nice PS4 titles too, can’t wait to finally try Towerfall.
@90 Tjoeb123
PS3 got NBA 2k14 why couldn’t PS4, I have Killzone already, but they could have put that on plus. Put some real games on the PS4!
There are several people on here who seem to view Sony as Dear Leader (North Korea-style). Seeming almost afraid not to keep praising. There are others who apparently take the opposite view: Any complaint against Sony — or even any complaint at all — must be valid. Obviously, both positions lack merit.
I think all the pissing and moaning posts should be deleted, including this one. :)
OT: Kinda interested in Vessel, I guess. Not so much Dead Space 3. Don’t have the other systems, but as always I’ll grab the PS4 stuff via the web store. Don’t care about handhelds, though. Never have.
It seems we saw the very last weekly Plus post on Monday. So I guess that means the most vicious arguments will now break out in the store update threads each week. Oh, goody. -_-
Excited to finally try Muramasa!
Great!!! I already have Dead Space 1 & 2. Now to complete my collection. I really want to try Muramasa and Doki Doki. This is a nice month for me. ^,..,^
To those saying that PS+ is still an awesome value, it’s not what it used to be, plain and simple. It might be good value if you own and game on multiple systems (PS4, PS3 and Vita). It really depends on many things for others.
The value of a PS+ subscription is tied to what you get out of it. When I was still playing on my PS3, it was relatively good value. When PS+ was available to the Vita, it was awesome. But now that I no longer play with my PS3, my Vita has been the only system on which I could get PS+ content. And over the past couple of months, it’s been very “meh”…. because, you’d have to consider if you’ll actually play the games PS+ gives you.
Also, not having the IGC anymore, PS+ is now even less attractive to system buyers. Before, you’d instantly get many games to play if you bought, let’s say, a Vita. If you were already a PS+ subscriber on PS3 or PS4, getting a Vita was a good deal as you already had many games to play with the IGC.
But like I said previously, having made PS+ mandatory (for multiplayer) on PS4 now, Sony doesn’t feel like they need to make PS+ a good deal since many will subscribe anyway.
Wah wah wah say all the babies. Just for reference to all the baby commenters that can’t do even the simplest of math.
6 games per month
12 months
$50 Playstation Plus
How much are you paying per game babies? Huh? I can’t hear you, you ungrateful little toddlers!
That is 70 cents per game. PER GAME. Or a whopping $4.17 per month. Or 72 games per year!
To all those saying “only one good game this month” – cool. YOU ARE STILL GETTING YOUR MONEYS WORTH. Sure you have to ask your parents for your allowance, but it is still a pretty great deal babies. Stop being unappreciative whiners because it could be worse, you could be on Xbox Live.
BABIES!
WOW! There are so many games I’ve never played. The PS3 line up looks great. Great job Drop Team!
Im not an indie gamer. Got ps plus the day it hit for my ps3. Loved it. Bragged about it and called people crazy not to have it. Some people just dont own a ps4. You can tell. I have two ps4s and two ps plus accounts. I have two ps3s. I have a job, tons of money, and buy the aaa games. They last, are beautiful, keep me really busy, and have many things to do in comparison. My opinion. If you enjoy the indies than you enjoy the smart device games. I bought strider, transistor and they lasted less than mgs gz. Just look at the istore or google play. A lot of these games came from smart devices. The others come from ps3 that i already own. I buy everything. I own ds 3, strider, dont care for vita (doesnt fit hands) Online doesnt seem to exsist for the free games that take longer to dl than to play. I get it. The games are not there. Its up to the developers. Remember awhile back when the industry was in danger? Because of mobile. Now look at the new system. Compare. I dont expect aaa games…yet. But forced to pay online, would be nice to get an online game. Sorry sony, buy two games a month easy, but you lost me. The games are not free. I paid two times over for them and they collect digital dust.
come on sony give ps4 something good. you gave NBA 2k14 to ps3 why not ps4 owners. quit giving away indies on ps4 please listen to your base. we want more then indie games
215 I pay my 50 bucks I have the right to complain if I feel im not getting the service im paying for
@PrimerIncognito
“@ Anyone who feels shafted… just look up at those 6 games being offered for July. Then remember that each month of Plus costs no more than $4.17, and less than that if you signed up during a promo.
Seriously, look at those 6 games up there. Are you really going to say that those 6 games (some of them are really good) are not worth a measly $4.17?”
Doki Doki Universe is worth ~$5 to me and is a game I’ve been interested in. If I was currently subscribed I’d consider it a good month. But since my PS+ lapsed I need more than $5 to jump back in because I had lots of dry months during my previous subscription. I got in on a good month (Jun 2013) and month alone nearly covered my subscription. I don’t expect that good, but about $20 worth. If I had dug Terraria I might have done it last month but I didn’t. Maybe this month’s discounts plus DDU will tip me back in.
Great update! Thanks Sony!
What about the sales this week?
Very Nice month for PS3 and Vita owners.
PS3 is expected with no backwards compatibility even on digital :(
Really wish Dead Space 3 went on a better sale first after buying the first 2, or at least a better way to buy them after IGC.
Muramasa I almost bought, but think baseball, golf, and tennis were better choices.
Thanks, my boys will love this month.
Dante (7) has been eyeing Doki Doki and Octodad.
Plus is almost up again, so go figure.
@211 & @ThumbsofSteel74
Two thumbs UP.
@215 FuntimeBen
Well, now that’s only true if you have all 3 consoles for the games they give. But if you only have one of those, namely a PS3 (like in my case) you only get 24 games a year, and when you compare that to when the service started (which was on PS3) you understand that you are not getting the same deal for your money that made you join.
Before this new change we were getting 12 games right from when you started to pay, then 3 new (rotating) games every month and at the end of the year 3 new “yearly” games. Now do the math:
That is, beside 9 extra initial games (12 – 3 for the month), 36 monthly games + 3 yearly games = 39 games a year only on the PS3. And when you add the PS1 classics, minis, DLC and the constant free avatars and themes (that you got to keep even if your subscription ended), and later the 6 game IGC for PSV, you can understand why many feel cheated and that PS+ is not worth the same anymore.
(continued…)
@215 FuntimeBen (continuation)
In my case, I’m letting my subscription end. Months of not getting any game that I would like to play at least a little or already owning them, added to the decrease in the quality and quantity of the service (in my opinion), and coupled with the fact that I don’t plan to buy any more consoles from Sony in the near future, got me to this decision.
This is my point of view, and just wanted to explain why me and many others feel the way we do. You don’t need to treat other people as ignorant or cry babies just because they don’t feel or think the way you do. Each person has his/her opinion and decide what is worth getting with the money they earn.
To those who need PS+ to play online on PS4 (which I also consider a bad move from Sony) and, in a way, get the games as an extra, and to those who still find the service worth, ENJOY!
@ RRubiC
Cheers, man!
Indeed, those people calling other “crybabies” are probably assuming that everyone here all have a Vita, PS3 and a PS4. In which case, it is indeed a good deal. I don’t have a PS4. And I barely game on my PS3 anymore. PS+ for a Vita alone was justifiable when it arrived on the Vita. Now, not so much. Sony would need to offer something better than indie titles or old PSP or PS1 classics each month. They would need to offer some of their bigger titles to make the service worthy to keep for those who just have a Vita. Little Big Planet, for instance.
So anyway, the next couple of months will be, for me, a make or break affair. So far, July seems “okay”. If Sony can prove me that paying $50 a year for my Vita alone is worth it, I’ll stay. If not, I’ll let my subsription lapse this fall…
And I’m not a crybaby. ;)
@201
i found hilarious that sony fanboy claim ps4 ps+ is better than xbox one live gold
1>sony put multiplayer behind ps+ paywall when is free on ps3 and vita. your reminder what sony did on E3 does not help
2>xboxone network is better than psn
3>xboxone free game policy is same as ps+ now. i wonder when microsoft start offer AAA game as free game when indie-station still offer indie game.
if sony dont have good free game on ps4 ps+, then no reason to stay with ps4. might as go xbox one.
@210
‘in the PS4 the focus of the service is keep the online multiplayer and we get an extra with the free games’
where is the proof that sony spend those ps+ money on better online multiplayer? sony doesnt spend a dime on online multiplayer.
also ps+ is content (free game) membership service. if no good free game, then what is the point getting it? and then why put online membership behind ps+ membership service?
like i said, we dont need your bs to remind us what sony dropped ‘multiplayer behind ps+’ bomb in E3 again. and since ps+ is a content service, then DO YOUR JOB and drop good content on all platform than come up with EXCUSES
Lol i had to sign in just to comment on how great this Month is. PS Plus was one of my greatest investments in gaming. So much good value.
I don’t see why so many people complain about the IGC. You only pay $4 a month. Even if you find one game worth playing across all platforms you still get your moneys worth. I doubt any of these games are selling for $4 or less. If they are then you found a great deal. Even then you get two games on each platform.
@dcrock80
It may just be $4 a month, but if you get 3 or 4 months (or more) without anything interesting for you (I’m only on my Vita, don’t play on PS3 anymore and don’t have a PS4) then it’s not as good a value as it sounds.
If I had a PS4, it might be a different matter. But I don’t. So my PS+ renewal (due this september, I think) only depends if Sony can prove me PS+ is still worthwile until then. July seems fine, but if August and September goes back to the “indies and PSP titles” type of offer, then I think I’ll let my subscription lapse.
It’s not as much about the money than about paying for something that we think isn’t worth it. And this is entirely a personnal opinion. If the games on offer are games you already bought or games you’re not interested in, then it could still be $4 per month, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth it.
It’s all relative. There’s no “universal” rule that makes something worthwhile for everyone under the sun.
Just recently got a vita and I have to say it’s some awesome not to have to actually buy games for it :D All games I’ve downloaded have been from the IGC and now two free games each month. Gotta love it :)
Will Strider be both the PS4 and PS3 version of the game?
Is Strider compatible with PS3? Or just for PS4? Muramasa is cross-buy like Doki Doki?
Finally sth. for Vita. Hopefully they can keep the pace. Overall this is a very good month.
Seems obvious to most people that these games – which have already been released elsewhere – make Plus crap for this month. Why then is there many overly-positive reviews? Is Sony trying to use social conformity to persuade opinions? Hmm.
Add me on X1 – BiscuitsNMaybe
XBOX gold gave 3 xbox 360 games for their anniversary and it’s the real “FREE” because after subscription ends it still yours. Yet here on PS PLUS last june anniversary, they rewarded us by removing yearly titles and still the ps3 games are only subscription base. Since it seems like every now and then we’re getting 1 AAA and 1 Indie ps3 games so they should had at least give it out FULLY free like what XBOX gold did.
@201 – nobody asked you either. It’s funny that you talk about someone being a loser and pitying them when it’s you and your buddy Primero that do nothing but badmouth people on this blog day and night. Oh, and nobody ran away from their problems. You and your buddy aren’t problems. You’re just annoying little gnats buzzing around people’s ears. Sorry that I wasn’t around last night to respond to you in a timely fashion but I have these little things called a job and a life. You should try it sometime. It’s more fulfilling than spending all your time trolling on the Playstation Blog. And this “truth” that you and him keep talking about is just your opinions that you try to state as universal facts. Get over yourselves. Just because you say it’s so, doesn’t make it so
@208 – I don’t know why you felt the need to jump in but apparently you didn’t read my original post and are only going off of what the other two trolls were saying. They weren’t even talking about the same thing that I was talking about. I was talking about the drop of support for Vita and Project Morpheus being an “indie playground” like that’s supposed to be a good thing. I buy the games I want. I don’t need the IGC to give me anything at all, but what you fail to realize and I see this repeated all the time is that these are not, in fact, free games. We pay for them. I really don’t care what they put on there because like I said I’m not broke or cheap and buy what I want, but if you look at the quality of games for the first 6 months of last year and compare them to the first 6 months of this year you’ll see a steep drop in quality
I’m really not happy that Muramasa is the title this month. It just went on sale in May, there needs to be better regulations in place concerning when a title goes up for PS+ as I’m feeling a bit burned. I’d have been comfortable if it was months upon months after the sale but it gives a bad impression when it’s done so soon. Why buy older games when it’ll just arrive on PS+ 1-2 months later.
@ Gamerzlimited
Don’t worry, I’m not taking these guys seriously. Thanks for the support, too.
@ ThumbsOfSteel74
I KNOW you’re not talking about me… ;)
@ MussiBR & FuntimeBen
Exactly. Agreed 100%.
@ RE4LNOiSE_42
That’s the gamble you take when you rely on Plus to be your main source of games. Just like playing a slot machine, you have to go in with realistic expectations. If you really believe you’re going to hit the jackpot on your first try, it probably won’t end well for you. Moral: You should just buy the games you want. PS Plus should be viewed as the cherry on top, not the main course.
@ Bahumat
Dude, you sure cry a lot. Let it go. It’s not that serious. Believe it or not, I have nothing against you. It’s just that sometimes you (and Rez, among others) tend to jump to the most negative possible conclusions about things that you clearly haven’t researched. Always speaking too soon. I only try to give you guys a dose of perspective in hopes that you’ll remember what gaming is all about in the first place – HAVING FUN. You’re sweating the little things way too much. BTW, I did tell you the truth, like I always do.
I don’t cry a lot. I just don’t like you and am not afraid to say so. I don’t like your condescending attitude to everyone on here. I don’t like you you try to demean people when they don’t play your little asinine games. I don’t like how you resort to name calling when you’re not recognized as king interwebz like you try to be. I don’t like how you call everybody stupid that doesn’t agree with you. I don’t like how you keep spouting nonsense like “truth” and feel the need to “correct” people when your truth is nothing but an opinion, and the people you’re correcting didn’t ask for and didn’t need your corrections. You’re just not as important as you pretend to be
Your little dose of perspective had nothing to do with what I was actually talking about like it never does and if you went out and read what the Sony people are saying on other places than this blog then you would clearly see that what I said about the Vita being abandoned (no more first party games – only indies, phone ports, and JRPG translations coming) and the Project Morpheus being an “indie playground” were 100% true. Try google. It’s not speculation. This can easily be found directly quoted by top Sony employees. I’m done with you
I’m not doing any of that. That’s just your perception. Being eternally pessimistic isn’t helping you either.
You’re clearly irritated by the words I say even though all I’ve ever done is spoken firmly, honestly, and to the point with you guys. What else can I think about your reaction other than you must simply hate hearing the cold hard truth? You wouldn’t be the first, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that resist reality. People want to stay in their fantasy worlds… their comfort zones… and when people like me come along and shatter those illusions with the bare bones facts, those people go bonkers. They can’t adjust. But, I’m not the inventor of the truth, I’m just delivering the message. You have a problem with reality and the way the world works, not with me.
My point exactly. Instead of actually addressing what somebody says you resort to calling them crazy and lost to reality. That’s both condescending and demeaning. It’s a daily occurance with you. Keep spouting your truth nonsense. You only make yourself look like the fool when you can’t accept a different perspective than yours. It’s OK if you don’t agree with it but to completely dismiss it as crazy or a work of fantasy outright just shows how close minded, arrogant, and self involved you are. The world’s a lot bigger place than what you see sitting in front of your computer screen. Stop trying to be top dog on a friggin game site. Nobody cares. Nobody’s gonna give you a pat on the back. Nobody’s gonna think you’re cool. Just stop it. Grow up
@ Bahumat
Again I said something true, and you flipped out over it. That’s not my problem.
what about strider for the ps3? please say it will be released at the same time as ps4 version on ps plus? It will feel mighty weird. or r u goin 2 tell to buy it instead?
It’s not about “accepting” a different perspective. I can handle other people’s opinions. Sometimes they’re interesting and thought-provoking. The problem is when folks like you and Rez and a few others present your opinions as if they are unshakable, concrete, universal facts. Don’t speak like you have the facts unless you actually do. I always MAKE SURE I know what I’m talking about before I begin speaking, and if I don’t, I preface my comment with something like, “I’m not sure, but…”.
Your posts are LOADED with speculations, accusations, and presumptions that you imply as reality. Such as your post where you created your own conversation between Sony and their customers. Absolute jibberish. Was Sony supposed to take that seriously?
Like I said, if you want to have your voice heard, throwing out misinformation by the tons is NOT a good way to get your intended target to listen. Sony won’t listen to you when you’re telling them that they are doing things they are not doing. Coincidentally, THEY will look at you as a crazy arrogant fool who’s just going through his daily ego-stroking routine, and will dismiss your demands without batting an eyelash. That’s reality. Learn how to play the game.
@ Bahumat
I explained why the Vita isn’t being fully supported right now, but you ignored the facts, as usual. Do I have to say it again?
OK, one more time…
Support for a platform is a two-way street. The initial investment is made by the manufacturer (Sony, in this case). After the product goes public, the manufacturer and their associates (third-party developers, shareholders, etc.) monitor the response from consumers, and will gauge how to go from there. If the response is largely negative (low sales), then, naturally, the investors will chalk it up as a flop, pull their support, and the few people who bought the product will feel abandoned by the company, even though they were really just part of a demographic too small to have any influence on company decisions.
The Vita is kinda sitting in the middle. Not a complete failure, but also not a resounding success. Both Sony and third-party developers are in this business to make money, obviously. They CAN’T invest in expensive projects for a platform that isn’t showing positive returns. It’s that simple.