July 10, 2012July 10, 2012

PSN PLAY Returns This Month with Four Great Games For the Summer

We’re very happy to announce the return of PlayStation PLAY, our annual summer program showcasing a diverse lineup of great PSN games and special offers. PSN PLAY begins July 24 on PSN when the first game in the lineup becomes available for pre-order, and we have all the info on this summer’s offering.

You may remember my announcement last summer that PLAY would become an annual program. Guess what? It has returned and we do have a stellar line-up of titles for you this year. We’re again offering 20% off each title for PlayStation Plus members for a limited time, and as a bonus this year, we’re giving you cash vouchers to redeemed on PSN for purchasing any two or more of the awesome PSN PLAY titles. Check out what you could get after buying PSN PLAY games:

If you are a fan, you will also appreciate the fact that each of the four PSN PLAY titles in our line-up can be pre-ordered starting a week before they hit the PlayStation Store. Gamers who buy a PSN PLAY game during its pre-order period will receive a PS3 XMB theme of the game. PlayStation®Plus members also get 20% off each title during their pre-order period.

The best thing about PSN PLAY 2012 is still its line-up of great games. They all have something special to offer to PSN gamers.

PLAY The Expendables 2 Videogame (PS3) First On PSN before anyone else!
PLAY Sound Shapes (PS3/PS Vita) Anywhere as we offer the PS3 and PS Vita version of the game for the price of one.
PLAY the indie phenomena Papo & Yo (PS3) Exclusively On PSN
PLAY Counter Strike: Global Offensive (PS3) Hardcore Action with your DualShock or PlayStation®Move controller.

Check out all details about the four PSN PLAY games:

July 31: The Expendables 2 Videogame (PS3) – Leading off the PLAY promotion and launching first exclusively on PSN, the latest and most explosive co-op action shoot’em up title coming to PSN, based on the popular movie franchise this game leads players right into the upcoming The Expendables 2 movie. The story begins when four Expendables (Barney, Gunner, Caesar and Yin Yang) are hired to rescue an extremely valuable, kidnapped Chinese billionaire. Featuring vehicular combat, four-player co-op story and challenge modes, and a wealth of exotic locales, The Expendables 2 Videogame offers everything an action-game fan could want. Pre-order The Expendables 2 Videogame starting July 24 for $14.99 ($11.99 for PLUS members) and check out the following trailer.

August 7: Sound Shapes (PS3/PS Vita) – Play, Compose and Share in a unique take on the classic sidescrolling platformer where your actions make the music. Equal parts instrument and game, Sound Shapes gives everyone the ability to make music. Play through a unique campaign that fuses music and artwork into a classic 2D platformer featuring artwork by Pixeljam, Capy, Superbrothers and more, with music by I Am Robot and Proud, Jim Guthrie and Deadmau5. Additionally, Sound Shapes comes to the PLAY program as a cross-platform title, allowing players to play at home on their PS3, or take it on the go with PlayStation Vita. Create and upload your levels on either platform for others to download and remix on their own. Sound Shapes creates an ever-changing musical community for everyone to enjoy, anywhere. Pre-order Sound Shapes starting July 31 for $14.99 ($11.99 for PLUS members).

August 14: Papo & Yo (PS3) – PSN exclusive indie game Papo & Yo tells the story of a young boy, Quico, and his best friend, Monster. Taking place in a dreamlike world inspired by South American favelas, Papo & Yo entices players to explore and solve puzzles as Quico, while simultaneously preventing Monster from eating poisonous frogs, which throws him into an uncontrollable rage. As one of PSN’s most-anticipated indie titles, Papo & Yo is a truly unique and beautiful experience that players can only get on PSN. Pre-order Papo & Yo starting August 7 for $14.99 ($11.99 for PLUS members).

August 21: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PS3) – One of the gaming world’s most celebrated first-person shooter series makes its way to PSN with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, offering an updated take on the tried-and-true objective-based gameplay. Pitting teams of counter-terrorists against terrorists, Global Offensive features a number of classic game types like Bomb Diffusal and Hostage Rescue, and introduces two new modes: Arms Race and Demolition. Up to 10 players can engage in online matches, and the game also supports PlayStation Move, giving players a brand new way to experience the classic Counter-Strike gameplay. Pre-order Counter-Strike: Global Offensive starting August 14 for $14.99 ($11.99 for PLUS members).

Don’t forget to take advantage of each game’s limited-time 20% discount if you are a PlayStation Plus member, and keep your eyes on the PlayStation Blog for full blog posts on each of the PSN PLAY titles soon! For more information about PSN PLAY and the rest of the lineup of games available on PlayStation Network, please visit www.us.playstation.com/PSNplay.

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80 Comments

6 Author Replies

Elvick_
July 10, 2012 at 9:04 am PDT

Sound Shapes and Papo & Yo for me.
Link2999
July 10, 2012 at 9:10 am PDT

Sound Shapes and Papo & Yo for me as well. Factoring in the $3 it’ll be like $21 for both (3 games for me since you get Sound Shapes for the Vita & PS3 at the $11.99 price)
Craigums
July 10, 2012 at 9:10 am PDT

I think I need to buy all 4 games
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 11:37 am PDT
  
  Cool to hear that! ;-) BTW,… if you are in Sothern California this week, make sure to check the games at SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON starting on July 12 (in 2 days!). All 4 PSN PLAY games will be demoable at the Sony booth! Some gifts are waiting for you if you try the PSN PLAY games there.
DaMann22
July 10, 2012 at 9:10 am PDT

@1, same for me also. I would go with CS:Go but m/kb is much better than controller anyday.
Neil
July 10, 2012 at 9:10 am PDT

Sounds Shapes and Papa & Yo for me.
DZORMAGEN
July 10, 2012 at 9:13 am PDT

Sound Shapes, Papo & Yo fir sure buys and maybe The Expendables 2 Videogame. I like this offer where I buy games, and get money back!! Thank you!
NinjaQ9000
July 10, 2012 at 9:15 am PDT

Counter Strike here I come. :D
detictiveconan
July 10, 2012 at 9:16 am PDT

I’ll probably get Sound Shapes and maybe Papo & Yo but is Papo & Yo really out on a Friday?
MushThePainter
July 10, 2012 at 9:17 am PDT

Sound shapes and papo & yo!!!
detictiveconan
July 10, 2012 at 9:18 am PDT

Wait a minute, all the dates are different in the image then from whats in the description. Which is correct?
- Morgan Haro
  July 10, 2012 at 9:42 am PDT
  
  The 7/24 – 8/27 date on the image spans from the start of pre-order to the end of PSN PLAY. But! I do see that the date for Paop and Yo on the image is wrong =| it should be August 14th.
ChaseHammerJ
July 10, 2012 at 9:20 am PDT

The Expendables 2 video game, so filled with blood boiling action and excitement the sequel superseded itself.
Heavenly_king
July 10, 2012 at 9:20 am PDT

nothing for me here :(
DasRequiem
July 10, 2012 at 9:23 am PDT

Sound Shapes is a must have. Papo & yo looks great also. I didn’t even know the expendable game existed but it looks like a lot of fun. I want to see more of it.
Elvick_
July 10, 2012 at 9:27 am PDT

I know this is unrelated, but just found out the Angry Birds trilogy is coming to PS3, 360, and 3DS.

And wanted to say, make it happen on PS Vita. It’s a pretty important ‘get’ even if people dislike mobile games, and the platform makes the most sense for the game.
DKShadow
July 10, 2012 at 9:29 am PDT

Last year I got 3 of the 4 titles on offer. This year, however, it seems I wont be getting any of them. Too bad.
Souledge94
July 10, 2012 at 9:30 am PDT

Is this it for the summer sales in geniral?
- Morgan Haro
  July 10, 2012 at 9:43 am PDT
  
  this is its own unique promotion. Although yes, it is a promotion happening in the summer, so there’s that. But it has nothing to do with last week’s Summer Sale discount event. PSN PLAY is for new releases specifically.
Darth-Krayt
July 10, 2012 at 9:37 am PDT

Unfortunately out of these four games, I’m really only interested in one of them. So I won’t be able to get any money back, but still…….a PS3 version of CounterStrike for $12 is a great deal. One sale here for sure.
Cyb3rfr34k-iso
July 10, 2012 at 9:41 am PDT

lame!
Cyb3rfr34k-iso
July 10, 2012 at 9:42 am PDT

you guyz better take your money and buy a PS3 Full game titles!
Elvick_
July 10, 2012 at 9:43 am PDT

@15: No… this is just the same Play thing from last year. Basically used to promote new titles, and give discounts for PS+ and benefits to all for buying multiple ones. Kind of like what MS does each summer.
CYBER_SCEXX
July 10, 2012 at 9:44 am PDT

yo morgan i dont like you at all :D
Megadrixfire_24
July 10, 2012 at 9:45 am PDT

so if i want counter strike global offensive i can pre order the game a week before it hits the psstore to get the 20% discount? how? in the psstore there will be a button to pre order it?
God-Of-Lyf
July 10, 2012 at 9:47 am PDT

This pre-sale sale looks like a gimmick to me just to lock in money on games that are over priced to begin with. These games listed are sure to be plus freebies somewhere down the line so I will wait. And if they don’t make the cut, I believe I can live without them anyways. This if a big fat pass for me…
SAMUEL-SKY
July 10, 2012 at 9:48 am PDT

we need to be able to sort our games by “NAMES TITLES” (ALPHABETICALLY).
boomstickbhg
July 10, 2012 at 9:49 am PDT

Nice idea/concept but so far for me, 2 years in a row of big dissapointment.

I have zero interest in these games which is a shame because there are a lot of good PSN games I buy as soon as they are released.

Last years games I had 0 interest in as well. Even with recent sales dropping those games as low as 5$ I don’t want them, wouldn’t even download them for Free as a Plus member if I could.

So is this just a way to try to get people to buy some of the worst psn games you have coming out? Or am I just unlucky that none of them have been my kind of game/good to me?
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 10:15 am PDT
  
  Sorry to hear that. Please check all the nominations and awards that Sound Shapes and Papo & Yo have collected during last E3. Great games! Also, I am excited to finally be able to play Counter Strike on my PlayStation 3. As for The Expendables 2, I had the chance to try it already and I can tell you that it is a lot of fun to blow everything up in the game. Hope you will change your mind and maybe at least check the PLAY game trailers and the demos (when available)… :-)
SAMUEL-SKY
July 10, 2012 at 9:49 am PDT

i think exactly the same as you God-Of-Lyf!
im tired of thoses overpriced 5$ games to start with.
davivman
July 10, 2012 at 9:50 am PDT

I definately need to get some expendibles 2. The gameplay looks similar to Dead Nation.
DrPhiill
July 10, 2012 at 9:51 am PDT

Sound Shapes and some good old CS for me this summer! :D cant wait to pewpew some Pc friends over the steam conection Ps3 have! Woowoohooo
Triptent
July 10, 2012 at 9:53 am PDT

Will any of these games include a platinum trophy? (Specifically CS:GO)
GABRIEL-ODIN
July 10, 2012 at 9:54 am PDT

yeh what about been not able to sort our games by Alphabetical order?!?!?
SONY are you stupid?
DaMann22
July 10, 2012 at 9:55 am PDT

MORGAN, just to be clear. If i buy sounds shapes on the vita I get the ps3 version as well? And secondly, the vita version qualifies for the PSN Play promotion?
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 10:22 am PDT
  
  Yup! You are correct. You will get the PS3 version of Sound Shapes free when you buy the PS Vita version (and vice versa) whwther you buy it on the PS Vita Store or the PS3 Store. Also, if you are a PS PLUS member, the PS Vita version is discounted 20% off as well during its launch week starting 8/7. You will also qualify for the PSN PLAY promotion whether you buy your PSN PLAY games on PS3 or on PS Vita (for Sound Shapes).
yasuki07
July 10, 2012 at 9:58 am PDT

i want to know the mystery behind why there is no way to sort our games by alphabetical order in the XMB?
nikrel
July 10, 2012 at 9:59 am PDT

Buying Sound Shapes day one!

Something else I would love to buy day 1?
Borderlands Vita.
Gearbox wants it to happen looks like they just want some Sony support. Could someone weigh in on this one please?

Thanks.
GT_168
July 10, 2012 at 10:03 am PDT

Is this where you buy these games and you get credited the $3/$6/$10 later in your wallet?
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 10:29 am PDT
  
  Yup! At the end of the PLAY promotion by 7/28, we will count how many of the PSN PLAY games you have purchased and will send you a sweet cash voucher of $3, $6 or $10 depending on the number of PLAY games you purchased during the program (7/24 – 8/27). The cash voucher will be delivered directly to your account mail box on your PS3 by September 7th at the latest. Please make sure to check your PS3 XMB message box then and enjoy the cash for anything Sony Entertainment Network can offer from Downloadable games (on PSN), to Music (Music Unlimited)through Movie for rent/own (Video Store and Video Unlimited). :-)
CloudStrife768
July 10, 2012 at 10:22 am PDT

So with Sound Shapes, how will it work if we want to buy it for both systems? Are there 2 separate prices for both? Will it be a lump sum for both? Buy one get the other one cheaper?
archockey
July 10, 2012 at 10:25 am PDT

Call it a grudge. But lest we forget that Arnold Schwarzenegger came out and was against violent video games. As he is a part of the Expendables 2 I feel that it is only appropriate to boycott this game, 1) For the blatent attack at the video gaming world and 2) taking a cue from the ex Governator everyone shouldn’t buy this game because of the violence in it. :p Other then that the other three games look great and I will most likely be picking those up. :)
Motherboop
July 10, 2012 at 10:29 am PDT

Nice lineup – do any of these jawns have a platinum?
Fearse
July 10, 2012 at 10:46 am PDT

I Pre-Ordered NCAA Football 13 from PSN and it still is not up for Download why
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 11:23 am PDT
  
  If you pre-ordered NCAA Football 13, the game is now available in the PS Store (free for you since you pre-ordered it). We do not have currenlty a autodownload feature on for pre-orders just yet. That said, we will send you a link to your game by Friday in your Account’s PS3 XMB message box if you have not downloaded it already.
KwietStorm
July 10, 2012 at 11:00 am PDT

Does Counter Strike not support keyboard and mouse anymore?
DuoMaxwell007
July 10, 2012 at 11:03 am PDT

play is pretty weak this year, last year we had bloodrayne, payday (if you got all 4), renegade ops and street fighter 3.. the only one i didnt care for was deathspank..

this year on the other hand the only one I care about is counter strike

though on the bright side so far all the PSN game I want this year are getting PSN discounts.. hopefully the same can be said about tony hawk pro skater HD, double dragon neon and the dark souls dlc (though I rarely see dlc discounts for ps+ so that ones just wishful thinking) and Ill be happy.
Link01
July 10, 2012 at 11:07 am PDT

*sigh* if there was something I wanted next to Sound Shapes, I’d dive into this promotion. Otherwise… there isn’t a wide variety.
boomstickbhg
July 10, 2012 at 11:07 am PDT

I appreciate the reply.

While I have no interest in these particular games based on the descriptions, I will certainly check the trailers and demos when I see them come out, for a proper look at the games.

But generally speaking it’s not my area of gaming. I play mostly RPGs and sports games. Plenty of exceptions though like the Infamous, Uncharted, R&C games, etc… But 2/4 of the PLAY games are shooters which I’m not into, except for ones with the great characters/stories like Uncharted.
- Pierre Gravereau
  July 10, 2012 at 11:26 am PDT
  
  Boomstickbbhg I would not have guessed you are actually a RPG player… bc of your KZ Avatar picture. ;-) Be sure to check Papo & Yo though,… it is actually a really cool story.
Mikaa1701
July 10, 2012 at 11:07 am PDT

Nothing for Vita even offered?

While the games are a decent offering, nothing screams out “must own” with the possible exception of the new variant on Counter Strike.

Not interested.
Mikaa1701
July 10, 2012 at 11:08 am PDT

Scratch the Vita comment. Just saw Sound Shapes. But only one?
AguilarX
July 10, 2012 at 11:08 am PDT

i guess im getting $10 bucks then. people will dismiss expendables right away but Sony made sure of all the games quality before they can be included in the PLAY promotion. they want people to buy all 4 so why would they stick in a lame game? just like last years promotion im sure ill be satisfied.

can i use mouse/keyboard for CS GO?
Darth-Krayt
July 10, 2012 at 11:13 am PDT

Oh, I just wanted to give some feedback for your PSN pre-ordering program you’ve started up.

First of all, it’s genius. And is likely going to bring in ALOT more digital customers. Which IMO is not only good for developers and the gaming industry (as long as it’s done the right way), but also probably pretty good for the earth in terms of manufacturing/shipping polution and energy use, as well as no waste.

But if you want to attract even more digital consumers with promotions like this, I suggest 2 things.

1) Stop offering Themes for pre-ordering. Offer in game content. Like an extra weapon, or camo, something like that for Counterstrike. Levels, characters…….in game content is what attracts the most pre-orders. I’m going to pre-order CSGO because of the price drop, I’m not even going to download that theme. I would put PSN avatars in between the two. But in-game content is KING.

And 2) Allow people who pre-order to download at midnight instead of having to wait for the public store update.
Statik19
July 10, 2012 at 11:13 am PDT

Sounds & Shapes looks interesting, and its a bonus that Sony is making it available to both PS3 & Vita as one purchase. That’s the best deal.
I’d be willing to try Counter Strike again, last time I played it was on the computer years ago.
Popo & Yo looks interesting, I’ll have to look into that title more.
I’m not really interested in The Expendables, seems kind of pointless if you can be Chuck Norris, all the attack buttons will be round hound kicks to the face and I’ll automatically win. Not much of a challenge there. Speaking of Chuck Norris, did you know Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves?
boxmyth
July 10, 2012 at 11:13 am PDT

I’m really looking forward to Sound Shapes, both on the go and on my big ol’ HDTV.
luvtoseek
July 10, 2012 at 11:22 am PDT

@14, is Rovio developing this? Why isn’t the Vita a release platform? Weird, being they have tons of capital to attach their IP everywhere.

@22, this deal is pretty awsome for + members. I can understand that you don’t like the selections but it’s a great deal.
D-Squad3
July 10, 2012 at 11:25 am PDT

Hmm, these games are interesting but also kinda expensive to get a couple. There are still a bunch of full retail games I’m gonna get and buying these PSN games will just kill my wallet. :(