PlayStation Plus Update: Guardians of Middle Earth Free; Karateka 50% Off

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PlayStation Plus Update: Guardians of Middle Earth Free; Karateka 50% Off

Welcome to this week’s PlayStation Plus update, where we’re excited to bring news that the Guardians of Middle Earth MOBA greatness will be coming free to PS3 for PS Plus members! If you’ve never tried this unique genre that’s taking the gaming community by storm, give Guardians of Middle Earth a download and see what all the excitement is about. While you’re at it, check out a handful of discounts on some pretty amazing games you may have missed out on for both PS3 and PS Vita.

Friendly reminder: The deal is on through March 4th: purchase a one-year membership of PS Plus and get three bonus months free. Current members can stack this value on to their existing membership as well. Learn more about the offer here, or click the link below to go to the SEN online store.

Don’t have PlayStation Plus, or just want to add more time to your existing membership? 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 5th PlayStation Plus Update

Guardians of Middle Earth (PS3)

Free for PS Plus members (Original Price: $14.99)

Take up arms in the clash over Middle-earth with the most powerful heroes from the greatest fantasy epic of all time. Form alliances with and against friends and jump into the wildly popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) gameplay. With 20 iconic guardians from Middle-earth, and new guardians coming all the time, it’s the perfect time to get lost in the multiplayer fray in epic 5 versus 5 battles.
Karateka (PS3)

50% off for PS Plus members (Original price: $9.99; PS Plus price: $5.00)

A beautifully simple premise with a fun pick up and play fighting system, Karateka blends old school gameplay charm with fluid combat animations and gorgeous backdrops and music to provide an amazing adventure with a ton of replay value. Are you skilled enough to rescue Princess Mariko with the fighting finesse of her True Love? Or will you need the power of the burly brute to topple the opposition? For more on Karateka, check out PS.Blog’s post from Assistant Producer Heather d’Evelyn.

Big Sky Infinity (PS3 and PS Vita – Cross Buy Enabled)

40% off for PS Plus members (Original price: $9.99; PS Plus price: $5.99)

Big Sky Infinity is a lightning-fast, randomly-generated game that adapts to how you play; which means, it’s never the same game twice. You pilot a spaceship that’s flying straight into an alien armada. The further you progress, the harder it gets, with giant bosses, streams of enemies, and unique events that shift the gameplay to keep you on your toes. It’s Cross Buy enabled, so this purchase will get you a version to play on both your PS Vita and PS3. Check out more Big Sky Infinity from the game’s director James Whitehead.

Knytt Underground (PS3 and PS Vita – Cross Buy Enabled)

40% off for PS Plus members (Original price: $9.99 $14.99; PS Plus price: $5.00 $8.99)

Knytt Underground tells a quirky and strange tale that’s set in the future, hundreds of years after the humans disappeared from the planet. Sprites, fairies and various other lifeforms roam tunnels in the underground. With a curiousity about their origin and the meaning of life, they strike out to find those answers they try to understand the ones who had obviously figured it out: the humans. It’s a beautiful adventure with a vast environment to explore and story driven quests that will keep you hooked. Read more about Knytt Underground in the PS Blog’s post featuring the Creative Director Nicklas Nygren.

Thanks for reading this week’s update. As usual, you can join the PlayStation community over on the PlayStation Community Forums in the PS Plus space to continue chatting about PS Plus, or find other PlayStation topics to discuss, or even start one yourself. See you in the comments!

PlayStation Plus Update 2-4-2013

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877 Comments

12 Author Replies

  • I just subscribed a one year PS+ about 2 weeks ago. One reason to do it, was the instant game collection. I was so excited about this uptade… Every day in this blog to see the update. But, for my surprise, what a disappointment.

    Since its fun, i don’t mind if the US PS+ game is cheaper than the one offfered in the EU.

    This month, i’ll pass.

    And for a 1st impression of PS+ for me, this one, was not so good.
    Hope next month, could be a real good game regardless the price

  • why Sony doesn´t listen to the customer , every one ask for sleeping dogs ever since it was announce that Europe will get it, and you five us this?, a cheap game with a lot of dlc, i think is better to create a European account and get the game they get, having a us account is a ripoff

  • First off great update guys but and there is a big BUT

    Some people are going to complain regardless of how good this update simply because the EU update is arguably seen as better with Sleeping Dogs being their.

    Its like having tins and on their birthday both get cake and ice cream (which is awesome) but then the parents one kid a whistle. The other twin is naturally going to be jealous and wonder why didn’t I get a whistle.

    This needs to be fixed otherwise you risk angry customers on either side of the Atlantic.

    Maybe make one BIG plus update and let us pick the content we want. 12 POINTS FOR EVERYONE PS3 GAMES 4 POINTS VITA GAMES 3 POINTS PS2 GAMES 2 POINTS PS1 GAMES 1 POINT.. Spend your points create your own update avoid all the criticism we’d love it.

    PLEASE RESPOND

  • @USCCM

    No u cannot compare EU plus with NA plus, they have region discrepencies. NA plus team’s members hands are tied they cant give u the details of whether the game can be given in the coming months or not because they dont get the publishers to give the games which they actually wanted to have a deal on.

    How can u dare him to give 59 replies? EU plus members gives positive comments and it makes the coordinater happy and reply to the comments whereas here there is only lot of complainers, y u even think he will go thru the comments when he sees 80% of the posts are hatred comments. It’s u customers making him not to give 59 replies. Show SCEA some for GOME, see how many replies u get.

  • Big hoot for Big Sky Infinity and Knytt Underground at 50% off?

    PS+ EU got it for free months ago when on the day they were released. Justify that, Morgan.

  • Morgan, so tired of hearing these kids complain.

    You guys really need to implement a way to cancel even if it means getting a refund in the form of store credit and prorated (used 2 months of subscription, only get 10 months worth of subscription back in the form of a PS credit).

    Maybe if you do this, so many of these kids will quit coming here with their unfounded excuses of why PS+ is not worth it and just go away.

    Week after week, you can never win them even with constant sales/games given away no matter what the content is.

  • @BlueBl1zzard

    Aw man I thought I was done here for the day! :P

    I’ll rush this answer since I’m done work in another half hour and will be busy at home for the rest of the night, If I don’t reply today to anything, I should have a reply by tomorrow morning.

    I have absolutely no complaints with NA’s PS Plus, I already got my money’s worth with the initial IGC (LBP2 and Infamous 2, both great games). Furthermore, I am continuing to get savings and free games throughout the year. I’d be a fool to complain against PS Plus if everyone was getting the same value, but this isn’t the case.

    2K$ savings for NA, that’s fine and dandy. How much savings for EU? That’s the question.

    Anyway, since free games are not what you signed up for, then none of this really speaks to you anyway. However, let’s talk about things that do matter to you. If you signed up for the cloud saves, how would you feel if EU got 2G of saves rather than 1? Would you complain? What if you signed up for the sales? If EU got a different sale of higher percentages on games that are much more recent compared to NA, would you complain?

    (continued)

  • @BlueBl1zzard

    (continued)

    We can keep going along this logic, but I am speaking about the overall value of the service. Not JUST free games, or JUST cloud saves. If you put the overall value of NA’s Plus next to EU, it’s dwarfed. Do you still not agree? And please do not argue subjectively, as if I argued subjectively I’d be completely on your side. Between my two subscriptions I am completely swamped with games (plus I bought Walking Dead, Sly Collection and Enslaved over the weekend, so more free games would only be a burden).

    Objectively, as a value for all, Americans are getting screwed for value compared to their European counterparts. I just want to know why, don’t you?

  • @purse317 – what if all the 12 points were not used, till the subscription end date?

  • @Morgan Haro i have a legitimate question for you sir.
    this is my 3 rd week of playstation plus after being sold on “amazing free ps3 titles” but so far the only ps3 game was (darksiders) one i already own.
    i don’t own a vita so i kind of feel left out.
    i cant say i am disappointed with the service.. far from it i am very happy with it…. until i see the EU list.. them i feel sadness and despair..lol
    SO MY QUESTION IS THIS.
    why cant we get a list for the month,like the EU guys just got?
    i am sure this would help sells as everyone wouldn’t be afraid to buy the games on sale in fear that they might get them free next week.
    also if we know we are getting a kick ass full ps3 game at the end of the month it makes the 3 weeks of 8 bit redo’s and psn titles bearable… know what i mean?
    i feel we should get a monthly plus update like the european service gets..
    unless you guys aren’t organized enough to do that.. in which case you should jump on a conference call with the EU team and learn a few things.

  • @USCCM

    Again, its the publishers choice, he can do nothing abt this, thats y u get foosball for free last month.

  • I bought Guardians of Middle Earth when it was released on PSN for 15 bucks. I also bought the season pass. I think they did an excellent job of tailoring the MOBA format for the console experience. I’m a little sour that I could have saved 15 dollars if I had just waited 2 weeks, but I’m happy with the time I’ve spent playing the game; so I can’t complain. I’ve looked at the current line up for PS Plus EU and it’s not that much better right now. I’ve heard of them getting Red Dead Redemption and Arkham City for free, though. I’m sure there are reasons why we can’t have these games. Licensing and red tape have a lot to do with it, I’m sure. There could be a little more dialogue from the admins on the Blog; sharing reasons why it’s not possible for us to have these games. Morgan, I appreciate your position and I’m not at all blaming you – as I’m aware you’re not the party responsible for the decision making process. However, I would urge you to be a bit more vocal and hands on. Show us you’re on our side and are empathetic to the PS PLUS community’s concerns. I’m sure there wouldn’t be nearly as much bickering if there was more of a dialogue.

  • @JoeGoodsnake

    Yes, Enslaved new copy was 9.99 at best buy

    He doesn’t want to know the answer, cuz he’s getting his money’s worth of service and wishes all of us should feel the same and not ask answers from scea.

  • Oh wow. We get a LotR MOBA, while all those European suckers get is crummy old Sleeping Dogs. Boy, we sure have it a lot better than them, huh?

  • Terrible, we want sleeping dogs.

    Lame update

  • @ShaunTheTroll

    LOL! u r such a troll.

  • Holy crap, there’s a lot of crybabies on here.

  • Been noticing all the complaints about playstation plus the Europe gets this wh y not us complaints and I have an idea it’s gotten good response before so I’m pitching it to you guys.

    I propose a totally revamped plus system based on points. Sony creates a giant plus update biweekly and each week plus subscribers get 12 points to spend ps3 games cost 3 points, ps2 games 2 points, ps1 games 1 point. Vita games get a point value, psn only games get a point value, avatar packs or theme packs get a point value, and subscribers get to spend their points as they see fit creating their own unique plus update. Users that don’t spend all their points get to keep 1/2 for the next update. Hows that sound to you guys

  • @JoeGoodsnake ok you said, “I am speaking about the overall value of the service. Not JUST free games, or JUST cloud saves. If you put the overall value of NA’s Plus next to EU, it’s dwarfed.”

    Well what all are you including in the “overall value”? Cause as far as I see, (and correct me if I’m wrong) pretty much the only thing that seperates EU’s Plus and our NA Plus is the different free games (which is where a majority of the complaints come from), a different selection of games with discounts, sales, etc. (not saying one’s better than the other), and the price of the service. Am I missing something? Because I’m pretty sure just about everything else is the same.

    @sab_krit No one’s saying you can’t ask questions from SCEA. Actually I want them to answer the question as to what exactly is the reason behind the different regions’ different games, if it would get the whiners to finally be quiet. But something tells me even if they came out with an official answer, it wouldn’t change a thing.

  • @purse317 That seems like a decent idea. However I see two potential problems with your suggestion.

    1) There would still likely be a difference in the types of games between the different regions, and thus still more complaining.

    2) People who are content with Plus how it currently is may feel like they are now getting less value, as they now have to choose between stuff, when they previously received it all.

  • @BlueBl1zzard,

    Somehow I think even if a lot of these people got what they wanted, they would still find something to complain about. I’m 100% sure their habits wouldn’t just stop.

    People like them always find something to argue about, its how they are.

  • @Morgan Haro – Honestly region to region on free content, sort of makes you like your lying if you look at it from a certain perspective. I can appreciate the fact that Sony works that we get the good stuff and tries to hit everyone’s tastes. But looking at it as EU vs NA and the publishers nonsense in the mix, how do you figure EU gets the same pretty much free content with subscription with other exclusives. I’ve already seen at least 4 or 5 people state EU games with plus that we just literately received a couple months ago. How come NA doesn’t get their own exclusives? No love for NA with exclusives? How do you answer that, counter-react to that. Publishers care more for EU than NA? It doesn’t seem like they value our services if we can’t even get our own exclusives. The only game I had any real enjoyment playing while being on this year subscription was infamous 2 and I will be honest, I did not expect to like it because I couldn’t really get into the first one at all. I’ve given all these games a fair chance played into them for a little and couldn’t get into it past what would be worth a demo on most.

  • We want Sleeping Dogs!!!!

  • You people are so disgusting and predictable. They were all “boo-hoo’ing” over Europe getting Guardians and we didn’t. The post a couple weeks later stating we’re getting it…..and just as I preducted…..they’re all crying about the “crappy game” we’re getting. You people turn my stomache.

    I’m THRILLED we’re getting Guardians. I REALLY wantted to, and fully planned on buying it right up until it released. But I ended up so disappointed with one aspect of the game, I didn’t deem it worthy of a buy. And that’s the fact that with the VAST amouont of unique locations in the LotR universe that would be so easy to create simple symetrical lane maps from…they release this game with a single locatiion. Rediculous. But for free, I’ll gladly be playing this game. I may just buy the season pass as well.

  • I just came here to whine like a child like everyone else.

    (throws arms in the air and throws a tantrum) SLEEEPING DOGS SLEEPING DOGS SLEEPING DOGS1$^@ BAH WAH! BAH WAH! SLEEPING DOOOGS WAAHH

    But in all seriousness, i’ve never heard of the game but it looks more intriguing than past releases.

    As for those who are whining please try to remember you’re only paying about $50 a year for all these free games and steep discounts and even if they gave you nothing but $5 games you’d still be exceeding the price of your subscription.

    And secondly, BUY SLEEPING DOGS. It’s not very expensive (I got a used copy for $20) and it’s a great game. I felt so bad for paying only $20 for it so I grabbed every single bit of DLC for it. The publisher definitely deserves the money for such a excellent game.

  • @Darth-Krayt – Link that post over to me. I want to see that, and also. You sure its the same people?

  • @komentra

    Damn it, thats right, stop complaining abt the NA+ looking like a spec in fromt of EU+. it will always be the same. Buy the game from the stores used one for 20 bucks which EU gets in their IGC for their subscription, since NA+ is incapable of doing the same. NA+ will be always be worst compared to EU+ deal with it and stop complaining.

    I agree with u komentra, NA+ will never get good updates for its customers, if they want it they should buy it from the store or wait for one or two years for it be a bargain bin game and NA+ will give it in their IGC for u.

  • @komentra – hmm… no comment. nothing really intelligent said there.

  • Hey Morgan I for one like this update, its a game I don’t have n I love lord of the rings so win win for me, but reading others post ….all I can say is wow, now I have an idea that maybe was thought bout or maybe not, relay this to the powers that be over at sony Morgan , what if u compiled a group of wanted games by us plus members n have us vote on it, u already have a poll system in place to see if we like what’s being put out n a poll system to see what we type of games we would like to see but what bout actually giving the members the power to choose what we want? Perhaps u can do a trail run to see how effictive it is n if it works yay I’m a genius lol. On behalf of myself I would like to thank u Morgan n all at Sony for giving me n all of us gamers a chance to be heard, keep up the good work!

  • @komentra What? Buying……a game?….That I want….? RIDICULOUS!

  • lol @DonkeyKongKilla – he is another one of those complainers who whine abt the complainers. No ways they can be changed. its the part of the community. Let him complain.

  • The sense of entitlement here is staggering. The value you derive from a P+ subscription is unlike anything else in the gaming industry today? Want the EU offering? Simple. Get an EU account. That’s what I did, which is why I’ve NEVER had a reason to complain. Or you can just buy the freakin game. Geez! Every week it’s the same whining on this blog about the same issues. Are some people just allergic to pulling out there wallets and spending some money? I prefer discounts so I can spend money on the newer titles.

  • @sab_krit – I’m just stunned by things and could break the whole thing down so severely I’d make him/her think about everything before exaggerating the community.

  • @BlueBl1zzrd

    Thats right buy the games u want, NA+ will never provide it. U will only get cheap cra**y games with NA+ but hey it still fills some place in ur hard drive who gives a care if its dump. We NA+ users should always adore dumps like these and should not complain abt how bad NA+ is compared to EU+.

  • Not remotely interested in MOBA games. So, for the fifth week in a row, “nothing for me.” Sleeping Dogs does look sweet, though (loved True Crime). Might go buy it used, seeing as we’re unlikely to get it in NA until it hits the bargain bin.

  • My post wasn’t directed at anybody in particular so no flame posts please

  • Why are uninformed gamers still comparing regions when it comes to what Sony can give away for free. You people need to understand America is by far and away the biggest console software market in the world. There are Bargain bins not only in stores with electronics sections, but in nearly every single convenience store on every corner in America. This is not the case in Europe where there aren’t video game bargain bins every 5 feet. What does this have to do with anything?

    Arkham City for example, in bargain bins at $20, could easily sell an additional 1 million brand new copies a year for multiple years in a row in America. Even if publishers only got $5 out of that $20, that $5 million dollars a year in the American market. Now I understand in American society today all you young kids didn’t read your history books so you all seem to think like socialists, so you believe it should be easy for a company to just give away millions of dollars to make YOU happy, but in the real world that’s not easy.

  • Atrocious update…

  • @JoeGoodsnake

    I agree with your right to complain, but I don’t believe for one minute that the complaints about NBA Jam resulted in less than 2 weeks that they gave up darksiders. Darksiders was in the product pipeline for PS+ in NA for months before NBA Jam was given away. Purely coincidence that it was given after people complained.

    @The Blog
    I understand all the arguments for and against, and it makes the day go by faster seeing the comments drama. I think I, and maybe Sony, would rather see list wars of games to come to PS+ rather then threats of cancel or wanting Morgan fired. Having said that I do wish Morgan could get his boss to be a bit more open on the blog and be able to tell us or hint of future content like EU does.

    @USCCM,

    They set the poll to private because prior to that the comment discussion was “See look at the poll, everybody think this is horrible”. They want feedback, they want “can I have Sleeping Dogs please”, not “See 59% of the poll said this is bad, do yer job sony.”

  • Interesting update; they all cant be blockbusters. I’m a huge League of Legends player and while GoME might not be enough to pull me away from that it’ll be interesting to try out. The sale on the other hand is a bit lackluster, if only you guys haven’t spoiled us with awesome sales before.

  • All of you that come on here to complain about the whiners are basically doing the same thing and yes I’m complaining about you know so who cares. Let people voice their opinions. They have every right to if they shelled out their own money for a service they are not happy with. Most people just want our NA Plus to be comparable to EU Plus. So far it hasn’t been. We have received some great games but we have also got a ton of crap.

    I don’t want what EU has I just want stuff that is in the same ball field. Guardians may be a good game but it shure as hell doesn’t compare to Sleeping Dogs. Plus it’s a MP only game and a MOBA which is a small niche of people. Make it equal for all of Plus. If we get 2 full PS3 games this month than so should EU and vise versa.

    Plus we keep getting horrible response from the blog crew that never really seems to answer or satisfy a lot of questions. What ever happen to going back to a full month preview of Plus. It was voted on and that’s what the majority wanted. Morgan says things take time but I never realized it would take longer than 6 months. If I’m going to be disappointed I’d rather see it all at once instead of this once a week crap,

  • @sab_krit What I don’t understand is how people can be so happy one week (getting Darksiders), be so upset the next week, be happy again (with the 13 for ’13 sale and NGS+), and then the next week act like NA Plus hasn’t given them literally anything in the past year. Not every week is going to specifically cater to you. And better yet, the game we have this week (that people are complaining over) was an EU Plus game, so I don’t see why people are whining over the same games they asked for.

  • @Jegue_Hetfield, Comment #401

    The post you just read is the North America PS Plus content for the Week of February 5th. Next Monday February 11th will be another post just like this with the content for that week. This is not monthly, rather weekly.

  • though EU got a better PSN+ drop ( no surprise NA gets the worst deals for the program) It’s still not bad. I really wish EU and NA PSN+ was more similar since they seem to almost always get better deals.

  • I miss games like borderlands and bioshock 2 getting on the list. Please put more good games like that up! Not just PSN games, but games that used to be $50 but are now only $20 at retail now. You know, those games we missed! I know no one from SCEA will see this or care. But whenever things like that come up, it makes my day!

  • @Darth-Krayt

    Finally u agreed that NA+ will be always inferior to EU+ updates.

  • Plus is a great service but it’s nothing like it was when it started. It was nice to get a theme or avatars here and there. Now we barely ever see them.

    I’ve been a Plus member since day one when it started. The cloud saving is great, the auto update is great, and many of the games have been great. Ever since it’s changed to the IGC it’s gone down hill at least in my opinion and I know many others as I’ve seen in the comments.

    It’s also annoying when the blog team just decides not to bother answering anybody in the comments because people are upset with the way things are. In the business of sales you need to take care of the angry people more than the happy people because they will tell a lot more people Plus sucks compared the people who will praise about it.

    I have one question for the team: What haven’t we seen a monthly Plus update yet like we wanted? Don’t answer with things take time cause that’s a load of crap. It’s been long enough since we voted on it so lets see it happen.

  • Still waiting for an awesome update!

  • Some will love the update, some will hate it. That’s life. I like it though. Always glad to get a game that I’ never played before.

  • @DaysOfWar

    I must respectfully disagree with some of what you wrote. Yes, some of us do have the right to complain about the complainers. Why? Because the whiners like to focus on free games in most of their tirades. Many of us prefer discounts to free games, and of we don’t make our voices heard then Sony will just assume that their N.A. subscriber base is interested in only free games, which is not the case. I prefer discounts and will continue to voice many displeasure at the slant toward free games. ONE FREE GAME PER MONTH AND 75% OFF ALL NEW RELEASES THAT MONTH. LET’S GET IT DONE SONY!! (tongue in cheek of course ;-) )

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