Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Batman! Yes, that is the sound of Batman: Arkham City coming to PlayStation Plus in April for PlayStation 3 owners. Arkham City garnered praise from gamers and critics alike, as evidenced by its cumulative 96/100 score on Metacritic. With the recent announcement of Batman Arkham Knight, this is a great way to catch up on Batman’s adventures.
PlayStation 4 owners can join up with friends and take down an evil corporation in a new 2D action game, Mercenary Kings. As you explore the island CLAW (that’s the evil corporation) has taken over, you’ll discover weapon parts that you can take back to your base and use to fashion together some new spiffy gear.
There are two other PS3 games this month: Stealth Inc. A Clone In the Dark and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Stealth Inc. is, as you can probably guess, a game where you should stick to the shadows. The only way to make it out of the lab alive is via some sneaky platforming, so proceed with caution. Castle of Illusion is a proper remake of the Sega Genesis version, not just an HD upgrade. There are new levels to navigate but the goal is the same — save your #1 mouse (that’s Minnie) from the evil witch.
While Vita owners can also enjoy Stealth Inc. (the benefits of Cross-Buy!) this month, they’ll also get Velocity Ultra, an arcade-y space shooter where you’ll teleport around and save other ships, and Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD, a classic tower-defense style game where you’ll need to save baby Tiki-people.
April PlayStation Plus Preview
Mercenary Kings (PS4)
Free for PS Plus members
In this frantic 2D action game, you are part of the Mercenary Kings, the most skilled team of warriors-for-hire on Earth, but when your comrades have fallen and the fearsome forces of CLAW have seized an island-wide top secret Laboratory Base, you must do what it takes to stop them. But you’re not going in unprepared! Your back-up is made of a crew of rogue geniuses and experts of their field! Able to craft & customize guns’n’blades or upgrading body armor, you’ve never been this ready to join the fight.
Batman: Arkham City (PS3)
Free for PS Plus members
No escape from Arkham City…the sprawling super-prison in the heart of Gotham City, home to its most violent thugs and infamous super villains. With the lives of the innocent at stake, only one man can save them and bring justice to the streets of Gotham City…The Batman.
IGN: “Batman: Arkham City is a brilliant game”
Stealth Inc. A Clone in the Dark (PS3)
Free for PS Plus members
Stealth Inc is a fast-paced stealth platformer featuring brutal hazards, ruthless enemies, fiendish puzzles and red pixels galore. Jump, sneak, and be chunked through 80 levels. Will you make it out alive? Armed with only your wits and a pair of top of the range Stealthing Goggles, it’s your job to sneak your way through a deadly facility that’s determined to extinguish your fragile little life. With no weapons and no armour, being seen means instant death.
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (PS3)
Free for PS Plus members
Mickey Mouse returns to star in Castle of Illusion, a fantastical re-imagining of the Sega Genesis classic. With all-new HD graphics and gameplay, Castle of Illusion brings Mickey and his world to life in this magical Disney adventure! When the evil witch Mizrabel kidnaps Minnie, it’s up to Mickey to brave the dangers of the Castle of Illusion to rescue Minnie. Gather your courage and traverse enchanted forests, take on hordes of rebellious toys and navigate mazes of living books. Play as Mickey and save Minnie from Mizrabel’s evil clutches!
Velocity Ultra (PS Vita)
Free for PS Plus members
Featuring a new anime-influenced art style, touch screen to teleport, bombs on right stick, explosive visual effects, a Platinum trophy and PlayStation Trophy Leaderboards, Velocity Ultra improves on the 2012 Game Of The Year and PSN Gamers’ Choice Awards release in every area (except music ‘cos that rocked the first time around).
Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD (PS Vita)
Free for PS Plus members
Tikiman the Forest Defender is in trouble. Hordes of monsters are sweeping through his realm, hoping to chow down on his offspring – and it’s up to you to defend them. By placing weapon towers at strategic points around the landscape, you can destroy the invaders and save the little ones. Collect treasure along the way to build up your arsenal and pay for new towers – countless waves of monsters are out to get the babies, so you need to be prepared to battle!
If you’ve got feedback on PlayStation Plus make sure you take the poll above as well as leave a comment below. To chat about all things PlayStation, including this update, you can head over to the PlayStation Community Forums. You’ll also find other topics you can contribute your thoughts to, or you can start your own discussion.
YESSSSSSS! Arkham CIty AND Pixeljunk Monsters for Vita?? This is like the list of games I was going to get and decided not to at the last second! So awesome that I can go back and play them.
So…you know what would make this list complete…Gran Turismo PSP. Can I has? =)
I’m a little disappointed, I know I do not have many games for the PS4, but could make a port a little better game than this.
Any clue if the Arkham City DLC will be on sale to go with the game?
Is there any chance we’ll see Saint’s Row IV in the coming months?
I don’t normally say this, but this is a great update. All three current platforms and multiple games on each. Batman is a great title and would have made the month on its own. Domo Hirai-san!
In PSN UK they will have PES 2014. I want it here too!!!!!
Pleaaaaseee!!
It’s times like this I wish I had a PS3 instead of a PS4. PS3 gets nearly 3x the value of games the PS4 gets. At this rate I’m not renewing my PS+ until something worth while comes out.
But I thought we were Pro Evolution, I really wanted to try it.
PS+ is hands-down the best $50 I’ve spent in the game industry, and I’ve only been a member since January. I’m going to have to buy a vita just because of the service and I’d previously never put 2 thoughts into getting one.
I’m yet to play any of the Batman series. Can’t wait to find some time from all the other games to see what all the hype is about.
I have to echo the sentiment of others. Not very impressed with the Vita offerings. Looking more and more like the indie handheld.
Terrible month for the ps vita…
Nice variety.
nice more free games
FWIW I understand why there is a lack of full retail AAAs on PS4 – that makes sense since it is brand new, and Im willing to wait for full games on that IGC. But VIta has no excuse. All we get are Indies and PSP games with an occasional real retail game. This is NOT why many of us bought a Vita. If we want to play Indies, we’ll get them for a couple bucks in a Steam sale
I own half of these games already, but I still couldn’t be happier seeing an update like this – it bodes well for the continued value of PS+. Arkham City, Stealth Inc, and Velocity Ultra are three of the best games I’ve played in the last couple years. If you still haven’t gotten around to picking up a Vita, this is the month to do it!
I now see that Stealth Inc. is cross-buy Awesome!
Another good month. The past 3 months were better than last year as a whole. Is Arkham City the regular version or the GOTY?
Dear PlayStation,
You had me at Mercenary Kings.
Amazing month (again) for PS Vita owners! ^^
+ Ryumoau, + Frodomec
I, also, have only the PS Vita. “Indie” games, “AAA” games? For me they’re just GAMES.
And this month lineup is very good, IMO!
Will the stealth also a cross-buy for vita? thanks SONY for not including a psp game again for the vita users!
Seriously psp games are so blurry on vita that can cause headache, everything are stretch out because all psp games are force to full screen to fit on vita’s screen. If sony somehow manages to fix the psp graphics quality on vita I might even consider playing it.
Suggestion, allow us to “zoom out” or make “half screen” on every psp game on vita so it will not be full screen with stretch out graphics.
The vita cost 300$ + 50$ for ps plus subscription, it’s a waste if we still getting psp game.
Awesome Awesome Awesome for Batman. I have it on steam when it was on sale but wont run very well and i wanted to play them in release order so hadnt got Origins. Now its free i dont have to rebuy it awesome
I don’t understand how people are complaining about the Vita games. We have had Unit 13, Street Fighter X Tekken, Sonic Allstars Racing, and Soul Sacrifice in the last few months. I would say that covers the $50 you spent on your membership or $30 if you bought it on Black Friday. What does the competition give their customers? Not even close!
I find it ridiculous that some ps4 users are begging for AAA title. Come on ps4’s just a month old. Be glad sony is giving you free ps4 games.
Well I’m just glad Tomb Raider DE isn’t on this list. I just bought it last night.
Not much here for me, as I’ve already played Batman. I’ve never really been into the PixleJunk games.
Don’t care for the free games, played arkham city on 360, don’t care for a disney game, and another indie platformer. I hope the sales are good though.
Would it be too much trouble to make Outlast available again for PS4.
@49 asking for p4g is kinda disrespecting the video game gods…. go buy that game this second!
@59 they have great games to give us from 2013 i dont know why we dont see them, other regions are. ppl saying it doesnt bother them mostly have ps4s, so they can remotely play AAA games on at home. with that perk having indy games on the go is just icing on the cake. But, its still is a rather lame point; because psv can stand on its own! p4g kzm sasr gr and dc ar just a few games that show that!
@sony cmon guys do you guys even lookat the games you are giving other regions? Thailand for exmple; they have been getting 1 or two indies and 1 or two dynamic games each month… just for vita (and thats not counting the chinese and japanese games they get!) shape up guys!
@58 just get PS+ on Black Friday for $30 and buy 2 or more years and it is even cheaper!
$30 for 12 PS4 games, 24 Vita/PSP games, 36 PS3 games each year for rental is the best deal you can get! The competition should copy this! :D
Arkham City is a great game. It’s nice to see some games that I normally won’t even look. With them appearing on my IGC, now I can try them and maybe I will find some more hidden gems (like when I found Valkyria Chronicles).
Batman Arkham City was released October 2011.. Really?
Anybody that ever bothered with that game already played it.. geez..
Hope discounts make up for it -.-
@71
Yes Street fighter and SS is more than enough to compensate the 50$ but we won’t own it forever we have to keep on paying 50$ every year so that we can play it. But that’s not the main issue, it’s the psp game that are being force to vita.
Most vita users are complaining about psp games on vita IGC. If you have a vita, you will also probably notice that all psp games are very BLURRY on vita, it’s like almost completely unusable.
Keep up the indie and vita titles. Just please stop replacing our 1 vita game slot per month with psp games.
Another indie game for PS4 :(
@75 I think that would make a lot of PS+ users mad. Repeating a title that has been up before will probably cause a ruckus because there are still so many other games that hasn’t been on IGC yet.
Also you can get PS+ even without having the console and get all games before getting the console of your choice. I think you are better off with a sale for that title. Early adopters of PS+ should get some advantage.
Really disappointing additions across the board this month. I highly doubt any of these especially the vita and ps3 offerings will make it onto any of my systems. I was really hoping to see something more in line with what Europe will be receiving this coming month as they definitely are getting far more bang.
The only thing that caught my eye is mercenary kings I guess having 3 good months in a row has now come to an end.
Great update! I very enthusiastically recommend Velocity Ultra. The teleportation is wicked. People need to experience this game. Castle of Illusion is really, really ridiculously good looking– and fun for all ages.
thank you sony! this month will be great! can’t wait!
America demands PES 2014
Glad to see Stealth Inc. is cross-buy! You should really start making that clear in the actual title (ie. “PS3 & Vita” not just “PS3”).
Overall a pretty interesting month. Very diverse offering, which is cool because it should give gamers of all shapes and sizes something to enjoy.
The only game I’m hype for is Mercenary Kings. I doubt I’ll touch the others after downloading. Still a good month overall.
I’ve been waiting for the value of PS Plus to decline, but Sony continues to consistently surprise with each month. Especially looking forward to Mercenary Kings. Thanks guys.
I love PS+ I love Sony!! Mercenary Kings is going to ROCK!!!! I’ve been counting down the days!! I can’t wait, this is an awesome month thank you!!
Pretty good month. Thanks for the Mickey Game. It’ll be nice to have another freebie that my niece can enjoy (she LOVES Bit Trip Runner 2). These last few months, while awesome for me, were a bit too mature-themed overall.
Side-note: Moaning really isn’t my style, but it is a little shady to put so many games on sale, only to add them to Plus a month or two later. Makes me feel like those of us that spend a little cash here and there are getting punished for it.
With world cup in about 3 months how xome we dont get a soccer game, make at least a sale.
Thanks for Castle of Illusion. My 6 yr old will appreciate it.
You really knocked it out of the park this month. I think this is the first time I want every game in the line up. It so good in fact that I already have half the games :-/ .
But even with owning Batman( Would have really liked to get Origins ,I ,mean come on everybody must own Arkham City by now) and the original versions of Volocity and Monsters it’s still a great month to me.
Owning a copy of Mecenry Kings is enough to convince me to buy a PS4 instead of replacing my old laptop.
Mercenary Kings looks cool, but I don’t have a PS4, and I already own the others in some form or other, so not a good month for me, but maybe there’ll be some good sales.
@frodomec, speak for yourself champ. This months vita offerings are great. Some indie games are better than AAA titles and these 2 games qualify. Not to mention that Stealth Inc. Is most probably a cross buy and is a kick ass puzzle platformer. Just because a title is an indie doesnt mean it isnt great. Way to judge a book by its cover.
Cool month! I get Arkham City for free and will be happy to buy Harley Quinn’s DLC for a discount price, I’m sure. Sony continues to impress me. Glad I got rid of my ****box 360.
@920great
@sony you know that is shady. right?
ill be sure to save 51 dollars on ps plus sales this year to make sure and get my bucks back lol
by the way….. you’re still the best.
most indies fail to shine…..hyperlite drifter has me pretty stoked though.