Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

PlayStation Plus is adding this classic sci-fi shooter series, but only for Premium members

By
A man jumping and shooting in action in TimeSplitters.
Plaion

PlayStation announced new additions to its Plus catalog on Wednesday, and they’re set to hit the service on August 20. The update includes the three cult classic shooters from the TimeSplitters franchise, including one that hasn’t been available on newer consoles until now.

There’s a catch, though: You can only play the series if you have PlayStation Premium, the most expensive PlayStation Plus tier. This gives you access to the classics catalog, which is where the TimeSplitters games will live.

Recommended Videos

But maybe an upgrade might be worth it. First off, these are well-loved first-person shooters in the same vein as Perfect Dark, so it’s almost a mandatory option for fans of these kinds of games. The first TimeSplitters was also PlayStation 2 exclusive, and its inclusion here is the first time it’ll be available on another console (the other two were released on the Xbox and GameCube, and were made available via backward compatibility on newer Xbox consoles).

Related

These additions to PlayStation Plus are also sort of retribution for the series after developer Free Radical Design was shut down in December 2023 as part of Embracer Group’s prolific financial struggles. The studio has had a rough life, going bankrupt, getting picked up by Crytek, being shut down, and getting reformed as part of Deep Silver (owned by Embracer) to revive the TimeSplittersfranchise. The future of the series is still in limbo, but in the meantime, you can play the whole series for free.

There’s still plenty of must-play games being added to the PlayStation Plus service that Extra subscribers can check out. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt needs no introduction, and if you have a PlayStation 5, you’ll get access to the enhanced version with improved visuals, ray tracing, and shorter loading times. Cult of the Lamb is a strangely charming dark comedy about building a cult full of adorable creatures. Its addition to PlayStation Plus also coincides with its major Unholy Alliance update, which brings two-player local co-op.

There are also a ton of Sword Art Online games, Ride 5, and more. Check out the full list below.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, PS5)
  • Wild Hearts Standard Edition (PS5)
  • Cult of the Lamb (PS4, PS5)
  • Ride 5 (PS5)
  • Watch Dogs 2 (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Last Recollection (PS4, PS5)
  • Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (PS4)
  • Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization (PS4)

PlayStation Premium: PS VR2 and Classics

  • Vacation Simulator (PS VR2)
  • TimeSplitters (PS4, PS5)
  • TimeSplitters 2 (PS4, PS5)
  • TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (PS4, PS5)
  • Sword Art Online: Lost Song (PS4, streaming version only)

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Carli Velocci
Carli Velocci
Contributor, Games
Carli is a technology, culture, and games editor and journalist. They were the Gaming Lead and Copy Chief at Windows Central…
PlayStation 5 Pro is coming this November, and it costs a whopping $700
A PS5 Pro standing upwards next to a DualSense controller.

After months of rumors and speculation, Sony finally announced the PlayStation 5 Pro, a premium console with a premium price point for those players who want the best graphics possible.

Unlike the base PS5, the Pro doesn't come with a disc drive and is a lot more expensive at $700. It'll release ahead of the holiday season on November 7, 2024, with preorders opening up on September 26.

Read more
PlayStation celebrates its 30th birthday with free trials, board games, and more
The Playstation 5 system standing upright.

PlayStation is gearing up for its 30th anniversary on December 3 with some free gifts for fans, including new trials, never-before-released soundtracks, and even board games.

The company introduced these upcoming releases as part of its anniversary celebration, and it says there will be more to come. For now, though, we've got a mix of nostalgic and modern to look forward to.

Read more
3 new PS Plus games you need to play this weekend (August 23-25)
Yennefer in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

This week, we received our monthly batch of new additions to the PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra game catalog. It's a great group of games that includes a fantastic RPG, underrated gems, Sword Art Online games, and some PS2 TimeSplitters games getting rereleased for the first time. If you're looking for something to play this weekend, that means there are plenty of new games to choose from, but I specifically want to highlight three worthwhile games that just came to the service. They can all maintain your attention for more than just a weekend too.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

CD Projekt Red's crowning achievement needs little introduction. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best RPGs ever made, thanks to its fantastic world-building, writing, and characters. Geralt of Rivia is now one of gaming's most iconic protagonists, and this RPG also put book characters Ciri and Yennefer in a central role for the first time. It features some of the best sidequests in an RPG too, as most of them are given the same care as the main questline. We're over nine years out from its original release, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt still holds up. If you somehow haven't played it yet, you need to this weekend. The PS4 and PS5 versions of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt are now part of the PS Plus Extra Game Catalog. It's also available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Wild Hearts

Read more