Star Ocean, NieR Replicant, 13 Sentinels lead PS Plus September 2023 Game Catalog offerings
This month's PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions have been revealed officially, and they contain quite a few items of interest to fans of Star Ocean, developer Vanillaware, and the NieR series. The update arrives via a post on the official PlayStation Blog, and about a week after Sony officially locked in a significantly higher price point for a PS Plus subscription. Late in August 2023 the company announced that it would raise prices on all tiers of PS Plus starting in September 2023. Globally, new subscribers saw a PS Plus price hike of about 30% for a 12-month subscription (though it was higher in some regions). Current subscribers and those with time still remaining on their subscription will enjoy the previous rate until the time comes to renew.
Perhaps Sony is trying to salve the sting of higher rates somewhat with a substantial offering for those at the PS Plus Extra and Premium tiers. The bulk of new additions consist of games in the Star Ocean series, with copies of Star Ocean First Departure R, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, and the most recent release, Star Ocean: The Divine Force, all being added to the game catalog. Players in the Extra tier can download Star Ocean The Divine Force and Integrity and Faithlessness, though only Premium subscribers will get to play the rest, as they're part of the Classics archive.
Fans of Vanillaware will also come away with new games, including the PS4 version of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (the PS4 remake of Odin Sphere), and co-op-focused brawler RPG Dragon's Crown Pro in the Premium tier.
Finally, NieR fans can enjoy NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., the modernized rerelease of classic PS3 era Yoko Taro game NieR.
Though those items make up the most notable RPG-related additions to the September 2023 PS Plus Game Catalog, there are other notable games in the slate of releases. Sid Meier's Civilization VI and Planet Coaster: Console Edition make up the strategy-focused offering, while This War of Mine: Final Cut, Unpacking, Tales Noir, Call of the Sea, and Cloudpunk round out a handful of narrative-focused games. Those looking for speedier fare can also try Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, Contra: Rogue Corps, the supernatrual western-themed game West of Dead, and Paw Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls.
Here's the full list of PS Plus game catalog titles, arranged by subscription tier. Higher tiers include all the items in lower tiers. Where available, RPG Site's reviews are also linked.
PS Plus Essential:
- Black Desert: Traveler Edition (PS4)
- Generation Zero (PS4)
- Saints Row (PS4/PS5)
PS Plus Extra:
- 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Call of the Sea (PS4/PS5)
- Civilization VI (PS4)
- Cloudpunk (PS4/PS5)
- Contra: Rogue Corps (PS4)
- NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Paw Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Awaits (PS4/PS5)
- Planet Coaster Console Edition (PS4/PS5)
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (PS4/PS5)
- Star Ocean: The Divine Force (PS4/PS5) - RPG Site Review
- Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Tails Noir (PS4/PS5)
- This War of Mine Final Cut (PS5)'
- Unpacking (PS4/PS5)
- West of Dead (PS4)
PS Plus Premium:
- Dragon's Crown Pro (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Star Ocean First Departure R (PS4) - RPG Site Review
- Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS4)
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope International 4K & FHD Remaster (PS4) - RPG Site review of The Last Hope's original Xbox 360 release