PlayStation Plus is getting a big game catalog shake up on October 20 that will feature new additions and one very exciting re-release for subscribers to return to.

PlayStation Plus Adds Mafia: The Old Country and Horizon Forbidden West

Each month PlayStation Plus updates its game catalog for subscribers with new additions and October is no exception. This month features a fairly exciting lineup that includes 2025’s Mafia: The Old Country and the return of Horizon Forbidden West.

Those two blockbuster titles are just the tip of the iceberg though. PlayStation Plus Premium also welcomes Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The full lineup will be available to play from October 20, unless otherwise noted.

Here is a full breakdown of all the additions:

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog

• Mafia: The Old Country | PS5 – Uncover the origins of organized crime in this gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive as Enzo Favara and prove your worth to the Family in this immersive third-person action-adventure set during a dangerous, unforgiving era. This thrilling narrative is brought to life by stunning visuals, cinematic storytelling and the authentic realism that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for. Enzo’s story unfolds in a time when skill with a stiletto blade was a deadly asset, a lupara sawed-off shotgun was a go-to firearm, murderous vendettas raged for decades, and mafiosi patrolled their protection rackets on foot, horseback or behind the wheel of turn-of-the-century motorcars.
• Horizon Forbidden West | PS5, PS4 – Join Aloy as she braves the Forbidden West – a majestic but dangerous frontier that conceals mysterious new threats. Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon. Reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past – all the while trying to stay one step ahead of a seemingly undefeatable new enemy.
• Mycopunk | PS5 – Cut through fungal aliens in this hyper-customizable, mission based looter shooter. Hundreds of hand-crafted upgrades, 4-player co-op, and a little roach man. What’s not to love? A ragtag squad of robot rejects are hired by the SAXON corporation and given one last shot at profitable glory (and avoiding the scrap heap). They are the New Atlas Hazard Crew, a ramshackle squad of exterminators sent to uncover the mysteries behind a planet-wide fungal catastrophy. Embark on a series of dangerous planet-side missions to drive back the mycological menace. Could this be a simple natural disaster like they claim? And did SAXON really misfile your taxes? Or was that your own fault?
  • Mycopunk will be releasing into PlayStation Game Catalog day one on October 20 worldwide.
• Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 | PS5, PS4 – After a run in with Huggy Wuggy and freeing Poppy, you must descend deeper into the Playtime Co. toy factory. Challenging puzzles and horrific toys await. Grapple, swing, and power your way to safety. Try to escape- and don’t let Mommy find you. Continue to explore the depths of Playtime Co. in search of answers. Your journey to discover what has happened within the factory is just beginning…
  • Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 will be available October 27 in the US, the UK and Japan.
• The Midnight Walk | PS5 – Embark upon The Midnight Walk in this reverent dark fantasy adventure built in clay, from the minds behind Lost in Random, Fe and Ghost Giant. Become The Burnt One, befriend a lost lantern creature named Potboy, and use his flame to light your way through a conflicting world of wonder and horror. Survive and outsmart the many monsters eager to devour your little friend’s flame as you experience five tales of fire and darkness, featuring an incredible cast of odd characters. Marvel at every disturbing detail in a landscape painstakingly handcrafted with real life clay and animated in a stop motion style. Fully playable both on PS5 and in VR – with PS VR2.
  • The Midnight Walk will be available today, October 14 in the US, the UK and October 15 in Japan.
• Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition | PS5, PS4 – For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom. Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, intuitive and rewarding combat system, and a captivating story set in a lush world worth fighting for, Tales of Arise delivers a first-class JRPG experience.
  • Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition will be available October 27 in the US, the UK and Japan.
• Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game | PS5 – Experience the thrill of racing on newly designed tracks that replicate real-world events and compete against the latest roster of professional riders: forge your path in a revamped career featuring intense competitions, rivalries, and strategic choices. Thanks to Unreal Engine 5, enjoy a renewed gameplay experience with realistic physics and dynamic track evolution, making every lap unique and challenging. Master the flow with open tutorials, a comprehensive wiki, and Neural Technology riding aids.
  • Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game will be available October 27 in the US, the UK and Japan.

PlayStation Plus Premium

• Dino Crisis 2 | PS5, PS4 – One year has passed since the events of “Operation: Rescue Dr. Kirk”. Government-led research and development continues for Dr. Kirk’s project Third Energy ー known for its potential to produce clean energy sources and its capability for mass destruction. One day, a temporal catastrophe strikes, causing the research hub of Edward City to disappear. Suit up as returning protagonist Regina, as well as series newcomer Dylan. With an expanded arsenal of weapons at your disposal, fight to survive encounters with even larger hordes of enemies and more than 10 unique dinosaur species. With a shift from facility-centered stages of the previous game to the jungles, caves, lakes, and natural wonders of the Cretaceous period, do you have what it takes to escape this prehistoric nightmare alive?
• RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition | PS5, PS4 – Your Park. Your Way. Whatever you want to create, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 gives you the tools and freedom to build the amusement park of your dreams. Manage like a tycoon and make your way to the top Control park finances, shops, services and staff to succeed in dozens of scenarios. Become a true tycoon and embark on your promising new career, or create your ideal park without money woes in sandbox mode. Satisfy your guests’ needs and keep your park running smoothly to succeed.

That should be everything subscribers need to know heading into the rest of this month. Horror fans can also check out the other PlayStation Plus perks this month for some spooky Game Trials, HorrorFest Packs, and other exclusive content.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more PlayStation Plus updates as the next rotation approaches.

The post PlayStation Plus October Catalog Update Brings Back the Horizon Series and Includes a 2025 Action-Adventure Game appeared first on VICE.

We are going to take a look at the top-ranking PSP games based on their Metacritic review scores. From God of War: Chains of Olympus to Persona 3 Portable, here are the best PSP games of all time according to critics and user reviews.

Best PSP Games of All Time Based on Review Scores

For our list of the best PSP games of all time, we are using Metacritic’s top-rated titles based on aggregated critic review scores. Unsurprisingly, taking the top spot is Sony’s excellent God of War: Chains of Olympus.

As a massive JRPG nerd, I was also pleasantly surprised to see Persona 3 Portable not only make the list, but find a spot in the top three. With all that said, here are the top 10 PSP games ranked by their Metacritic scores.

Rank	Game	Release Year	Metacritic Score
1	God of War: Chains of Olympus	2008	91
2	Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars	2009	90
3	Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable	2010	89
4	Lumines	2005	89
5	Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker	2010	89
6	Wipeout Pure	2005	88
7	Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions	2007	88
8	Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories	2005	88
9	Tekken: Dark Resurrection	2006	88
10	Ridge Racer	2005	88

What Makes These Top 10 PSP Games Worth Playing?

1. God of War: Chains of Olympus

God of War: Chains of Olympus brought Kratos’ brutal combat and Greek mythology to Sony’s handheld without losing the series’ sense of scale. With huge bosses, puzzles, and plenty of enemies to tear through, it’s easy to see why this adventure takes the top spot.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars takes a different approach from the other PSP entries, using a top-down perspective instead of the familiar third-person camera. However, it still delivers the crime-filled open world you would expect, with its drug-trading system giving players another reason to keep exploring Liberty City.

3. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 Portable combines turn-based battles with school life, Social Links, and a story that gets increasingly dark. The PSP version also adds a playable female protagonist and direct control over your party members, making it a massive RPG to take on the go.

4. Lumines

Lumines is one of those puzzle games that looks simple until you realize how much time you’ve spent playing it. Matching colored blocks is only part of the appeal, as the music and changing visuals make it easy to get pulled into another round.

5. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker packs stealth missions, base management, and co-op gameplay into a handheld adventure. Recruiting soldiers and building up your forces gives you plenty to work toward between missions, making this much more than a bite-sized Metal Gear game.

6. Wipeout Pure

If you want something fast, Wipeout Pure certainly delivers. Its anti-gravity racing combines futuristic tracks with weapons and a pulsing soundtrack, giving PSP players a racer that demands quick reactions.

7. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions brings the classic tactical RPG to PSP with additional content and animated cutscenes. Between its job system, challenging battles, and political storyline, there is a lot here for players who enjoy spending time building the perfect party.

8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories returns players to Liberty City with a new story centered on Toni Cipriani. For anyone wanting the familiar third-person GTA experience on a handheld, its missions and open-world chaos make it an obvious choice.

9. Tekken: Dark Resurrection

Tekken: Dark Resurrection brings the franchise’s fighting action to PSP with a large roster and plenty of character customization. Whether you want to learn a fighter’s moves or challenge a friend through local wireless play, it offers plenty of reasons to keep coming back.

10. Ridge Racer

Ridge Racer rounds out the top 10 with arcade racing built around the series’ signature drifting. Its selection of tracks and World Tour progression make it a great fit for quick races, although unlocking more content can easily turn a short session into a much longer one.

Best PSP Games of All Time Ranked by User Scores

While critic reviews give us one ranking of the best PSP games, players have their own favorites. Metacritic’s user scores put games such as Patapon 2 and God of War: Ghost of Sparta near the top, while several JRPGs also make the list.

If you are looking for something beyond the critic-ranked top 10, this second list gives you a few more games to check out:

Rank	Game	Metacritic User Score
1	Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions	8.7
2	Patapon 2	8.7
3	God of War: Ghost of Sparta	8.7
4	Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable	8.7
5	Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time	8.6
6	Breath of Fire III	8.6
7	Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together	8.6
8	Mega Man Maverick Hunter X	8.5
9	Monster Hunter Freedom Unite	8.5
10	Burnout Legends	8.5

Of course, with the PSP originally launching in 2004, it has thousands of additional games you can still discover beyond this list. I personally wanted to shout out Jeanne d’Arc, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

The post Best PSP Games of All Time: Top 10 Ranked appeared first on VICE.

A new report claims that classic PlayStation franchise Ape Escape is getting a revival. According to journalist Jeff Gerstmann, the new game is reportedly being developed by Evening Star, a studio founded by developers who worked on Sonic Mania.

Ape Escape Revival Reportedly in Development at Evening Star

During a recent episode of The Jeff Gerstmann Show, Gerstmann discussed reports that a new Ape Escape game is in development. While some fans have suggested that Astro Bot developer Team Asobi could be behind the project, the journalist said he had heard that an outside studio was handling it instead.

“Who is making it? That’s a good question. My understanding is that it’s an external studio,” Gerstmann explained. “You know, because people were immediately like, ‘Oh, Team Asobi is making it.’ My understanding is that an external team has been working on that.”

Gerstmann then named Evening Star, the former team behind Sonic Mania and developer of Penny’s Big Breakaway. “What do they make… Penny’s Big Breakaway. Evening Star. I heard that they were working on it.”

Interestingly, VGC has since corroborated the report, saying its own sources have also linked Evening Star to the Ape Escape revival. However, Sony has not officially announced the project, so the studio’s involvement remains unconfirmed.

The New Ape Escape Game Could Still Be Years Away

Unfortunately, it sounds like fans could be waiting a while for the rumored Ape Escape revival. Gerstmann said the project was only just getting underway when he first heard about it, and he doesn’t believe a release is close.

“At the time that I initially heard it, it sounded like it was a game that had been like just barely greenlit and like wasn’t really, you know, like that it was kind of just getting underway.” The journalist also clarified that his information wasn’t extensively corroborated at the time. However, he said he had been asking people about the project at DICE in February.

That gives us some idea of when Gerstmann was hearing about the revival, but it doesn’t establish how far development has progressed since then. For now, there is no confirmed release date, platform list, or announcement window.

Sony Reportedly Wants to Bring Back More Classic PlayStation Franchises

According to a second report from VGC, Sony is also exploring opportunities for smaller external developers to revive other dormant PlayStation series through licensing agreements. The company has already used that approach with Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots, which was released through Bandai Namco in 2025.

The outlet also points to separate reports about a Killzone remake or remaster and a new Uncharted game. However, the rumored Uncharted project would reportedly remain with Naughty Dog rather than being handed to an outside studio.

For Ape Escape fans, the possibility of a new game is exciting enough on its own. Evening Star’s experience with Sonic Mania and Penny’s Big Breakaway makes it an interesting choice to bring the series back. We’ll just have to wait for Sony to confirm whether those mischievous monkeys are actually making a return.

The post Classic PlayStation Franchise Being Revived by Sonic Developers appeared first on VICE.

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