Sony has announced the new games coming to the Premium tier of its PlayStation Plus subscription service in December 2022. Around the middle of each month, Sony announces all the new games coming to the pricier PlayStation Plus tiers, and December 2022 is proving to be no exception to the rule.
Since Sony revamped its PlayStation Plus service to include three separate tiers, it has established a pattern with the new PS Plus Premium game announcements. Typically, Sony reveals the games in the middle of the month, and then they are added the following week, though there have been some exceptions to the rule. December 2022 is sticking close to the established pattern, as the newly announced games will be available starting Tuesday, December 20.
When it comes to the new PS Plus Premium games for December 2022, subscribers have two PSP games, one PS1 game, and one PS3 game to check out. The PSP gamers are Ridge Racer 2 and Pinball Heroes, while the PS3 game is Heavenly Sword. The new PlayStation 1 game, meanwhile, is Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus. The PS1 and PSP games have been updated to include improved visuals, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters, but it's unclear if they will have trophy support or not. Some PS Plus Premium classic games have included trophies, but the feature is not universal.
New PS Plus Premium Games for December 2022 List
- Heavenly Sword (PS3)
- Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (PS1)
- Pinball Heroes (PSP)
- Ridge Racer 2 (PSP)
Some fans have been critical of the new PS Plus Premium game additions since the revamp, but it's safe to say many will be happier with the December 2022 lineup. The PSP version of Ridge Racer 2 was never released in the US, so this is likely the first time many gamers have had the chance to play it. Pinball Heroes may not generate much excitement, but PS Plus Premium subscribers may be happy that PSP games are getting added to the service at all.
PS3 game Heavenly Sword is likely to generate the most interest. Originally released in 2007, Heavenly Sword is generally considered to be one of the more under-appreciated classic PS3 games. The game was praised for its story and gameplay, but it received criticism for its short length. Being able to play the game through PS Plus and not needing to buy it at full price should make players less concerned with its length, though, and so it may be better-received this way than it was when it launched as a full-priced game.
And finally, Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus is a great new addition to the lineup, though it's worth pointing out that its re-imagining, Oddworld: Soulstorm, was one of the monthly free PS Plus games last year.