Announcing the Play At Home Initiative

[Aranea Highwind]

 

People all over the world are doing the right thing by staying home to help contain the spread of COVID–19. We are deeply grateful to everyone practicing physical distancing and take our responsibility as a home entertainment platform seriously, so we are asking our community to continue supporting the safe choice and the need to Play At Home.

 

As a thank you to all who are doing their part to lessen the impact of this pandemic, Sony Interactive Entertainment is pleased to announce the Play At Home initiative. 

 

Play At Home has two components: first, providing free games to help keep the PlayStation community entertained at home; and finally, establishing a fund to help smaller independent game studios who may be experiencing financial difficulties continue building great experiences for all gamers. 

Free Games to Play At Home

To support Play At Home, PlayStation will try to make those occasionally dull moments more exciting by offering Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey available for free* for a limited time through digital downloads from April 15 at 8pm PDT through May 5, 2020 at 8pm PDT Once you redeem the games, they are yours to keep. 

 

For most of you, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection will need no introduction. This three-game collection from the masters at Naughty Dog includes Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception—all meticulously remastered for PS4. We can’t imagine a better time for globe-trotting adventures with Nathan Drake, an iconic cast of characters, and thrilling treasure-hunting action gameplay.

 

Then there’s Journey, a beautiful, celebrated adventure that is as moving as it is mysterious. The game’s life-affirming message is timeless, and perhaps more important now than ever before. 

In alignment with SIE’s goal in preserving Internet access in the US and Europe, game downloads may take a little longer, but we appreciate the understanding from our community as we take these measures in an effort to preserve access for everyone.

Creative Funding

Independent developers are vital to the heart and soul of the gaming community and we understand the hardships and financial struggles that many smaller gaming studios are facing. With that, SIE has developed a fund to support them during this time. We have earmarked $10 million to support our independent development partners. More information about the fund, including participation criteria, will be made available soon.

 

During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners.

 

https://blog.us.playstation.com/2020/04/14/announcing-the-play-at-home-initiative/

[MRR---OFFICIAL]

I mean, would have been better if those two games hadn't been Free through PSPlus already (I mean Uncharted Collection was like a Month or Two ago or something from memory ?‍♂️) don't get me wrong I applaud them for doing a thing like this but I'm so MEH about it (well the Free Games anyway) 

[GTA_Darren]

Both games were PS+ free games before. Is that means for PS+ members who add those games into the library before could not keep them forever?

 

Edit: Turns out even if you add the game into the library from PS+, you still can purchase the game now for free and keep it forever.

Edited April 16, 2020 by GTA_Darren

[dermarx]

Just want to add the last bit:

Quote

*In Germany and China, users will have access to Knack 2 and Journey for free for a limited time (Thursday 16th April 1am CEST / 4am CST through Wednesday, 6th May 1am CEST / 4am CST).

 

Knack 2 is not bad I guess. Don't remember if we had Journey in PS Plus. Maybe I give it a try after FF7R

[FilooGaroo]

So lame - this means a lot with their customers paying for plus 

[Deceptrox]

Nice initiative but they could have chosen other games that weren't PS+ in the past.

[EIdain]

Personally would have rather had just about anything else over games I've already played at least twice.

But Sony's just like if you haven't got the Uncharted Collection by now you're never going to buy it, so why not just give it away for free.
 

[Undead Wolf]

While it's a nice gesture, a lot of people already own these games since they were in a PS+ lineup at some point or another (Uncharted only recently). Also, if the goal was to encourage people to stay at home and play games, I think there were better choices than Journey which can be finished in a couple of hours.

 

It's pretty cool that they're financially supporting indie developers though. ?

[PreLoki]

Knack 2 baybeeee!!!

[GoldenShaka]

So, time to unlock the wall that prevent us to purchase games already "owned" thru ps+? Interesting.

As many mentioned already, terrible decision do not pick new games, another slap on the face to ps+ members.

[Vergil]

That's very nice from Sony.  Free games! 

[Lance_87]

Getting them for my US secondary account, i already own them on my EU one.

[Kishnabe]

Glad non (2016-2020) PS+ Subscribers get to try these games out.

 

 

 

  

 

 

[IntroPhenom]

So free games twice now?  I think it's okay to call that strange.  Is the target audience people who didn't download Uncharted for free two months ago?

 

If this program will be a regular thing, do everyone a favor and throw in some not previously free indie games, please.

Edited April 14, 2020 by IntroPhenom

[RevengeancePrime]

Would've liked to get the masterpiece that is Knack 2 since I already have these two. 

[RNumbers]

1 minute ago, ObliviousSenpai said:

Would've liked to get the masterpiece that is Knack 2 since I already have these two. 

 

Create a German account?

[kingofbattle8174]

I really appreciate the thought, the games itself are irrelevant to me. I got them both from PS Plus. I do like seeing a company take the time to express the concern for others during these hard times. Not just take advantage ot earn a buck. 

[Masamune]

Nice idea, but I already have the Uncharted Collection (physically, I don't do PS+ ), & I don't have any interest in Journey. ?

[PatinumNumemon]

I hope they can put games in a cycle every few weeks or so like PS Plus. If not, then this is only useful for people who do not have PS Plus. I already have Journey and I want to get a physical copy for the Nathan Drake Collection. A good reason for them adding games to a cycle is that if you really are stuck to the house and can do nothing but video games and schoolwork (like me), you will certainly fly through all 4 of these games if you are not playing for trophies.

[Leenewbe]

2 games i've had for years, german acc will come in handy for knack 2 though  

[shpank-e]

Major kudos for the Creative Funding initiative! I mean, I get that it's ultimately an investment on future returns of indie game sales, but still a noteworthy gesture. 

 

r/ChoosingBeggars rant below... 

 

While I applaud their good intentions for free games, this is a complete misfire. They could easily have gone the route of the big 2011 hack and offered a selection of games from which people can choose any 2. 

 

To be fair, though, Sony doesn't owe us anything with regards to the global stay-at-home orders beyond ensuring network stability. And who knows? If this continues, maybe we'll see a different selection of games next month.

 

[Crispy_Oglop]

This is a great idea and with great intentions. I'm sure for every person that is moaning about how shit Sony is for selecting these games, there is one or two who are either newer to playstation or missed those games entirely who will appreciate them very much.

 

There is alot of constructive criticism above, but i'm also seeing a fair bit of self-entitlement. Tone it down a bit please, they didn't need to do this on top of their 100 million dollar COVID-19 relief fund or really looking after their workers to enable the platform to keep running and you to keep playing.

 

I'm not intending to come across as a fanboy here, but in all honesty, turning your nose up at this gesture because the games are something you already own is utterly missing the point.

[Folkenio]

While I have played both, it's cool to see this. It would be awesome if they shuffled the games for a maybe future update or something.

 

In the end, it's a win-win.

[PatinumNumemon]

4 minutes ago, Crispy_Oglop said:

I'm not intending to come across as a fanboy here, but in all honesty, turning your nose up at this gesture because the games are something you already own is utterly missing the point.

 

You are not being a fanboy, it's just that you really have a great point. Which made me hope I didn't come across as being self-entitled lol 

[Crispy_Oglop]

1 minute ago, PatinumNumemon said:

 

You are not being a fanboy, it's just that you really have a great point. Which made me hope I didn't come across as being self-entitled lol 

 

Not at all ? those folks are abundantly clear further up, most of the replies were all good, just a couple that were a bit 'whoa now'. I'm in the same boat as you as I have both already. While I don't personally gain anything from these free games - I really love to think they are giving those folks stuck at home who don't own these titles something to take their minds off the madness going on.

 

I think i take my library for granted really, but if i put myself in the shoes of someone who had just bought a PS4 to help get me through this isolation or I didn't have much money for games right now, these two titles would be a very very welcome diversion.