Sony’s October PlayStation Plus catalog update has a little of everything: a big open-world sequel, a mafia drama, a handful of horror picks timed for Halloween, and two PS1-era throwbacks. Here is what is coming, when, and which games deserve your first download.
The lineup and the dates
According to the PlayStation Blog post published October 14, the Extra and Premium catalog arrives October 20 unless a game is marked otherwise. The headline names are Mafia: The Old Country (PS5), Horizon Forbidden West (PS5 and PS4, listed as a PlayStation Plus re-release) and Mycopunk (PS5), which lands on PS Plus on day one, October 20. Sony lists Mafia without a separate date, which points to the October 20 start.
Three more arrive a week later, on October 27 in the US, UK and Japan: Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2, Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition and Monster Energy Supercross 25. The Midnight Walk is already available in the US and UK as of October 14, with Japan following on October 15. It plays on PS5 and in VR with PS VR2.
Premium extras and trials
Premium members also get Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition on PS5 and PS4. On October 20, Premium’s game trials add Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and Mortal Shell II, which is a low-risk way to test two games before spending real money on them.
The Halloween perks
Sony is also running a HorrorFest. A World War Z Halloween skin pack arrives October 20 with five weapons and cosmetics. From October 21 to November 4, members can claim Back 4 Blood’s Tunnels of Terror Expansion 1 at no extra cost, with 95 percent off the second and third DLC packs and the Annual Pass. Dead by Daylight players have October 20 to 26 to hit 10 million matches as a community, and if they do, every PS Plus member unlocks the Buccaneer Buds Charm pack.
There is one odd entry: on October 28 members get a limited-time discount on the Until Dawn movie through the Sony Pictures Core app, ending November 3. It requires a Sony Pictures Core account and an 18-plus age, and it is only available in listed countries.
What I would download first
If you only have time for one, make it Horizon Forbidden West. It is the sort of game that justifies a subscription month on its own, and a re-release means the PS5 version should be easy to jump into. Mycopunk is the wildcard worth checking since it is arriving on the service on day one, which is a better deal than waiting for a sale. If you are weighing whether to keep paying, our look at why US console sales are sliding as prices rise shows why subscriptions like this carry more weight than ever, and our piece on Nintendo’s stance on physical games covers where the platform wars are heading.
One caution: Sony says lineups can differ by region, and availability of streamed games varies, so check your own PlayStation Store before you plan a weekend around a title.
Bottom Line
This is a strong month for Extra and Premium members, especially anyone who missed Horizon Forbidden West or wants a Halloween horror binge. Mark October 20 and October 27 on the calendar, and use the Premium trials to filter before you commit.
FAQ
When do the October PlayStation Plus catalog games arrive?
Most arrive October 20. Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2, Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition and Monster Energy Supercross 25 follow on October 27 in the US, UK and Japan.
Which PlayStation Plus tiers get these games?
The catalog games are part of PS Plus Extra and Premium. Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition are Premium, as are the game trials.
Is the Until Dawn movie discount available everywhere?
No. It requires a Sony Pictures Core account, an age of 18 or over, and a PS4 or PS5, and it is only offered in a list of countries Sony names. It runs October 28 through November 3.
Featured image: Photo by Eduard Galeev on Pexels.
