PlayStation’s 30th anniversary is still a few months away, but Sony is already announcing some of the ways it will celebrate this important date, and that will be very popular with users of the famous Japanese console. The brand will launch free trials of some video games, will release soundtracks for some important titles and will hold eSports tournaments to mobilize the entire fan base.
“While the 30th anniversary of PlayStation itself is still months away, today we’re excited to share a few ways we plan to celebrate the milestone,” Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of global marketing for Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced in a PlayStation blog post published on September 5.
PlayStation owners will want to keep an eye out for this wave of special events and promotions. Here’s a rundown of the ones announced so far.
First up, we’re highlighting free trials for some highly-followed games, so you don’t miss out on the chance to try out some AAA titles for free. PS5 and PS4 users will be treated to “My First GT,” a free trial of the critically-acclaimed Gran Turismo 7. “This upcoming release will feature some of the most beloved cars, tracks, and racing events that evoke the nostalgia and excitement of the first GT experience,” Tomatis says, though he hasn’t specified a release date.
Added to this is the long-awaited launch of ASTRO BOT, which aims to be a classic from the Japanese firm, and which is packed with cameos from great characters from the PlayStation universe, now on sale for around 69.99 euros for PS5.
You’ll also be able to play select games online for free during a special period: over the weekend of September 21 and 22, PlayStation is hosting a free online multiplayer weekend and eSports tournaments. While these aren’t free trials of the games themselves (you’ll need to have purchased the game), they will be free trials of the online modes, without having to pay for PlayStation Network.
Free tournaments and multiplayer
So, you’ll be able to connect to multiplayer in NBA 2K24, NBA 2K25, Madden NFL 24, MLB The Show 24, EA UFC 5, Tekken 8, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III, and Guilty Gear -Strive-. While these are the specific games mentioned, PS’s post states, “You’ll be able to enjoy online multiplayer matches for your PS4 and PS5 games without needing to be a PlayStation Plus member.” That means you’ll be able to enjoy multiplayer for any game, even if it’s just for these two days.
These are the dates of the eSports tournaments planned or in progress so far:
- Naraka: Blade Point – 08/29 to 09/24
- Guilty Gear (Strive) – from 05/30 to 10/30
- EA Sports FC 24 – from 1/09 to 1/10
- NBA 2K25 – 1/09 to 1/10
- The king of fighters XV – from 1/09 to 2/10
- Brawhalla – from 1/09 to 1/10
You can enter the website of PS competitions to keep up to date with others that are coming out.
Soundtracks and merchandising
In addition to the games themselves, PS will also be releasing soundtracks from major franchises between October and January, available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and the like. Soundtracks from:
- God of War
- God of War II
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta
- Twisted Metal
- Starhawk
- Unit 13
In addition, PS is launching several lines of physical products, called Shape of Play. Created by the team behind the PlayStation consoles, these are collections of figurines and a board game to have fun with or simply accumulate as a collector. They will be launched in Spain next December, and can be purchased from the PlayStation Store. online store from PS, and you can make reservations now.
