Sony Announces PSN Day 1 Digital For US, PS3 Essentials For EU

Sony announced two new PlayStation Network programs this week, “PSN Day 1 Digital” for the U.S. and “PS3 Essentials” for Europe.

Starting in October, PSN Day 1 Digital will let PS3 owners in the U.S. download select new game releases on the same day that they launch in retail stores. Unfortunately, the program does not allow consumers to pre-download the titles prior to launch day (hopefully we are baby stepping towards that goal), however, it will give PlayStation Plus members a 10% discount when they pre-order select titles.

PSN Day 1 Digital kicks off officially in October with the following eight games:

• Resident Evil 6 – (Available for download on October 2nd – $59.99)
• NBA 2K13 – (Available for download on October 2nd – $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members, with pre-order)
• Dishonored – (Available for download on October 9th – $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members, with pre-order)
• DOOM 3: BFG Edition – (Available for download on October 16th – $39.99/$35.99 for PS Plus members, with pre-order)
• 007: Legends – (Available for download on October 16th – $59.99)+
• Medal Of Honor: Warfighter – (Available for download on October 23rd – $59.99)
• Need For Speed: Most Wanted – (Available for download on October 30th – $59.99/$53.99 for PS Plus members, with pre-order)*
• Assassin’s Creed III – (Available for download on October 30th – $59.99)

While PSN Day 1 Digital focuses on new releases, Europe’s PS3 Essentials takes the opposite approach and provides “a diverse range of critically acclaimed games at pocket-friendly prices”.

Also, it appears that they decided to borrow Nintendo’s logo and old color scheme for the program.

There are some good games on the PS3 Essentials list, but we will let you decide just how “essential” some of these “critically acclaimed”, “bargain” priced games are:

• Assassin’s Creed £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Assassin’s Creed 2 £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Darksiders £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Driver: San Francisco £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Far Cry 2 £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Homefront £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Infamous £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Just Cause 2 £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• LittleBigPlanet £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• MAG £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Medieval Move £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• ModNation Racers £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Move Fitness £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Prince of Persia £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Sonic Generations £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Sports Champions £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Tom Clancy’s – Rainbow Six Vegas 2 £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 £15.99.00/€19.99/AU$24.95
• Tomb Raider: Underworld £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95
• Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune £9.99/€14.99/AU$17.95

Source: PlayStation Blog US, PlayStation Blog EU