01 February 2024 , 12:00
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The biggest PS5 exclusive of last year is currently available to trial for free if you’re a subscriber to the PS Plus Premium tier.
Last year was a quiet one in terms of true PS5 exclusives. However, those who do own Sony’s latest console were able to see 2024 out with a bang thanks to the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In our review we dubbed it “an emotional and heartfelt sequel story that could very well make this the definitive version of Spider-Man”. This superpowered sequel is yet to receive a discount on the PlayStation Store, but very soon there will be a way for a certain subset of the PlayStation player base to jump into the game with an extremely low barrier to entry.
Alongside yesterday’s announcement of the PS Plus Essential February 2024 lineup, as per a post on the PlayStation Blog it’s also been announced that Marvel’s Spider Man 2 will be playable for PS Plus Premium subscribers via a free trial. Beginning Tuesday, February 6 (the same day February’s PS Plus Essential games go live) Insomniac Games' swing-tastic perfection of the Spider-Man experience will offer two hours free playtime for those on the highest PS Plus tier.
Better yet, PS Plus Premium subscribers who do jump in as part of the free trial can rest easy knowing that any progress made will translate into the full version. “Trophies and save progress from this trial will carry over if you decide to purchase the full game,” reads the post. It’s essentially a ‘try before you by’ approach that means players won’t need to completely start over if they elect to purchase Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 after the free trial’s conclusion.
Anything a spider can
As one of the biggest PS5 exclusives to release in recent years, I’m happy that PS Plus Premium subscribers have a way to check out what is easily one of the best open-world sequels we’ve seen released lately. That said, it isn’t lost on me just how pricey AAA games can be at launch, so this is a great bonus for players who want to get a taste before jumping in fully. It helps that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 features one of the most bombastic openings to any game from last year; PlayStation and Insomniac know exactly what they’re doing.
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This isn’t the first PS Plus Premium game trial we’ve seen, of course. November saw Baldur’s Gate 3 available for PS5 players to try as part of a free trial. This is despite head of Larian Swen Vincke stating how the 2023 GOTY winner won’t be appearing on subscription services soon. Practices like this essentially function as a glorified demo, though, which as I see it can only be a good thing for both player and developer. Now nobody has an excuse not to try one of PlayStation’s best exclusives.