Sony Announces PSN PLAY, A Rival To Microsoft’s Summer Of Arcade

Sony has today announced PlayStation Network Play, a new promotion which will see four titles released in the PlayStation Network Store over a four week period, in a move which is set to rival Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade.

PSN Play will feature four action games released every Wednesday during the four weeks, with Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition being the first title to be released on August 26th. Following up a week later will be The Baconing, and then Bloodrayne: Betrayal the week after, with Renegade Ops finishing off the promotion on September 14th. Each title will include extra DLC as an incentive, of which the full details are below.

As a bonus, Sony will be giving away Payday: The Heist to anybody who buys all four before September 20, while PlayStation Plus members will get a 20% discount on all titles before the same date.

The whole lineup will be available for pre-order in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand starting August 10, and those that do pre-oder will get a free theme for their PlayStation 3 for a limited time only.

The 2011 PlayStation Network PLAY lineup is:

August 24: Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition – This highly-anticipated action-fighting title from Capcom features 20 playable characters, HD graphics, more than 200 pieces of unlockable content, more than 100 trials and more than 100 challenges. When Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will be able to unlock GILL, the self-proclaimed god, without having to beat the game with every character, as day-one DLC. Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition will be €14.99 and will be available for pre-order until August 18.

August 31: The Baconing – The newest action-RPG title from Hothead Studios is the third in the popular DeathSpank series. Attempt to defeat the Anti-Spank and his army of Cyborques, before they cast an evil shadow over Spanktopia. Discover exciting new worlds and battle hordes of enemies as you search to unlock the secret within the Fires of Bacon. When The Baconing is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive an additional co-op character, Roesha – One Bad Mutha. The Baconing will be €12.99 and will be available for pre-order until August 25.

September 7: BloodRayne: Betrayal – This 2D side-scrolling platformer from Majesco Entertainment features 15 bloodthirsty levels where Rayne attempts to infiltrate a treacherous castle, take out a fiendish horde and stop an evil vampire massacre. When BloodRayne: Betrayal is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive a BloodRayne: Betrayal virtual item for their PlayStation®Home avatar and an exclusive dynamic theme. BloodRayne: Betrayal will be €12.99 and will be available for pre-order until September 1.

September 14: Renegade Ops – This top-down, driving shooter from SEGA features a huge variety of vehicles, guns and endless enemies. The game features Sandbox-style missions, so there are many different ways to play. When Renegade Ops is purchased through PLAY, purchasers will receive a Vehicle & Character Pack with two new vehicles and special weapons. Renegade Ops will be €12.99 and will be available for pre-order until September 9.

Bonus Gift: PAYDAY: The Heist – This gritty, first-person shooter from Sony Online Entertainment lets players take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score.” A PSN voucher code for PAYDAY: The Heist will be provided to buyers of all four PLAY titles as a bonus gift provided they purchase the games on or before September 20, following release of the game. The game can also be pre-ordered separately starting September 21, 2011. European pricing for PAYDAY: The Heist is to be confirmed.

It’s about time Sony caught up with Steam and Xbox LIVE and created something similar themselves, so we are all for this new promotion. The extra content available through pre-order is also an added bonus, but the question is, are you sold on it? Let us know in the comments below.