PS Plus Premium Could Be a Safe Haven for PSP Fighting Games

Sony offers the PS Plus subscription service that, in addition to providing access to online multiplayer modes, allows gamers to play games without purchasing them. The subscription service is broken up into tiers, with PS Plus Premium being the most expensive. This tier offers everything from the previous tiers and includes PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP games.

While playing older games may not appeal to everyone, it’s worth noting that the PSP has a rich library of games to explore, though not all of them are available through Premium – with the lacking fighting game lineup in particular feeling like a missed opportunity. PS Plus Premium should be the home for these titles, allowing them to enjoy a second life and be introduced to a new generation of gamers.

Opening the Vintage Vault with PS Plus Premium

PS Plus Premium isn’t ideal for everyone considering its price, but it has plenty of potential for players who want to explore the history of PlayStation games. There are a few extra features that make playing these games on modern hardware a treat. This includes the rewind feature, allowing players to go back in time if they make an error, which is especially useful with some of the more brutal vintage games. Additionally, Trophy support is a welcome touch.

While pricey, PS Plus Premium is potentially the best way to enjoy the classics, regardless of what genre gamers are looking for. However, the fighting genre would benefit greatly from being explored more thoroughly, simply because there were so many of them released for the PlayStation Portable. With the subscription service, these classics don’t have to be forgotten. They’re just as good as they were years ago, and they could finally be enjoyed on modern hardware if they were added to the service.

PSP Games for PS Plus Premium

As of April 2024, there aren’t too many fighting games available on the premium service, though this should be something that changes. There are almost too many great PSP fighting games to list that deserve to make it onto the subscription service. This includes titles such as:

• Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, which is a classic released in 2006
• Street Fighter Alpha 3, which brings all the action of the legendary franchise to the portable system
• Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai, which goes over the events of the 1995 movie

Will These Games Ever Join PS Plus Premium?

It is impossible to predict which fighting games will enter the regularly changed catalog, if any. However, with many possible titles to add, there’s no counting out the possibility. Ideally, all the best PSP fighting games should find a home on PS Plus Premium, where both newcomers and gaming veterans can enjoy the best the genre provided during the PSP era.

Whether it’s Fight Night Round 3 or Bleach: Heat the Soul 7, there is a plethora of PSP fighting games worth playing even in the current year. Sony should make a haven for them within its subscription service, lest they be forgotten by history forever.

PSP

The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, marks Sony’s first leap into the handheld gaming space, usually dominated by Nintendo. Their compact system featured small discs and featured quite a few PSP-exclusive titles during its run. Its direct competitor was the Nintendo DS during the seventh-generation of console wars.

Brand

Sony

Original Release Date

March 24, 2005

Original MSRP (USD)

$249

Weight

9.9 oz