Update: Sony has officially confirmed that the PlayStation Plus Essential games are Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and Little Nightmares, and they've confirmed that every mainline Yakuza game is coming to the higher tiers of the service.
In August, PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium users will get Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, 0 is a prequel (and the best starting point for new players), while Kiwami 1 and 2 are remakes of the original PS2 games.
"Later this year," according to the official announcement, Premium members will get the the remastered PS4 versions of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5. Both Extra and Premium members will get Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the final story for long-time series protagonist Kiryu.
With that, the only Yakuza games missing from PS Plus will be the non-canon spin-offs like Dead Souls and the as-yet-untranslated samurai-themed games. The whole mainline Yakuza series is on Xbox Game Pass, too, so you can get your gritty, goofy crime drama on whatever console you prefer.
Original story: Several new PlayStation Plus Essential games seem to have leaked online before an official announcement.
Stop us if you've heard this one before: Dealabs user billbil-Kun has leaked the supposed new games set to be added to the PS Plus Essentials tier. This time, Yakuza: Like a Dragon's PS4 and PS5 versions are set to join the tier, an absolute must-play modern RPG from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
Elsewhere, the user claims Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 remasters will both be joining the subscription tier for PS Plus Essential users. Both games should be an excellent bonus for subscribers, even if we're unfortunately never getting remasters of the third and fourth games in the franchise.
Finally, the trio of new additions is rounded out by the original Little Nightmares. Developer Tarsier's original horror adventure is a standout of the genre, one of the best original horror games released over the past decade, you could say, and will be another must-play for PS Plus Essential tier users.
In all, it's a pretty stacked line-up for PS Plus Essential users. It's also a fantastic deal when you consider that these three games will all be offered to users on the cheapest subscription tier for PS Plus, opening up the action-packed Yakuza drama, skating antics, and horrific tales for bigger audiences. Considering PS Plus users were just offered Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade earlier this month, it's a great time for JRPG fans.
Head over to our PS Plus tiers explained guide to see which subscription package is the best for you.
