Friday, 14 February 2025

PS Plus Extra and Premium Are the Same Price for a Limited Time

PS Plus discount

Sony has rolled out another PS Plus Extra and Premium discount offer in the United States and Europe, and it’s a weird one. The percentage of discount applied to both tiers makes Extra and Premium 12-month subscriptions the same price. Unfortunately, Essential users have been forgotten about yet again.

PS Plus Extra, Premium February 2025 discount detailed

The new discount offer is only available in North America and some European countries. The U.K. and others have been left out this time, presumably because they were treated to discounts back in January.

In the U.S., PS Plus Premium’s 12-month subscription is 37% off and the Extra 12-month plan is 25% off. This makes both plans available for $99.99. So, if you want to avail a discount, the sane thing to do here is grab Premium.

The weird discounted pricing also applies to some European countries. A Reddit user shared a screenshot of the discount available to them, and it’s €99.99 for the same two plans mentioned above.

As for who is eligible, the discount is apparently only available to new and returning subscribers whose memberships have expired. Current members unfortunately have no offer available to them for a renewal. Membership cancellation won’t work here, so if your PS Plus runs out after the offer end date of February 24, you’re out of luck.

The post PS Plus Extra and Premium Are the Same Price for a Limited Time appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.



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The Morning After: It’s true, TikTok is back

TikTok is once again available in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in the United States. The app disappeared from both Apple and Google’s stores January 19, 2025, as a nationwide ban took effect. Briefly.

What will ultimately happen to TikTok remains unclear. President Trump wants to strike a “deal” that will allow the company to remain operational in the US, including arrangements that would give the US government a stake in the company.

You know who’s probably furious? Every other social media company.

— Mat Smith

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The biggest tech stories you missed


TMA
Apple

In a tweet on Thursday, CEO Tim Cook told Apple aficionados to “get ready to meet the newest member of the family. ”What that product is remains a slight mystery, though we won’t have to wait too long to find out. The reveal will take place on Wednesday, February 19.

While we’ve focused on a next-gen iPhone SE, Cook’s tweet also featured an animated image of a shimmering Apple logo on what appears to be the outline of an AirTag. There have been rumors for a while that Apple would introduce a second-gen tracker sometime this year.

Also: AirTags have changed my life. Or at least stopped me getting locked out of my apartment multiple times in the last few years. It’ll be intriguing to see what else a tracker can offer. Please don’t make it AI.

Continue reading.


The tech love story of 2025 is over. Honda and Nissan have ended merger plans. If they’d gone through with it and also brought Nissan-controlled Mitsubishi on board, the new entity would’ve had a net worth of around $50 billion.

The Financial Times reported in early February that Honda presented a new company structure that would make Nissan its subsidiary as a “take it or leave it” offer. Nissan decided to leave it.

Continue reading.


Thanks to all the early question-askers (hit me up on askmat(at)engadget.com), including a timely question in the face of new Apple hardware. From Matt Ali: What’s the cheapest way to get an iPad? And which one should I get in early 2025?

Instead of doing my own research or asking unhinged AI chatbots, I tapped our iPad expert (and reviewer), Nathan Ingraham, for an answer:

TMA
Engadget

“Apple hardware is known for being expensive, but the company has a store packed with high-quality refurbished products that can save you some serious cash. I’ve bought many devices there over the years and have never had a problem — everything is in like-new condition and has the same warranty as a brand-new product.”

At the time of writing, there are a few good options in Apple’s refurbished store if you want an iPad nearly as capable as the newest models but want to save some cash. If you want the largest screen possible, you can grab a sixth-generation, 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an M2 chip and 256GB of storage for $979. Considering the latest 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1299, this merits consideration — especially if you’re an artist who wants a large canvas.

If you don’t need that large screen, consider the fifth-generation iPad Air. For $529, you’ll get an 11-inch display, M1 chip and 256GB of storage. That’s $170 less than the current M2 iPad Air with the same amount of storage. Apple’s standard iPad is also available refurbished, but you can often find a brand-new version of it on sale on Amazon. Between that and the rumors of a new basic iPad coming this spring, I’d avoid this one, for now.

If you want to upgrade the storage or get a model with cellular connectivity, that should also be doable for extra cash. For me, 256GB or 512GB is the sweet spot for storage — given the ubiquity of the cloud, having a ton of local storage doesn’t feel particularly necessary.

Similarly, cellular connectivity is probably not worth the extra cash unless you plan to travel with your iPad. Most of the time, you can easily tether an iPad to your phone if you need to get online quickly. But, those refurb options are available if you want them.”

Thanks Nate! Other tech dilemmas? Modern texting etiquette? The best way to make your wearable nag you into your new year fitness goals? Hit. Me. Up!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/dEx6BDK

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The 6 best cordless vacuums for 2025

Thursday, 13 February 2025

Days Gone Remastered Announcement Criticized by Fans

Days Gone Remastered

Following months of rumors, Sony confirmed Days Gone Remastered at the PlayStation State of Play yesterday, but the announcement didn’t go as expected. The event was well-received overall, but this particular reveal didn’t go down well for several reasons.

Why Days Gone Remastered stuck out like a sore thumb at State of Play

For starters, players are a bit fed up with remasters, especially one after the other. Indeed we’ve gone from the billionth Last of Us re-release to Horizon Zero Dawn getting remastered to yet another remaster for a game that Sony itself shot down the sequel for. All of this while Bloodborne continues to be ignored.

Then, there’s the digital-only release. That’s right, the $49.99 remaster is not shipping on disc, which fans are particularly concerned about. “The ‘only digital’ part, literally threw me off,” wrote one player. “This better be a one off on their games.” “TLOU 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, Until Dawn, all these remaster games received a physical release,” noted another. It’s unclear why Sony opted for a digital release in this case.

Finally, players are a tad upset about the pricing and upgrade plan. As usual, those who own the game on the PS4 can upgrade for just $10. This means that the PS4 disc must be inserted into the PS5 every time you want to play Days Gone Remastered. If you own a digital-only PS5, you’re out of luck. If you claimed Days Gone via PS Plus, you’re also out of luck.

If you really want to play Days Gone Remastered, we suggest picking up a cheap preowned disc and using the upgrade offer.

The post Days Gone Remastered Announcement Criticized by Fans appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.



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PS Plus Users Surprised With Several Day-1 Games in 2025

PS Plus games

Sony dropped a ton of news at the PlayStation State of Play yesterday, and buried beneath all the announcements was the revelation that several 2025 games are launching day-one on PS Plus Extra and Premium. It’s unusual for Sony to make announcements like these in advance, but we certainly don’t mind.

Which games are launching day-1 on PS Plus Extra and Premium in 2025?

Don’t Nod’s Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Tape 1 will launch on the service on February 18. But that’s not all. Tape 2, which is out on April 15, is also launching on PS Plus.

Then, there are two intriguing new games joining PS Plus day-one in Spring and Summer, respectively: Blue Prince and Abiotic Factor.

Blue Prince is an architectural adventure set in a manor with 45 rooms that shift and change. The door to each room is a decision that players have to make, each with its own puzzles and strategies. Players will explore the manor in search for a mysterious “room 46.”

As for Abiotic Factor, it’s a six-player survival crafting game set in an underground research facility. The game is already available on Steam, where it has excellent user reviews. When it launches on consoles, PS Plus players will have to team up with five others to outsmart enemies and survive the underground complex.

Are our readers looking forward to these games?

The post PS Plus Users Surprised With Several Day-1 Games in 2025 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.



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State of Play February 2025 Recap: All Reveals and Announcements

PlayStation State of Play February 2025 recap

After weeks of rumors, PlayStation State of Play February 2025 finally took place yesterday, a recap of which shows just how much Sony packed into an hour. The highlight of the event was Saros, a brand new first-party PlayStation IP in development at Housemarque.

Complete recap of PlayStation State of Play February 2025 event

And last but not least, we got the PS Plus Extra and Premium February 2025 games lineup.

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