Soul Sacrifice and Freedom Wars are both Sony-published games based around co-operative play. Both games were published in response to Monster Hunter losing exclusivity to the platform, and while there hasn’t been much in the name of new content to these games lately, both have dedicated groups of players that do still play them.

Servers for both games as well as Soul Sacrifice Delta will be shut down on December 24th, 2021. Of course, players will be able to set up local play lobbies for the two games following the server termination period too.

Sony also previously tried to shut down the digital storefronts for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita although it had to retract its decision following immense backlash on the matter- read more on that through here.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

“Killing monsters” is Geralt’s calling and while The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt didn’t have dragons or other monsters on the scale of previous games (with some DLC exceptions), there were still a number of beasts to fell. The creepy Leshens, hulking Fiends, Wraiths, Wyverns and much more await your blade. Fair warning though – the combat isn’t nearly as compelling as Monster Hunter, you can’t mount monsters, and much of the preparation falls to blade oils, potions and skills. It’s still fun though and the various side quests feel unique and interesting.

After a couple of months with poor selection, PS+ turned it around last month with some pretty great games on offer- and that upward trend continues this month, as the selection of free games that Sony will be offering in December includes some pretty good, with games such as Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, SSX, Freedom Wars, and the first episode of King’s Quest entering rotation.

At the very least, it’s good to see that Vita owners aren’t just getting a selection of indie games this month- they are actually getting a major release for a change. These new games will be available for all platforms on December 1.

• Gauntlet: Slayer Edition (PS4)
• King’s Quest – Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember (PS4)
• Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (PS3)
• SSX (PS3)
• Rocketbirds Hardboilded (PS Vita)
• Freedom Wars (PS Vita)

Which of these will you be trying out? Are you satisfied with the selection this month? Let us know in the comments below.

Freedom Wars, the great looking fur player co-op action adventure game coming to the PlayStation Vita exclusively, finally has a release date to go with it now. Freedom Wars will launch in North America on October 28th, 2014 for $29.99 and in Europe on Wednesday, 29th October 2014, and in the UK and Ireland on Friday the 31st for €29.99/£24.99. It is extremely important to note that though the game will be releasing physically in the US, it will only get a digital release in Europe and UK.

In the US, pre-ordering the game from participating retailers nets a whole host of great pre-order DLC goodies, which include:

• Limited Edition Costume – Personalize your Freedom Wars character with Formal Wear
• Powerful Starter Weapons – Upgraded melee and long range attack weapon.
• Limited Edition Sticker Set – For in-game use
• Combat Pack Item – Medical Supply Set

If you live in Europe, or in the US, and want to purchase the digital version, then you can just buy the game between October 28-November 11, as these items will be available to redeem for free during that time. After that though, you’d be out of luck.

Freedom Wars launched in Japan earlier this year, where it had a polarized reception among audiences. Famously, this is one of the last big budget in house releases for the PS Vita, as Sony moves away from supporting the platform, at least as far as AAA games go. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more coverage.

Freedom Wars is going to be one of many such Japanese action games hitting the Vita this year- in addition to Toukiden, Ragnarok Odyssey ACE, and Demon Gaze, the Vita is also getting Soul Sacrifice Delta this year, which is the enhanced version of last year’s Vita exclusive blockbuster action game.

Freedom Wars is slated to launch on the Vita in the US sometime ‘soon’ (SCEA refused to announce a concrete date). Meanwhile, if the prospect of this game has you salivating, this new trailer should keep you entertained and busy.

Mostly, it’s fair to say that SCEA has all but given up on the Vita; they ignore it, they don’t market it, they don’t try to procure or develop games for it, and many times, they even seem to actively sabotage it. But every now and then, to the surprise of all, they make a genuine effort with the system. Today was one of those days.

SCEA, you see, confirmed not one, not two, but three exclusives for the Vita releasing in the US– these include Soul Sacrifice Delta, the expanded version of last year’s hit action game Soul Sacrifice, Freedom Wars, another action game that is about to release in Japan soon, and Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines, a JRPG. All three games are Sony Japan Studios produced (as they seem to be the only internal Sony studio still making games for the handheld).

Soul Sacrifice Delta will launch first, with a May 13 release date- the release dates for the other two will be announced later.

Still, for the Vita, this is a great boost to its library, especially considering that after its stellar 2013 last year, Nintendo seems to have eased off the pedal with the 3DS this year, giving the Vita a bit of an opening.

Sony has revealed two new characters for its upcoming SCE Japan developed PS Vita title Freedom Wars. These characters are Beatrice, the female protagonist of the game, and Abel, who will serve as the antagonist of the game.

Sony describes Beatrice as “a mysterious girl locked up deep within panopticon” who works alongside the protagonist of the title “seeking for hope while being manipulated by fate”. She is also supposedly skilled by technology.

Abel, on the other hand, is “one of the most powerful sinners”, while his fate is also “deeply intertwined” with that of the protagonist and Beatrice. He’s an ace fighter of the Horai PT, a rival enemy force to the panopticon that the protagonist is from.

There’s a lot more information on the two characters, and some pictures too. We’ve posted the pictures below, and you can get the extra details at the PlayStation blog through this link.

Japanese mag Famitsu is reporting that users who purchase Soul Sacrifice Delta will also be treated to an early access code for the demo of the upcoming Freedom Wars. Of course, if you pre-order Soul Sacrifice Delta, you’ll be getting additional costumes for the game, you can use save data from the original Soul Sacrifice title to get a Toukiden collaboration costume.

Freedom Wars is a game set in a post apocalyptic Earth far, far in the future where humans have to struggle to survive and fight against monsters and other humans as well to gather resources to try and get by.

Soul Sacrifice Delta features many upgrades over the original Soul Sacrifice title and optimizes the experience for PS Vita owners, and will feature new bosses, a new faction, co-op and more.

Soul Sacrifice Delta releases in Japan on March 6 for the PS Vita.  Stay tuned for more updates.

[Siliconera]