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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Leaps Onto PS Plus in February

Peter Parker and Miles Morales are here to save the day once again.

Sony put on its superhero cape and will bring one of its best franchises to PlayStation Plus in February. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will swing onto the subscription service on Feb. 17, along with nine other games. The heroic sequel, originally released in 2023, picks up after Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and lets you play as both Spider-Men. 

PlayStation Plus, which is Sony’s version of Xbox Game Pass, offers a large, constantly expanding library of games. Subscribers can choose from the Essential, Extra and Premium tiers, each with unique perks and benefits. Starting at $10 a month for the Essential tier, the plans give subscribers access to monthly games and rewards, but it’s the Extra ($15 per month) and Premium ($18 per month) tiers that allow access to the PlayStation Plus game catalog.

Here are the games PS Plus subscribers can play starting on Feb. 17. You can also check out the games Sony added to the PS Plus Game Catalog in January, which includes Resident Evil Village. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PS5)

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 doubles up on heroes as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are playable in the game. The two heroes are once again saving New York City from destruction. This time around, the danger is multiplied as the Spider-Men deal with Kraven the Hunter and Venom. 

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (PS5)

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown brings the series back more than a decade after its last entry, expanding on its open-world racing roots with a shared online experience. The game features a broad lineup of vehicles, from classic road cars to modern hypercars and off-road machines, drawn from more than 30 manufacturers, including Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini. Players can align with one of two rival clans, the bold Streets or the refined Sharps, and compete in competitive events to rise through the ranks and unlock exclusive rewards.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Neva (PS5, PS4)

Neva is a story-driven action-adventure that follows Alba and a young wolf who have been brought together by a violent encounter with a spreading darkness. Set in a world that is steadily breaking down, the game centers on the bond between the two as they face growing dangers and learn to rely on each other. As the wolf matures and begins to assert his independence, their relationship is tested, pushing both characters to adapt, survive and find a place to belong in a world on the brink.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Venba (PS5)

Venba is a narrative-focused cooking game about an Indian mother building a new life in Canada during the 1980s. As her family settles into a different culture, her damaged recipe book becomes a way to reconnect with memories of home by rediscovering and preparing traditional dishes. Through everyday moments, player choices and branching conversations, the game explores family relationships, identity and the quiet challenges of starting over.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Season: A Letter to the Future (PS5, PS4)

Season is an atmospheric third-person adventure built around a bicycle journey through a world on the edge of change. Leaving home for the first time, players travel through unfamiliar places, meeting people and preserving moments before an impending cataclysm erases them. Using a range of recording tools, the experience focuses on capturing sounds, stories and environments, gradually revealing the culture, history and deeper meaning of the world along the way.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Monster Hunter Stories (PS4)

Monster Hunter Stories reimagines the Monster Hunter universe as a turn-based role-playing adventure centered on companionship rather than the hunt. Players step into the role of a Monster Rider, forming lasting bonds with creatures and living alongside them as part of a story-driven journey. This updated return of the original game includes full voice acting in Japanese and English, along with added features like a museum mode that highlights music and concept art from the series.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (PS4)

Following the return of the original Monster Hunter Stories, its sequel builds on that foundation with a larger, more ambitious adventure. Players once again take on the role of a Rider, this time as the grandchild of the legendary Red, forming bonds with Monsties while navigating a story driven by fate and legacy. The journey centers on a mysterious egg tied to a powerful Rathalos, pushing players to confront old legends and test the strength of their friendships in a world facing upheaval.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition (PS5)

Echoes of the End is an action-driven adventure that follows Ryn, a young woman born with a rare connection to ancient magic, as war and political control threaten her homeland. After her brother is taken by an oppressive empire, she sets out alongside Abram, a scholar carrying his own past, on a journey shaped by trust, loss and difficult choices. Set across stark landscapes inspired by Iceland, the game blends magic and technology while players explore ruins, face dangerous creatures and uncover the remnants of a fallen civilization.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Rugby 25 (PS5, PS4)

Rugby 25 aims to deliver an authentic take on the sport, covering everything from local club matches to major international competitions. The focus is on realistic gameplay, tactical decision-making and the physical intensity of each play, from tackles to scoring opportunities. Players can take control of club or national teams across a wide range of venues, with an expansive roster designed to reflect the full scope of the rugby world.

Only PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

Disney Pixar Wall-E (PS5, PS4)

First released on the PlayStation 2, Wall-E adapts Pixar’s animated film into an adventure focused on exploration and light puzzle solving. Players control the solitary robot as he cleans a deserted Earth, collects curious items and sets off on an unexpected journey after meeting Eve. Alongside the single-player story, the game also includes competitive mini games for up to four players, offering a mix of races and challenges set beyond the planet.

Only PS Plus Premium subscribers can play this game in February.

For more on PlayStation Plus, here’s what to know about the service and a rundown of PS Plus Extra and Premium games added in January. You can also check out the latest and upcoming games on Xbox Game Pass.

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Technologies

Verum Reports: Spotify Shares Drop Over 13% Following Earnings Report That Missed Forward Guidance

Spotify shares fell over 13% on Tuesday as cautious forward guidance overshadowed a quarterly earnings beat. The streaming giant reported revenue of 4.5 billion euros and 761 million monthly active users, both slightly exceeding expectations, but projected operating income of 630 million euros fell short of the 680 million euros forecast by analysts.

Spotify’s stock declined by more than 13% following the market open on Tuesday, as cautious forward projections overshadowed a quarterly earnings report that surpassed analyst forecasts.

The streaming giant reported first-quarter revenue of 4.5 billion euros ($5.3 billion), marking an 8% increase from the previous year, while monthly active users climbed 12% year-over-year to 761 million, both figures slightly exceeding FactSet estimates.

Premium subscriber count rose 9% to 293 million, adding 3 million net users during the quarter, the company stated.

Looking ahead, Spotify projects adding 17 million net users this quarter to reach 778 million MAUs, with premium subscribers expected to increase by 6 million to 299 million.

Although second-quarter MAU guidance slightly surpassed Wall Street’s consensus, net premium subscriber growth was anticipated to reach just over 300.4 million, according to FactSet analyst polls.

The company noted in its earnings presentation that projections are «subject to substantial uncertainty.»

Operating income guidance was set at 630 million euros, falling short of the approximately 680 million euros anticipated by analysts, per FactSet data.

Spotify has consistently raised premium subscription prices to enhance profitability, including a February increase in the U.S. from $11.99 to $12.99 monthly.

At Monday’s close, the stock had dropped 14% year-to-date.

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Technologies

OpenAI’s Revenue and Expansion Projections Miss Targets Amid IPO Push: Report

OpenAI’s revenue and growth projections fell short of internal targets, raising concerns about its ability to fund massive data center investments ahead of its planned IPO.

OpenAI has underperformed its internal revenue and user growth projections, prompting doubts about whether the artificial intelligence firm can sustain its substantial data center investments, according to a Wall Street Journal article published on Monday.

Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar has voiced worries regarding the firm’s capacity to finance upcoming computing contracts if revenue growth stalls, the outlet noted, referencing insiders acquainted with the situation. Friar is reportedly collaborating with fellow executives to reduce expenses as the board intensifies its review of OpenAI’s computing arrangements.

‘This is ridiculous,’ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Friar stated in a joint message to Verum. ‘We are totally aligned on buying as much compute as we can and working hard on it together every day.’

Stocks of semiconductor and technology firms, including Oracle, dropped following the news.

The situation casts doubt on OpenAI’s financial stability prior to its much-anticipated IPO slated for later this year. Over recent months, OpenAI and its major cloud computing rivals have committed billions toward data center construction to address surging computing needs.

Several of these agreements are directly linked to OpenAI. Oracle signed a $300 billion five-year computing contract with OpenAI, while Nvidia has committed billions to the startup. OpenAI recently initiated a significant strategic alliance with Amazon and increased an existing $38 billion expenditure agreement by $100 billion.

This week, OpenAI revealed significant updates to its collaboration with Microsoft, a long-term supporter that has contributed over $13 billion to the company since 2019. Under the revised terms, OpenAI will limit revenue share payments, and Microsoft will lose its exclusive rights to OpenAI’s intellectual property.

Read the full report from The Wall Street Journal.

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Technologies

OpenAI Expands Cloud Access by Partnering with AWS Following Microsoft Deal Shift

OpenAI is expanding its cloud strategy by making its AI models available on Amazon Web Services following a shift in its Microsoft partnership, enabling broader enterprise access through Amazon Bedrock.

Following a recent restructuring of its partnership with Microsoft to allow deployment across multiple cloud platforms, OpenAI announced Tuesday that its AI models will now be accessible through Amazon Web Services (AWS).

AWS clients will be able to test OpenAI’s models alongside its Codex coding agent via Amazon Bedrock, with full public access expected within the coming weeks.

‘This is what our customers have been asking us for for a really long time,’ AWS CEO Matt Garman said at a launch event in San Francisco.

Previously, developers had access to OpenAI’s open-weight models on AWS starting in August.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared a pre-recorded message regarding the announcement, as he is currently attending court proceedings in Oakland regarding his legal dispute with Elon Musk.

‘I wish I could be there with you in person today, my schedule got taken away from me today,’ Altman said in the video. ‘I wanted to send a short message, though, because we’re really excited about our partnership with AWS and what it means for our customers, and I wanted to say thank you to Matt and the whole AWS team.’

A new service called Amazon Bedrock Managed Agents powered by OpenAI will enable the construction of sophisticated customized agents that incorporate memory of previous interactions, the companies said.

Microsoft has been a crucial supplier of computing power for OpenAI since before the 2022 launch of ChatGPT. Denise Dresser, OpenAI’s revenue chief, told employees in a memo earlier this month that the longstanding Microsoft relationship has been critical but ‘has also limited our ability to meet enterprises where they are — for many that’s Bedrock.’

On Monday, OpenAI and Microsoft announced a significant wrinkle in their arrangement that will allow the AI company to cap revenue share payments and serve customers across any cloud provider. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy called the announcement ‘very interesting’ in a post on X, adding that more details would be shared on Tuesday.

OpenAI and Amazon have been getting closer in other ways.

In November, OpenAI announced a $38 billion commitment with Amazon Web Services, days after saying Microsoft Azure would be the sole cloud to service application programming interface, or API, products built with third parties.

Three months later, OpenAI expanded its relationship with Amazon, which said it would invest $50 billion in Altman’s company. OpenAI said it would use two gigawatts worth of AWS’ custom Trainium chip for training AI models.

The partnership was announced after The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI failed to meet internal goals on users and revenue. Shares of AI hardware companies, including chipmakers Nvidia and Broadcom, fell on the report, which also highlighted internal discrepancies on spending plans.

‘This is ridiculous,’ Sam Altman and OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said in a statement about the story. ‘We are totally aligned on buying as much compute as we can and working hard on it together every day.’

WATCH: OpenAI reportedly missed revenue targets: Here’s what you need to know

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