Burnout Paradise up for download on PSN Thursday, Sept. 25

by Randy Nelson { Sep 22nd 2008 at 4:10PM }

As announced during last month's EA Studio Showcase event, Burnout Paradise will become the first previously retail-only PS3 game offered for download in its entirety from the PlayStation Store. Developer Criterion Games has updated its Burnout blog with news that the game will be available this Thursday, Sept. 25, as part of the store's weekly update (which usually goes live at 2 p.m. PST).

The game download will cost $29.99, the same price as the disc-based retail release. If you don't already own Burnout Paradise, this is a great opportunity to get in on a superb racer ... without having to bust out the game disc every time you want to play. No stats on the download's size have been revealed, but we've contacted EA for details and will update when we get them. Criterion has announced that, upon starting the game, buyers will be prompted to download all of the (free) content that it has cooked up since launch, including last week's Bikes Pack.

Tags: burnout, burnout-paradise, criterion, digital-distribution, ea, psn

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andrew @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:33PM

when are the trophies coming out? That's what I'm really looking forward to.

Vidikron @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:38PM

At one point I thought it was supposed to be at the same time as this download, but maybe that's changed or I'm remembering incorrectly?

Either way, all the great support this game has been getting from the devs has made me want to buy this game, but I've been holding out for this download version. I'll be buying this game this week.

WiiFTW @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:19PM

ZOMG BLUE RAI SUXORZ

Wonder how much space it takes...

AK @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:59PM

I don't know about y'all, but I don't want consoles to become Steam boxes.

When I purchase a game, I want to be able to take it to my buddy's house and vice versa.
Something about having games locked to your console just doesn't sit well with me.

spiderfish @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:52PM

@AK

It's not like someone is forcing you to buy it.
Having it on disk has it's pros also.

AK @ Sep 22nd 2008 9:25PM

@spiderfish
No shit noone is forcing me to buy it.

I can still express my opinion about online purchases of games, which I can't share with other people.

anonim1979 @ Sep 23rd 2008 1:04AM

Burnout on PS3 is ~3,5GB

Nearly the same as Unreal Tournament 3.

Al2x @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:22PM

NFL Head Coach is on PSN, that's a full game, it also costs $50. GT5:P is also a full game (it's not a demo...).

tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:24PM

Goddammit don't start that GT prologue argument again.

Al2x @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:30PM

@tmac:
I stated that it was a full game. My friend got it, and it's pretty damn fun. Sure, not nearly as stacked as GT4 was, but it's good nevertheless.

Offtopic:
Is there anyway to access "My Profile" if I sign into Joystiq through AOL/AIM? Long long ago I had an email for this site, but whenever I try to use it (with the password Joystiq used to supply you when you have to activate the comment) it never worked/never sent me a verification code.

Noshino @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:32PM

well, Warhawk IS a full game...

Dirty @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:41PM

Maybe they meant 3rd Party?

D @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:51PM

I agree, GT5P is a full game. Feels like a stripped down version of a full game, but still.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:52PM

"I stated that it was a full game."

So you're admiting that your starting the argument again right?

hurtween @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:24PM

It would be nice if they allowed all disc based owners the opportunity to download a digital copy of the game we purchased... to free up that blu-ray drive...

Ordeith @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:10PM

Like how you can copy the physical disc to the Hard drive on the 360 and just play it from there?

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:16PM

You will still need the disc in the drive to play on the 360

philmcphail (Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:26PM

@Ordeith No that doesn't count cause you have to leave the disk inside the drive, even though its not spinning. What I think he means is more along of the lines of the digital copy disk like the ones that are on the special edition DVDs. Where it comes with a code that you put in to verify that its yours. I haven't tried it for myself yet but I think the reason this won't work for games is that it could be that the system is easy to break and shared with others that didn't pay for it.

Sephiroth X @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:27PM

"Burnout Paradise will become the first PS3 game offered for download in its entirety from the PlayStation Store."

Um... no. Warhawk was.

Matt @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:10PM

the article said:
Burnout Paradise will become the first PREVIOUSLY RETAIL-ONLY PS3 game offered for download in its entirety from the PlayStation Store.

wasnt warhawk released on PSN and not retail-only..
gotta love the terms they use to give something meaning where there is little meaning...

Neil @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:41PM

How much is that in real money, Criterion?

turkeybaster @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:51PM

Well, since the PSN just uses dollars and not Microsoft Points...it's $29.99.

Neil @ Sep 22nd 2008 8:08PM

Most of the world doesn't use dollars though.

CrashSpyro123 @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:45PM

You forgot to mention that the trophy patch will released alongside the PSN release on Thursday.

JoeTheBlow @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:09AM

Really?!
PAY DAY!

kbomb1upc @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:51PM

Don't forget about NFL Head Coach, which by the way is very addictive and fun.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:51PM

No thanks, I've got to save my hard drive space for installs:(

atrimus @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:10PM

LOL. agreed. that's one of the reasons why i was hoping they would release a disc version WipEout HD. alas, looks like i'll have to download that one.

still, i already have Paradise on disc, so this isn't much news to me. awesome racer though!

dreadnought666 @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:53PM

Burnout Paradise will become the first PS3 game offered for download in its entirety from the PlayStation Store.

Ummmm,,,not even close; what about Warhawk, GT5P, NFL Head Coach, and Siren?

Matt @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:11PM

the article said:
Burnout Paradise will become the first PREVIOUSLY RETAIL-ONLY PS3 game offered for download in its entirety from the PlayStation Store.

gotta read the fine print further...

j.howlett @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:40PM

was that "previously retail only there before"? it's not like it would be the first time a ninja edit happened on the internet.

Bones3D @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:08PM

Remember kids, a fool and his money are soon parted. If this is treated the same way as content like movie downloads, you will be sacrificing the ability to transfer ownership of this title to another PS3 owner, the ability to relocate the game elsewhere and any chance to re-obtain the title more than once should it get deleted or if your PS3 itself gets damaged at some point.

Still worth the asking price over a physical copy lacking these limitations?

atrimus @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:15PM

if it means sticking it to GameStop and their shoddy "I'll give you $15 for your copy of GTA IV that you spent $62 for, then turn around and sell it used for $55", then yes.

tuaamin13 @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:32PM

The PSN DRM is not the same as the movie DRM. PSN games allow you infinite re-downloads on the machine you originally purchased it from, and is available to download from your account on up to 5 activated PS3s (though I believe your initial system takes 1, so 4 more).

With the movies you lose it if you delete it or your hard drive crashes and burns.

Vidikron @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:35PM

Well, digital downloads do sadly come with quite a few caveats. I think transfer of ownership is one of the biggest downfalls. But if this game is treated like other PS3 downloadable games you'll be able to download it as many times as you want on the same machine and download it on up to 4 additional PS3s as long as your profile is set up on those machines.

Matt @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:16PM

yeah because re-downloading and re-installing ps3 media is so much fun... lol..

id rather just pop in the real disc.
and not have to worry if i have already played the game at 4 other friends houses or not... or if you have 2 ps3 consoles, you just lost 2 licenses there.
i will not support this media.
i dont support mp3 and online music sales.
they bring down the overall quality in music to make downloading songs faster... great technology there..

Vidikron @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:37PM

@Matt

To each his own. Believe me, I understand the appeal of physical media and don't like the idea of giving up my rights as a consumer when it comes to digital downloads. But at the same time I love the convenience of simply turning on my system and selecting games to play from the dashboard without bothering to switch discs... not to mention the reduced wear on the optical drive and faster loading.

J.Goodwin @ Sep 22nd 2008 5:56PM

September 25th.

I've been hearing a lot about that day lately. I wonder why?

JoeTheBlow @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:11AM

WipeoutHD day.

Big, huge, frigging massive day for PSN, i only hope they shipped in a shitload of new servers because we're all gonna break the network trying to get these guys.

umm....hello??? @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:02PM

too little too late. I have the x360 version anyways, but thanks Criterion for all the free DLC (are the other developers out there paying attention?).

I don't need games to suck up my hard drive space...that's why they come on a disc. my hard drive is for extra DLC, game saves, and faster loading times. my PC is for all that other crap.

Patrick @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:10PM

Why the hell is this game $29.99? I think downloadable versions of games should be discounted from their disc-based counterparts, because Sony is saing money is on packaging, shipping, and retail profits. Screw that.

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Sep 22nd 2008 7:47PM

Indeed! I'm on board for downloadable games, but they need to be priced appropriately.

j.howlett @ Sep 22nd 2008 9:47PM

i think warhawk launched at that price on psn and the disk version was less the $60 like most new retail games. i'm surprised the official retail version went down in price so fast for burnout. i also thought it was EA (saving) money on packaging etc.