On the CES event, Sony has accounced the PlayStation Now which is an all-new service that will stream PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 games to the current-generation PlayStation products, which are PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, and several other non-gaming platforms, such as televisions, tablets and smartphones, with 2014 Bravia televisions confirmed. Sony has stated in a press release that:
Eventually the service will expand beyond PlayStation platforms and Sony devices, allowing users to stream PlayStation games on numerous other Internet-connected devices.
The service will use the power of the cloud-gaming service Gaikai, which Sony purchased for $380 million in 2012. Sony wrote about the service on the official PlayStation Blog:
Leveraging Gaikai’s advanced cloud-based technology, PlayStation Now will allow you to:
- Play video games instantly across multiple devices, similar to the way you might stream TV, movies, and music.
- Stream full games to all of your compatible PlayStation devices including PS4, PS3, and PlayStation Vita as well as non-PlayStation devices, beginning with 2014 BRAVIA TV models and expanding to numerous other Internet-connected devices.
- Always play the most updated version of your game. With games hosted in the cloud, you can take your game with you – just log in with your Sony Entertainment Network account on a compatible device and your games and saved progress will be easily available.
The games will be most likely limited at launch, but Andrew House of Sony confirmed The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls as titles that will be out. Sony also confirmed God of War: Ascension and Puppeteer will be playable on PS Vita and Bravia televisions.
PlayStation Now will be a subscription-based service, which will support trophies and online multiplayer as well. Players can also not subscribe and rent games on a by-game basis instead.
Erik Kain of Forbes questioned Sony on whether physical-discs and/or digitally owned games of PS1, 2 and 3 would gain you free access on the PS Now service, to which Sony replied that you would have to pay for the games on PS Now regardless of any previous purchase of the game.
The PlayStation Now beta is set out to release on Summer in the US.
Muhammad Junaid
Muhammad Junaid is the writer of Entertainment Ghost. He writes articles, reviews, previews and entertainment news about gaming, technology, the media and so on. You can follow him on Twitter @Mr_MJunaid and Facebook MJunaid
