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PlayStation Now users can download certain PS4 and PS2 games
The biggest hindrance to Sony's PlayStation Now streaming service is lag. Because the game isn't stored locally, whatever device you're playing on has to send your button mashing back to Sony's servers to process the input and then feed it back to your TV screen. That's changing. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 2 games remastered for PS4 on the service will be downloadable as well as streamable starting today, according to the PlayStation Blog.
Sony adds 'Bloodborne' to PlayStation Now's game streaming lineup
Sony's PlayStation Now game streaming service is adding perhaps its highest-profile PS4 title to date in Bloodborne. The infamously difficult action RPG from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware racked up a litany of awards and nominations after it was released in 2015. It's available on PS Now starting today.
Sony adds a slew of PS2 games to PlayStation Now
Sony's PlayStation Now hasn't been of much use for nostalgia trips unless most of your memories revolve around the PS3, but that's about to change: the first wave of PS2 titles is available through the game streaming service. They're not must-have blockbusters, but they're definitely titles you'll recognize, including Ape Escape 2, Dark Cloud 2 and Hot Shots Tennis. And importantly, these aren't straight content dumps -- each of these games plays in HD (no 4K, alas) with trophy support.
The best apps and streaming services for students
It's true that most of Engadget's back-to-school guide has comprised, well, gadgets, but as every nerd knows, a piece of hardware is only as good as the software it runs. That's why, to close out our guide, we wanted to highlight some apps and services worth downloading or subscribing to. On the media front, this is as good a time as any to see if you can survive in the adult world as a cord-cutter -- it's not like you're going to have a cable subscription in your dorm room, after all. If your parents are willing to share (or at least foot the bill), we recommend loading up on subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and HBO Now -- you'll want different programs from each at some point. If you're a gamer and own a PlayStation, Sony's PS Now service is also worth the extra bucks, while Xbox One owners might want to pony up for EA Access. Music lovers will enjoy either Apple Music or Spotify, but your choice will come down partially to the other devices you own. As for schoolwork (yes, that thing), Google Drive is our favorite cloud-storage service, while Evernote and Bear both rank highly against other note-taking apps. Adobe's Creative Cloud could be worth it (or even necessary), depending on your major. Oh, and if you're worried about the "freshman 15," try MyFitnessPal -- it's a free app many of Engadget's own editors use to keep their calorie intake in check.
PlayStation Now will bring PS4 games to your PC
You could soon play PlayStation 4 exclusives like Uncharted 4 and The Last of Us Remastered on your PC. Sony is bringing the PS4 catalog to its streaming game service PlayStation Now, the company said today in a blog post. The announcement is light on details, but we know that every game in the service, including PS4 games, will be part of a single PS Now subscription. Sony is holding a private test in the next few weeks, and said it will share more information closer to launch.
PlayStation Now will soon let you play anywhere you have a PC
Analysts have been predicted the death of game consoles for years -- and while they're usually wrong, PlayStation Now is the strongest living argument for a gaming industry without iterative hardware. Sony's internet-streaming games service puts PlayStation games on micro-consoles, full-sized PlayStation 4 machines and even standalone televisions. Today, Sony announced that the service is coming to an even wider platform: Windows.
PlayStation Now game streaming officially arrives on Vita and PS TV
If you've been itchin' to give PlayStation Now's streaming a go on your gaming handheld, the wait is over. The subscription service officially arrived on the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV, delivering access to over 125 games on those two devices. PlayStation Now had been available on the Vita and PlayStation TV in beta form for months, but now it's making a proper debut after hitting the PS3 back in May. In addition to equipping two more gaming gadgets with the service, five new titles are being added this month. Joining the library of titles in August are Dynasty Warriors 8, MX vs. ATV Supercross, Bomberman Ultra, The Last Guy and, most importantly, God of War III. With new games being added on the regular and Sony offering newcomers a free one-week trial, there's really now excuse for PlayStation owners to take the service for a test drive. [Image credit: Getty Images]
Sony's PlayStation Now UK beta is now open to everyone
Until now, only a select few Brits have been invited to try out Sony's PlayStation Now game streaming service. That changes today, however, as Sony has now opened up the beta trial to anyone wanting to take it for a spin. If you own either a PlayStation 4 or a compatible TV from Sony's Bravia range (and at least one DualShock 3/4 controller), you can fire up PS Now and rent any of a selection of PS3 games for two- or 30-day periods. And since it's a steaming service, you can play them immediately, no download required.
PlayStation Now is a tech miracle, but it's no Netflix for games
Sony wants you to want PS Now, its Netflix-like game-streaming service. The problem is, the company doesn't seem to know how to build that desire. Though the recent app relaunch has seen the service's user interface improve considerably, the same can't be said for the user experience. I used PS Now on the PlayStation 4 almost exclusively for a week and by the time my seven-day trial was set to expire, I still couldn't find a compelling reason to pay for the service -- let alone recommend it to a friend. With Netflix, the value is apparent: $8 per month for on-demand access to thousands of movies and TV shows. Sure the visual and audio quality of that streaming library might not be on par with its Blu-ray counterparts, but the convenience outweighs any cons. For PS Now, that same trade-off isn't quite worth it.
PlayStation Now's streaming app wants to be Netflix for games
PlayStation Now's all-you-can-play game subscription service launched back in January on PlayStation 4, but the method for actually playing those games has been kind of a nightmare. Today's news of a dedicated subscription app might change that. Before this, every time you wanted to stream a new game, you had to go through the PlayStation Store, sift through a handful of menus, pick something (much like you would to purchase a game) and then hope that it even launched the first try. A streaming app that minimizes menu fatigue and works along the lines of a Netflix or Hulu actually makes a lot of sense here.
Sony shifts to pricey game rentals in UK PlayStation Now beta
Sony kicked off closed beta testing of its PlayStation Now game streaming service in the UK a couple of months ago, and now it's time to talk turkey. Beta participants previously had unrestricted access to the PS Now streaming catalogue, but Sony's just started experimenting with rental pricing. A full-fat PS3 title now costs £5 to rent for two days, or £10 if you want to stretch that to a 30-day term; PS3-era PlayStation Network games are slightly cheaper at £3 and £8 for two- and 30-day rental periods, respectively. Bear in mind, PS Now is still in the early stages of beta testing in the UK, and Sony's made it clear that it'll be playing around with "different rental options at different price points."
Samsung Smart TVs get PlayStation Now game-streaming service
We knew PlayStation Now support was coming to Samsung Smart TVs, but now it's finally here. If you have a compatible 2015 set in your home (or office), you can now start streaming games directly from Sony's subscription service. However, do keep in mind that you'll need a DualShock 4 controller to get started -- which is much better than needing an entire console. Up until now, PlayStation Now had only been compatible with Sony hardware, including the PS4, PS3, PS Vita and some TVs, so it's great to see the service become more widely available. Unfortunately, this is only available to users in the US and Canada, at least for the time being.
PlayStation Now's game streaming subscription hits PS3
It was easy to scoff at Sony when the electronics giant said it had a 10 year plan for the PlayStation 3, but here we are almost a decade later and it's still supporting the console. Case in point: the firm's announced that it's bringing subscriptions for the PlayStation Now game-streaming service to Blu-ray's trojan horse. It all starts on May 12th, and beyond that a handful of new games are hitting the service too. They include F1 2014 , Farming Simulator and the ever-so-charming Fat Princess (that's an awful lot of "F" games now that I think about it), bringing total number of streaming titles to around 100.
PlayStation Now offers subscription service, available January 13
Sony announced this morning that PlayStation Now, its streaming game service, will be available January 13 in the US and Canada. The service will be offered in two varieties, one at $19.99/month and the other at $44.99 for three months, which would be about $15/month. Curiously, no yearly plan is offered. There will also be a seven-day trial period at launch granting access to all the games. Renting games through the service has been available for a little while now, with prices structured around hourly and monthly options. For example, Vigil Games' Darksiders, was $3 for 4 hours, $6 for a week, $8 for 30 days and $15 for 90 days.
PlayStation game-streaming service comes to Samsung smart TVs in 2015
Sony isn't afraid to partner with competitors if it means getting PlayStation Now in more homes, apparently. The outfit just announced that it's teaming with Samsung to bake the PlayStation game-streaming service into some of the rival electronics giant's smart TVs starting next year. Sony says some 200 PlayStation 3 games will be available to stream, and that the service runs at full functionality, specifically mentioning things like trophies, online multiplayer and cloud-saves for game-progress. Sound familiar? It should because that's how the service works on Bravia TVs and PlayStation game consoles. What's more, all you'll need is one of Sony's DualShock 4 gamepads to control the action.
EA is bringing some big-name games to PlayStation Now
Sony's game-streaming service, PlayStation Now, has taken big leaps since being introduced earlier this year. However, the platform still lacks a bit when it comes to the amount, and quality, of content it offers access to. Starting next month, though, PlayStation Now is adding some big games to its library, thanks to a new deal from Sony and EA. Bejeweled 3, Dead Space 3, Mass Effect 2, Mirror's Edge and NBA Jam On Fire Edition are all coming to the service on December 2nd, which is great news for those of you with a PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PS TV or a compatible Sony TV. You'll be able to rent any one of these for as little as $1 per day, although there will be other pricing tiers available -- it depends on how long you'd like to keep them.
Sony reminds us what the PlayStation TV can do ahead of its US launch
If you need a video refresher of just exactly what the PlayStation TV is capable of ahead of its US and Canadian release, Sony has something to take care of that. The video we've embedded below reinforces that Sony's micro console is a device for families with kids and touts its ability to do more than just Remote Play PlayStation 4 games or stream some of Sony's back catalog via PS Now -- it's a low-cost media-streaming gizmo as well. Perhaps best of all, it gets the point across in under 90 seconds. What the clip doesn't tell you, however, is that while the PlayStation TV can play PS Vita games natively, some of the handheld's best releases (think Tearaway and Wipeout 2048) aren't yet compatible because of that system's use of touch controls. Will that caveat make you reconsider plopping down $100 come October 14th? Let us know in the comments.
PlayStation TV launches October 14th in US and Canada
Sony will be releasing its PlayStation TV here in the US and in Canada on October 14th. What's more, as it looks to get people amped up for it, the company also let it be known that the mini console is set to have nearly 700 playable games from day one, giving interested folks Stateside and in The Great White North something to look forward to come launch day. That amount of games, naturally, is made possible thanks to the PlayStation TV's flexibility -- it provides access to a variety of content in different ways, including through PS Vita titles, PlayStation Now and via Remote Play with a PlayStation 4. The PlayStation TV is going to be available for $99 (system-only), or you also have the option to get a $140 bundle which includes a DualShock 3 controller, 8GB memory card and The Lego Movie Videogame.
Sony explains what's in the PlayStation Now open beta for PS4
Sony's had limited tests of its cloud-based gaming service running for the last few months, but it's taking PlayStation Now to the next level tomorrow by letting anyone with a PS4 (that's in the continental US or southern Canada) join in. There's a new blog post and video up now telling gamers what to expect: PS3 games, cloud saves, trophies, and "a variety of rental periods" depending on the game. As far as an all-you-can-eat option following the lead of Netflix or EA's just-announced EA Access -- that Sony doesn't think you need -- Sony reaffirmed that it's working on a subscription option for PS Now, but didn't provide any more details. As for how much it costs now, there will be four-hour rentals for $2, as well as 7-, 30- and 90-day options for between $3 and $20, across a library of more than 100 titles. You can check out our hands-on impressions from CES after the break, or check out Sony's website for more information like which games are available (Metal Gear Solid V, Ratchet and Clank: Into the Nexus, Ultra Street Fighter IV and more.)
Sony's PlayStation Now beta opens to all PS4 owners on July 31st
While its E3 presser has mostly been about specific games like Little Big Planet 3 and Destiny, Sony has just given us a bit of good news about its game streaming service, PlayStation Now. Starting July 31st, all gamers in the US and Canada (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) will be able to join a full public beta of PS Now, assuming they have a PS4. PlayStation 3, Vita and "select" Sony TV owners (meaning you need the right TV model and a DualShock 3 controller to pair with it) will also be getting beta access shortly thereafter. Update: Sony has pushed out a press release with pricing information for some of the service's games. There will be over 100 titles available, all for rent at prices between $2.99 and $19.99 available for varying periods of time. Subscription-style access is still off in the future, as is a "pilot service" for compatible Bravia TVs, or access in Asia and Europe.
