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Sony will limit PlayStation download speeds in the US
Earlier this week, both Sony and Microsoft announced that they would follow the lead of many streaming companies and limit the bandwidth of their gaming services in Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic. Today, Sony updated PlayStation fans, saying that it will take similar measures in the US. By capping download speeds, the company hopes to maintain network stability as more and more people resort to gaming to pass the time while social distancing. Sony says gamers should expect slower game downloads, but assures them that they will experience the same robust gameplay as normal. In other words, it sounds like Sony isn't planning on throttling traffic for online games -- just file downloads.
Sony slashes PlayStation Now subscription prices worldwide
PlayStation Now is getting a hefty price drop. Today, Sony announced that its video game subscription service will cost $9.99 per month in the US, down from $19.99 per month. A quarterly plan, meanwhile, will set back you $24.99, rather than $44.99, and the 12-month option will be $59.99, instead of $99.99. Similar price cuts are being introduced in Europe, Japan and the UK. Sony, which has offered PlayStation Now subscription plans since 2015, is clearly feeling the heat from some of its publisher and platform rivals. To name but a few, it's competing with Xbox Game Pass, EA Access, Uplay+, Apple Arcade and, starting next month, Google Stadia.
Sony expands PlayStation Now to seven more European countries
Sony is bringing PlayStation Now to more countries across Europe. As of today, players in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway have full access to the game streaming service. A public beta opened in those nations last month.
PlayStation Now still isn't good enough
Sony launched its subscription plans for PlayStation Now, a service that lets you download and stream games from an ever-growing library, on January 13th, 2015. Since then, a lot has changed. The company has added PS4 blockbusters and PS2 classics to its once PS3-only catalog. Meanwhile, Xbox Games Pass, Discord Nitro and others have emerged as competent pay-once, play-anything contenders on rival platforms. Many technology behemoths, including Google and, reportedly, Amazon and Verizon, are also experimenting with hardware-agnostic game streaming. In 2019, is PlayStation Now worth $19.99 per month? Or a $100 annual subscription? For a narrow subset of PC and PlayStation 4 owners, yes.
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.
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 closed beta arrives in the UK this spring
It's been an awfully long wait, but finally Sony is prepared to launch its video game streaming service outside of North America. A private beta for PlayStation Now is headed to the UK, and curious gamers can register their interest right now. To gain access later this Spring, you'll need to own both a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Plus membership. Otherwise, the selection criteria is rather ambiguous -- you'll just have to fill out the survey and hope your responses chime with the ideal player base Sony is looking for.
Sony's new TVs are thin... very thin
When visitors see your new Sony Bravia, the answer to their first question will be "4.9mm," because that's how thick these new TVs are at their thinnest point. If, however, your friends and lovers aren't impressed, then you might have to wheel out some other facts about your new home entertainment setup. The top-of-the-line XBR 900C 4K TVs come in 55-, 65- and 75-inch flavors, and gain a new X1 4K processor, which upgrades the picture quality of any 4K source and enhances the dynamic range and color.
PlayStation Now unlimited subscriptions coming January 13th for $20 a month
While Sony's PlayStation Now game-streaming service has made its way to all manner of devices since its open beta launch in July, gamers have been restricted to renting each title they wish to play. Luckily, the company said that a subscription model was coming, and with CES now firmly here, it's finally giving us more details. On January 13th, Sony plans to fully launch PlayStation Now in the US and Canada, pricing the service at $19.99 for one month or $44.99 for three months.
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 Now hits Samsung Smart TVs in first half of 2015
Game-streaming service PlayStation Now is coming to select Samsung Smart TVs in the first half of 2015, meaning you'll be able to enjoy PS3 games without owning a Sony system or even a Sony TV. The Smart TV-based form of Sony's cloud-based service will roll out in the United States and Canada, according to this week's announcement. Sony says Samsung Smart TVs will support "all functionality" of PlayStation Now, including trophies, cloud saves and online multiplayer.
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.
PlayStation Now gets Mirror's Edge, Mass Effect 2, more next month
EA will bring games from its catalog to Sony's video game streaming service PlayStation Now starting next month. As of December 2, five of EA's games will be available to stream starting "around $1 per day," according to PlayStation Blog. The games being added to PlayStation Now are: Mirror's Edge, Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 3, NBA Jam On Fire Edition and Bejeweled 3. Sony kicked off the open beta for its PlayStation Now service in July on PS4 before rolling its open beta phases out for PS3 in September, later arriving on Vita as well as PS TV in October. The streaming service will reach Europe in 2015, with the UK slated to get access to the first beta in the region. EA continues to find ways to leverage its catalog on digital platforms, as it kicked off its own subscription-based service on Xbox One in August, EA Access. Sony previously evaluated EA Access and determined that it "does not bring the kind of value PlayStation customers have come to expect," leading to the service's Xbox One exclusivity. [Image: EA]
PlayStation Now open beta hits PS TV, Vita on October 14
Tucked inside a lengthy pre-launch fact sheet for the PlayStation TV is word that the PlayStation Now open beta test will reach both the Vita handheld and the PS TV on October 14. Like the PlayStation 4, the PS TV and Vita beta tests will offer users access to "more than 150" PlayStation 3 games that can be streamed on-demand from Sony by anyone willing to pay for limited time access. October 14 also marks the initial debut of the PlayStation TV, meaning that those willing to purchase the gadget will not only have access to the PlayStation Now catalogue, but will also be able to play "nearly 700" compatible games, ranging from PlayStation One classics to portable PSP hits. Additionally, Sony claims the PlayStation TV will have access to "videos and movies" from the PlayStation Network Store and will launch with support for "other entertainment services," though it's not known which media options this might include. [Image: Sony]
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.
PlayStation Now PS3 open beta starts
PlayStation Now, Sony's oddly priced game streaming service, will enter open beta on PS3 in the US and "parts of Canada" today. The PS Now library currently has over 150 games. Good news for those interested in the future of the service: Sony reiterated it's still in the early days of the program and is listening to feedback, along with "working towards a PS Now subscription option." PS Now is currently also in open beta on PlayStation 4. The service will make its way to Europe in 2015, with a quick stop in the UK first before crossing to the mainland.
PlayStation Now coming to Europe in 2015, UK gets first beta
European PlayStation fans have been invited to the streaming game revolution, Sony revealed during its Gamescom press conference. PlayStation Now, Sony's streaming game service coming to PlayStation devices and select televisions, is coming to Europe in 2015. UK residents will be invited to the first beta for the service in Europe, Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SCEE, added. A specific date for the beta was not revealed. A beta for PlayStation Now is currently available in the US and Canada on PlayStation 4. Though pricing is currently structured as hour, day or monthly rentals of individual games, Sony has stated a subscription is "definitely in the works." [Image: Sony]
Joystiq Weekly: EA Access, Divinity: Original Sin review, The Last Of Us revisited and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. EA announced EA Access this week, a monthly or yearly service that gives subscribers a digital library of games from the publisher's catalog. PlayStation Plus and Games With Gold are comfortable ideas at this point, but for such a substantial publisher to start their own service on a console without making any hardware themselves? That's pretty interesting. Hopefully we won't see a flood or other publishers launching competitors for PlayStation and Xbox's services, though. Paying one monthly fee for Netflix and maybe two monthly fees for video games is manageable, but if the console space starts feeling crowded with subscription services, we can imagine the sense of value will be continually reduced with each additional arrival. Then again, we could probably stomach one more if Nintendo cooked up something for the Virtual Console... There's way more to this week than pondering our breaking point for monthly subscription fees though. Capcom, Sony and Nintendo had earnings reports, Homefront: The Revolution got adopted by Deep Silver's parent company, and PlayStation Now entered its open beta. It's all waiting for you after the break!
PlayStation Now subscription option 'definitely in the works'
With PlayStation Now ready to enter its open beta today, Sony's Jack Buser answered calls for a subscription model by saying it's "definitely something in the works." The director of the game-streaming program elaborated on the PS Blog, writing, "...we've heard you loud and clear for an update on a PS Now subscription option and want to reassure you that we are working on it." To recap, PlayStation Now lets players stream PS3 games from Sony's cloud servers to PS4, and other systems in the future. Currently the beta only offers rental options, with players able to access games for either 4 hours, 7 days, 30 days or 90 days. As displayed in a new video, there are different prices for different games - Vigil Games' Darksiders, for example, is $3 for 4 hours, $6 for a week, $8 for 30 days and $15 for 90.
PS Now beta expands to select Sony TVs on June 30
Next Monday, owners of Sony's most recent televisions (that is, the company's 4K models and select 1080p sets) will join a fortunate segment of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 owners in testing the company's PlayStation Now streaming game rental service. Assuming you fit this criteria and live in the continental United States, this test should allow you to play a wide range of PlayStation 3 games using only your Internet-connected television and a DualShock 3 controller attached via USB. Of course, that's assuming you're willing to fork over the ridiculous amounts of money Sony is currently asking for PS Now game rentals. As we reported earlier this month, each short-term rental is priced between $3 and $20, which becomes a ludicrous offering when you realize that many of the PlayStation 3 games available via PS Now can be purchased at retail for the same amount. Sony claims that the current pricing scheme may be altered as the test rolls on, but you've been warned. If your interest remains piqued, you can find a list of supported TV models beyond the jump thanks to our pals at Engadget. If you don't qualify, have no fear: Sony plans to launch an open beta test for PlayStation Now on July 31.
