Sony is reportedly planning to merge the PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass with a competitive alternative offering.
If Spartacus is just a codename meant to spark a potential PlayStation Plus/PlayStation Now merger, Japanese manufacturer and publisher Sony intends to keep the PlayStation Plus name in favor of PlayStation Now, a cloud gaming service (also allowing some games to be downloaded) that never really caught on. popularity among gamers. This “new”video game service subscription is expected to arrive next spring on PS5 and PS4 with three different tiers and therefore a new pricing policy.
- Tier 1: PlayStation Plus Privileges (Multiplayer, PS+ Games, PS+ Collection, 100GB Online Storage, Co-Op Play, Game Assistance, Exclusive Member Discount, Exclusive Game Content)
- Tier 2: PlayStation Plus benefits + large catalog of PS4 games and eventually PS5 (no exclusivity like Xbox Game Pass)
- Tier 3: The benefits of PlayStation Plus + a large catalog of PS4 games and finally PS5 + “extended”demos, game streaming and a library of classic games for PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP.
While PlayStation consoles have overtaken Xbox consoles in recent years, Sony has lagged behind in terms of subscriptions. With this hypothetical new offering, Sony will be looking to compete with Microsoft’s feature that is popular in the gaming industry but still unprofitable.
New Sony investment in cloud gaming
If Sony hasn’t been able to establish itself in cloud gaming, it has nonetheless been one of the pioneers in the field, buying Gaika for $380 million in 2012 and also the patents from OnLive in 2015. The Japanese decided to catch up. The electronics and entertainment giant has not hesitated to join forces with Microsoft to leverage Azure-related technology and infrastructure, as well as partner with Ubitus. But that’s not enough yet, as it seems that some cloud gaming companies are on the radar of Kenichiro Yoshida’s firm.