What if I told you – you can play PlayStation games without a PlayStation???
If you replied with “there must be a catch”, then you would be correct. For those unfamiliar with PlayStation Now, it is the service that Sony is heralding as the Netflix of gaming. Announced at CES in early 2014 and currently in beta testing, this service is going to stream PS3, and perhaps earlier generation games, to the players. That means playable games with or without a console. All the processing and storage will be in back-end data centers with the video streamed to the player and controls sent from the player’s controller back to the data center.
Now that you are all excited, let me bring you back down just a bit. Like I said, it is in beta and there is no release or launch date set yet. Bummer. If this is a service that you want to use, then you are also going to need an Internet connection with 5Mbps of bandwidth or better. Bummer, again. Sony hasn’t committed to any real or final details on the service yet. What games will be available or how much things will cost are still unknown. What they have revealed is that their new Bravia televisions will be PlayStation Now capable.
Better start saving now, though. The televisions will not become available until June 2014 and the cheapest model has a list price of $2099. That model, however, is a 49″ display with 4K resolution. This looks like a perfect match for a PS4. If you are truly flush with cash, you can go uber crazy and get the 85″ model for $24,999.
I’m checking my bank account right now, are you?
Paul Novak is a self described Polish ninja toiling away as an IT professional but more into gaming and writing. Physically existing in the west side of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania yet existentially flowing with the ether of the Internet. Found here at What’s Your Tag? and on the Twitter @dudewantshisrug. Game on with Team XBRO!
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Let’s see… I have five bucks in my account, is that enough?
You’ve got until June to let that grow.
I might have like eight bucks by then.
I’m sure sony would have a bundle with the TV, a PS4, and 6 months of Now for a good price. It could sell the system a lot more, especially to the general public.
That would be. a great bundle. Perhaps they may do that around a year end holiday season.
Possibly. I know we got a PS3 with our Sony TV as part of a bundle, so this wouldn’t be much of a stretch (hopefully…)
I think at a minimum there will be a bundle with a DualShock controller and a trial pass just to get people to try PlayStation Now.
Definitely. Especially because if they like it, they may just consider buying a PS4 for even more great games…if they don’t they’ve still (probably) got PS Now… It’s a win-win situation for Sony!