PlayStation Now could be about to get a whole lot more desirable, but we’d hold your horses before getting too hyped. An image has popped up on Reddit showing a screenshot from the streaming service’s user interface, and it appears to imply that a ‘Download’ option is being added to the application. Theoretically, this would imply that subscribers will be able to download software to play natively, similarly to PlayStation Plus games.
Not every part of this rumour adds up, though. Firstly, it shows the ‘Download’ button on what appears to be a PlayStation 3 game, and seeing as the PS4 has no form of backwards compatibility, it’s highly unlikely that you’d be able to pull those games from the cloud. Of course, PlayStation Now does also include PS4 software now, which would run without a hitch if downloaded – although none of this functionality would be available on the PC either.
The second issue is that we haven’t been able to corroborate the authenticity of the image ourselves. We certainly don’t see the ‘Download’ button in our app, and thus far, we haven’t been able to verify it with anyone else. Off-screen images always make us wary, but we suppose there is a small chance that Sony accidentally rolled this feature out, before promptly pulling it again. According to the user, clicking the button did nothing.
We’re going to say that there’s a strong chance the image is either fake or a pure mistake, but there’s no question that PlayStation Now’s stock would rise heavily if Sony could roll a feature like this out. With over 650 games available, the option to both stream anywhere and download full PS4 titles would certainly be enticing. We reckon it’s unlikely based on this evidence, but the Japanese giant has said that it wants to bolster subscriber numbers of all of its services.
This would be a good place to start.
[source reddit.com, via vg247.com]
Comments 31
Still thinking of taking up that £60 for a year's sub in the sale, considering it works out at a fiver a month.
I'd get it if I could download games and play instead. Without hesitation
I think it's interesting that both EA and Microsoft announced similar services to PS Now at E3. Shows that Sony was ahead of the curve on this.
@get2sammyb And Capcom are dabbling with the tech too. Just shows that for all the criticism the service gets, Sony may well have been onto something. Just wish more of the bigger publishers supported it. Would be nice to have Mass Effect and Deus Ex on the service.
what good is a streaming service if it is no longer used as a streaming service? downloading the games would make it no different than any other digital platform so this makes little sense. also, fragmenting the service by not including the ps3 offerings would create confusion amongst the less educated users. unless sony has created a ps3 emulator running on ps4, the "download" option seems unlikely. if they have in fact created a ps3 emulator and specific ps3 titles will run on ps4 (physical and digital), that is great news. now that i think about it, netflix has a download option so it might not be as crazy as it sounds for sony to eventually add the feature.
@Porco I disagree. I don't think it's likely at all, but offering the choice of downloads and streaming doesn't water down its original purpose — you'll still be able to stream the games, after all.
If it gets people through the door, then it might be considered a win in Sony's eyes. If you have subscribers then using it to stream on their laptop etc because they're already subscribed for the downloads, then suddenly you start changing the perception.
Again, I don't think it's likely at all — but I don't think it's a completely outlandish idea.
@get2sammyb @Porco Never used Spotify in offline mode? It's essential if you use the underground!
Anyway, I think this is entirely possible, with some funky coding PS Now could emulate PS3 games.
Of course, there is a difference between a song on Spotify at a couple of MB, and a 40gb PS4 game. Maybe you can play as you download to get you into the action quicker.
Re subtitle of this article: Imagine we get game pass just like Xbox with all those PS4 exclusives. Omg
@tatsumi Not going to happen because PS4 exclusives actually sell. (This generation, anyway.)
Main reason I stay away from PS Now is because of my poor internet speeds.
Getting a download option on games would make me heavily consider trying it out.
@get2sammyb I know, Sony would lose a lot of money. But IMAGINE! well, dreams be dreams
@get2sammyb Also I see you changed your avatar to another big head
@get2sammyb
What'd you do? Wait until the stroke of midnight?!
I would love a download option. If it happens I will absolutely resub to PSNOW!
Hopefully it actually happens and it's not just a rumor I get that streaming might become the future but not everyone has access to fast internet
If this is real, even if it only works for the service's PS4 titles, I'd definitely be up for giving it another shot. I've never liked the idea of streaming games, and not just because of my terrible internet (thanks Wales).
@get2sammyb Thank goodness no more Phil.
This wouldn't be Now if they did it, they'd have to call it something else. PS+ Plus probably. Ok maybe not.
I would honestly love this. I tried PS Now a couple of months ago on a 7-day trial, but I hated it. The compression was hard to stomach and it made games look awful, especially if you sit quite close to the screen like I do. And that's with 100Mb fibre internet. Being able to download games with a decent library of PS4 titles would change this entirely.
I think that this is the much needed future of the service, allowing people to get in on it while Internet quality catches up. That said I don't think they will invest in the in emulation this gen. Just a guess though.
Couldn't they add PS3 emulation in a console update?
As I said on the forum thread, even with an option to download the titles instead, I still don't think the library is anywhere near good enough to make it worth people subscribing on a regular basis, at least for what the service costs.
The "Days of Play" deal of £60 for a year is a decent start, but I didn't even know about that offer until I searched for it on the store myself. If they marketed that better, it could hopefully help get the ball rolling a bit more and become more of a success.
I do live for an utter lack of recognition 😒 😂
I know about Playstation Now for years but if you ask me how to access it I don't have a clue honestly!
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi yeah I'm really disappointed in the BBC's 4K streaming. I've got pretty good internet as well and I was still getting buffering every now and then, as well as the bitrate clearly dropping at points. Not to mention being about a minute behind the live time due to streaming.
I'm calling fake on this rumour. If it was real though, I'd consider using it occasionally.
Ps now will be a lot of more interesting if we can download all the ps2 and ps4 games rather than streaming it.
Would love a download as my internet is not amazing for streaming and would love to play red dead before 2 comes out(don't have an Xbox or a ps3). Please Sony!!
I actually would like it just to reach Portugal... so I could try it... I really wanted just to try it 😑
If Sony can make PS4 download PS3 on PS Now then that's going to be some serious voodoo magic.
I just(STILL) want a PlayStation that I can just stick my PS1 and PS2 and PS3 and PS4 Games in and play them :-/ it can't be that hard to make now can it?!?! Oh well.
Two things:
1. @get2sammyb EA announced an expanded version of EA Origin/Access - which is a download service - there is no streaming involved.
2. As I see it, PS Now would work well if it had the ability to stream game demos/trials. And/or stream a game as you download it. It would make PS Now an incredible concept and very marketable as we move in to a more increasingly digital only future.
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