A new report from Bloomberg says that Sony is planning a to launch a new subscription service that merges PS Plus and PS Now. It's potentially huge news for the PlayStation Nation (yes, we're still writing that), but there are some finer details in the report that make for some very interesting reading.
The report says that this new service — codenamed 'Spartacus' — will offer three separate subscription tiers. The first includes all of your existing PS Plus benefits. The second adds a library of PS4, and eventually, PS5 games. The third tier, however, is the one that deserves your attention. Supposedly, it will include extended demos, game streaming... and access to PS1, PS2, PS3, and even PSP titles. Yes, you read that right.
The report doesn't mention how this might work. We assume some form of emulation will be necessary — but it'll be very hard to accurately envision this supposed service until Sony actually shows it to us. The Japanese giant has been heavily criticised for its rather lacking backwards compatibility efforts in the past, but this could be a very big deal.
Again, we'll have to wait and see how this all pans out. Dare we ask how much you'd pay for this third subscription tier? Start dreaming in the comments section below.
[source bloomberg.com]
Comments 136
I'd happily pay for that. Really wanting to play some older games
Thank you Xbox .
All depends on if it’s downloadable games or just streaming. If just streaming, I’ll pass.
So they’re basically making their own version of GamePass?
"service will give access to PS1-3 titles, and have tiers"
Right, because everybody was so happy that Nintendo went that route.
This sounds like it could be amazing, but we really have to wait and see how it actually pans out, like we said in the article.
We don't know quite enough to get overly excited just yet. There are a lot of ways Sony could undermine this, like a limited amount of games, or some weird emulation process.
Still, SUPER interesting!
Nintendo with their Expansion pack. Xbox with GamePass. Now Sony with this. I'm here for it!!! Hopefully this is true and if it is....please add trophy support, resolution, and higher framerates. Please and thank you!
I'd be willing to pay provided ALL the games can be downloaded and not just streamed.
I have decent internet connection but really struggled streaming on ps now which was the main reason I didn't renew when it expired
They should implement trophies on the older games. I’m expecting them to do so tbh. I hope my PS + stacks for 2023 don’t go to nothing because of this. At least offer an upgrade path please Sony 😭😭😎
PS+ + Expansion Pass + Mas Expansion Pass
This is all I want them to do. I don't care about day and date first party like Xbox has. Obviously it would be nice but they've got to pay the bills. I just want them to have something like the Nintendo online thing with access to classic older games hopefully with trophies.
Third tier sound like it’s has some plus benefits from PS3 days returning. (Demos and ps once classics etc) which is good to me
They did recently patent something to do with backwards compatibility hopefully it's not just streaming because my WiFi isn't great surprising there aren't more PS2 & ps1 games available on ps4 / ps5 because there's quite a few on the PS3 store
What About Vita Games?
I'd love to see Sony double-down on non-streaming support for legacy content from their older consoles, even if it's via a subscription service.
Wow 5 years late to the party! Xbox game pass launched in 2017 didn’t it?
Sony should have done this years ago, where’s the innovation?Sony should have been the ones to invent this, not copy it.
The tier system, sure sounds wonderful to Sony’s marketing department but why not throw in the whole lot for one set price, rather than introducing tiers?
No doubt it will be great value to those new to the Sony console and have access to the 27 + years back catalogue.
I for one would love to go for a trip down memory lane and visit nostalgia avenue, particularly the MGS series.
Another service to moan about every month? Only if it's got downloadable Dead space
This plus that patent of the PlayStation controller you can put on your phone… has me HYPPPPPPEED
If I'm paying $15/mo. for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, I might pay $20 for Sony's top tier. Far more games in Sony's library that I'm interested in.
If that rumor about them adding Crunchyroll (and possibly Funimation) is also the value here for someone like me is off the charts.
@Thelegend159
PS Now launched THREE YEARS before Game Pass.
Hopefully they have watched what Nintendo have done with the Expansion Pack and figured they could do better. Fingers crossed that the PS1 selection isn't the same as the 20 games on the PS1 Classic.
why can't they just let you buy separate games these days, rather than just forcing you to keep paying?
@CWill97 a while ago they did patent a system that trophies could unlock on older emulated games
www.ign.com/articles/playstation-patents-the-ability-to-add-trophies-to-emulated-retro-games%3famp=1
This is really getting old, we've seen this same exact rumor floating around since the PS4 launched.
Was hoping we’d get legacy console games at some point this generation. Always wondered if Sony had a ‘ card up their sleeve’ with legacy titles after the remake of Medieval offered access to the original PS 1 game upon completing it. Figured Sony had the capabilities to at least bring us PS1 titles. And with the rumored PS2 and PS3 … I say BRING IT ON. !!!! Long live King Sony and the global PlayStation empire !!
I hope its not expensive, also hopefully these games have trophies.
I just hope they allow it the other way around. Interested in the retro games but not tiers 1 & 2.
I’m Spartacus!
As others have said, if this just streaming then I'm not interested.
If i can download them then i'm all in just as long its not drip fed like Nintendo's method.
I hope off disc playback works without a subscription. Then I'd settle with tier 2.
If this turns out to be a good service we have Microsoft to thank for that.
@Scooby-Doo
I hear ya on that. If I could buy the older games I care about separately like PS1 classics on PS3 and Vita that would be preferable as I only want to go back and play so many games from older generations.
Xbox has this functionality and I appreciate the heck out of it.
This is all just pure rumor though so who knows maybe in the end this will be the case? Here's hoping!
@uptownsoul around yes, but stagnant.
That’s very interesting. I’m down with this if it’s true
I'm really interested to see if this is true.
I'm really hoping so but I'm keeping my expectations in check.
@Loftimus Game Pass Ultimate has downloadable Dead Space via EA Play integration...just saying.
Yeah no thanks ill go the other route ill buy a old PS1 and mod so i can play my games i bought.
Sounds probable! Don't know how tempted I'd be with the "top tier" but who knows.
Excellent news. Been hoping they'd do something like this.
Playstation Plus Pro Max
Removed - trolling/baiting
I hope this is real. I'll sign up for a Tier 3.
N.i.c.e. hopefully parasites eve.syphon filteretc are among some of those games.word up son
I'll wait for official confirmation before getting excited. Before the PS5 release, there were a lot of strong rumours saying that it would be backwards compatible with PS1 and PS2 games. Disappointing that it never happened.
@Loftimus yooo that's one of the best games on the ps3 and its a tragedy that it hasn't been remade before now or even ported to ps4 and xbone
I’ll keep buying my games, thanks.
PS2/3 games?? Sign me up!
Yes! We needed this so much! There are so many old games that I want to play, this would be a great great great thing for Sony!
Many countries never got PSnow. Is it any good? Does it require full streaming or is there a download component?
@GamingFan4Lyf yeah i am going to buy an xbox this gen. It's just a case of which one and when.
@Thelegend159 Tier system is a terrible idea. Just a cynical way to gouge customers.
@Loftimus You do you, but Xbox’s exclusive titles are no where near the quantity or quality of Sony’s.
@awp69 ps now is a mixture of both
I've been saying this for ages, now have there studios make smaller games as well as their blockbusters to release straight onto this service and they'll be onto a game pass beater ,let's be honest game pass is mainly made up of indie garbage that you play for 5 min ,and ms cant really compete with Sony with regards to first party titles
@munstre 180 what ?
This is great and all, but it all depends on two things for me
1, Prices?
2, New first party titles day one?
If number 2 doesn't happen then I see no reason for this re branding other than a way to get more money as it still wouldn't hold a candle to gamepass
@UltimateOtaku91 really great day one games on game pass are few and far between
@vapidwolf yeah I know but still saves you some money in the long run, if sony release an average of 4, new exclusives a year costing you £250 altogether new or pay £60 a year and get to download and play them on release saving you £190 to spend on other games or other stuff in general
No matter what they do it'll always look inferior to game pass and their day one AAA games
@UltimateOtaku91 yeah I get you but I don't really watch my spending per year ,more of a buy it when it's out kind of person
For the payers
Tell ya what Sony... I will happily pay $50 for an optional firmware update to the PS5 that allows me to play my PS1, PS2 and PS3 discs on the one hardware platform. Let me be clear... $50 per system is what I'd pay. That'd allow every disc I have to play on the PS5. I'll happily pay that.
If this is true I hope my stacked PS plus and now subscriptions carry over fairly.
@UltimateOtaku91
Of course price is important, but getting games day one not so much. Not unless you love GaaS genre or have so much time on your hands that you are have finished every game you have an interest in by the time the next one comes out.
If this somehow included games you owned instead of just handpicked games by Sony I'd be ecstatic especially after buying so many classics when they were about to shut down the PS3 store
And assuming this is even true, did they really exclude vita again lol? I'm trying to find an excuse not to play the steam version of P4 golden that doesn't include buying a vita
It's funny how people keep saying Sony don't have a game pass equivalent, but ps Now is basically that but more old games, no new first party games.
It's actually pretty great and I noticed a lot of the games on gamepass also end up on psNow
@Jireland92 yes. they waited to see if it was economically viable, then pretty much just copied it.
If I can download them, the heck yeah! This'll be sweet!
@Arnna Calm down there. I'm keeping my ps5.
If ms numbers go up though, Sony might have to start looking over their shoulder, which is no bad thing.
And give us some first day releases on the subscription too, you cowards!
If Nintendo is any example, the emulation/BC/streaming 3rd tier will cost far more than most people are willing to pay. So my excitement is very much contained.
@meistergeister ....oh dear
I hate this subscription crap. I would much rather purchase what I want to play.
Issue being licensing will hamstring the service and mean all my faves will be missing.
i don't care about any of thes subscription services but that oart with backward compatibility got my attention
Yeah because instead of playing gt7 I've been longing to play ridge racer 1 on my PS5.....
This doesn't sound like Gamepass but if the service can deliver then I wouldn't mind subbing.
Bought a mega big oled, ready for fresh 120hz HDR 4k gaming.
For the umpteenth generation sits playing ridge Racer type 4.
Not really interested in older titles. That’s more like competing with Switch Expansion Pass.
I really just want a subscription of good short indies. I can pay for AAA.
If they don’t (and they won’t) add day one first party games then this thing is pretty much worthless vs gamepass
I can dream this is how I’ll finally play Xenosaga
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES. Also, please bring trophy support to these older games
If the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP games have trophies id pay for the third tier subscription.
Not so sure that i want to pay extra for playing 90s polygonal games on my 4k Tv…this would look beyond rubbish
Just like with Switch, I'd rather have the option to buy some retro games than have to subscribe to a collection. I can't see myself paying for this, but be interested to see what they include.
@Enuo Sony had a PR about merging Crunchyroll and Funimation/Wakanim. So if we're getting a tier that include anime, it should be the new combined service.
I don't believe it... but it'd be awesome if it happened.
Don't expect a bunch of Classic PSX or PS2 era games to be available, due to licensing and now defunct development teams/publishing companies. Look at the fiasco that is the"GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition". Missing licensed Music tracks & less than dismal porting.
Now im not jaded, but my expectations are limited to shovelware & super obscure games.
If there are trophies for the PS1/2 games I may consider the top tier. If not, then I don't really have incentive to revisit those games as I've already played all the ones I wanted to.
@uptownsoul I'm talking about overall value, not the monthly games. Psplus hasn't really added anything in value but has rather reduced it since its glorious PS3 and early PS4 days. PS now is an interesting service, but the streaming experience is way behind the competition (GeForce now, xcloud, stadia).
I think combining the two services is a great step in the right direction, but they need either to step up their streaming performance or offer emulation for PS1/2/3.
I suspect they'll follow Nintendo. PS1 free with PS+, then the tiers for PS2 and beyond.
PS4 will be a bit of a joke seeing how PS5 is mostly PS4 games.
They could do what they do with PSNow where it's available on PC. But where does that leave PS4 games coming to PC?
Lots of questions, but will have to wait for official word from Sony before I ponder more.
I hope this is true, it will be cool to replay some of psone classic on ps5 😃
As others have noted. The distinction between "streaming only" & download native support of legacy ps1/2 etc.,generation games tied into some sort of cloud/PS Now backend emulation isn't exactly clear with these rumours.🤔
As it stands,PS Now is still a service only available to certain territories,(eg: despite a page briefly suggesting it was coming to Australia/NZ,it vanished almost as quickly as it first popped up).
Nor to my knowledge did they even add many titles to that beyond the few in the short-lived PS2 Classics on ps4 range before that was quietly shelved.
Agree,would rather have the option to buy individual titles rather than subscription pay walls ala Ninty but seems to be the modern trend! 🤔
Still,Jim Ryan did hint sometime back they were experimenting with the Azure cloud tech in different ways,so let's wait & see.
@Jireland92 They already have their own version of GP lol.
They are making their own GP Ultimate by combining the two. Sony had GP before GP.
@tameshiyaku PS+ gave us FFVII Remake and day one PS5 releases. Hitman 2, Mortal Shell, Amular Re-reckoning were just given. We also just received three of the best VR games. PS+ is literally $5 per month and often less. It's great value.
@Ken_Kaniff 100%
Add trophies and I'll probably buy your top tier. That would likely put me over.
@Chaotic_Goat I'd still rather play PS exclusives a year later than play XB exclusives day one, so not quite..
PS PLUS MAX
PS SUPER PLUS
PS ULTRA PLUS
Just loved the idea but i wish there is a retro compatibility on PS5 because i have lot of PS retro games that i wish i can play them on dual sence.
Killzone 2
Resistance 2
Max Payne 3
Tekken Tag tournament 2
Enslaved
Bayonetta
Portal 2
@awp69 it will be just streaming
Never go full Nintendo
@Judal27 if its psnow , then no, it won't include the games you own already.
@eagletrippin Go birds! 🦅
after reading a lot of these comments people are going to be super disappointed , if its psNow its going to be streaming , and its not like you'll be able to put your old discs in your ps5 and all the sudden you can play them.
Let’s hope it’s not a 250% price increase like Nintendo.
I hope you dont have to have all 3 and can pick and choose which ones you want
To the people who were like "it would never work, game pass is rubbish" and the same people who are like "woohoo a playstation version of gamepass" and the same people who are like "ps now and ps plus been here before gamepass so its not copying".
You sound like fanboys and are just ignorant.
@R-Soub some of those games are really expensive licences. Example portal 2 is a valve owned game and if sony wanted to include it as "part of a subscription based model" they would liturally need permission and be paying royalties for a ...lets face it very old game. I dont see that happening and honestly believe playstations version of gamepass wont come close too it in terms of partnerships, day and date releases. Unless they can get ea play on board and microsoft on board too host there cloud services.
@ericG909 Yessir!!!! But...😫
@iamtylerdurden1 I wasn't talking about the quality of the monthly games, which were partially really good but rather about the streaming infrastructure and the offering as a whole.
And yes while there were months with cool stuff like project tango, ff7, plague tale etc there was also the trend to add games that were obviously build as free2play games or other games that were also just added to psnow, adding little extra value to those who were subscribed to both. That and the bad streaming (under good internet conditions) made me quit psnow.
The only problem here is the game list. So many titles cannot be released because of licence issues. All the classics I'd like to play are stuck to using old hardware or PC emulation.
I would happily at least try that just bc two main reasons: The ability to play legacy games and try games before buy them, other than that I have zero interest on “borrow” games like game pass, I like to OWN my games and play them whenever I want.
Just hope it's handled as well as Gamepass since I don't wnat it to be as bad as Nintendo Online.
'...adds a library of PS4, and eventually, PS5 games...'
For it to be a Gamepass like service then Sony needs to put their 1st party titles on it at launch. THAT is the main selling point of Gamepass.
Sorry I highly doubt it
@iamtylerdurden1 I just can’t wait that long 😂
If the old Pro Evolution games are available then I’m all in for a higher tier. Konami will probably make sure that won’t happen though
The ability to purchase and permanently own specific games on my account is very important to me. I've never cared about subscription services because games constantly rotate in and out and I want to enjoy a given game at my convenience, on my own terms (and anyone with a substantial backlog knows how easily even great titles can get pushed down your priority list). From a business perspective, subscription services aren't so much about convenience as they are CONTROL, gating user access to anything they can and especially taking the rights of the end user away (this is why they insist that those $60-plus, legal PURCHASES you make are "licenses").
And if Sony is in fact adding PSX, PS2, and PS3 titles to the mix then they can surely employ a feature similar to the XBox Backward Compatibility program. I personally have dozens of digital purchases on my PS3 along with several for the PSP that being able to merge onto my PS5 via my PlayStation account would add tons of value. If they can implement one means of bringing these games to current hardware then they can do the other.
I've enjoyed PS Plus as is, honestly, but the current price point is as far as I'm willing to go. No ability to permanently purchase and own games would be a hard pass, regardless.
Wait a minute... they are copying nintendos dumb move by charging a higher subscription 'tier' to access old games that should be playable by default? This is awful news, just ask the ninty fans! By all means combine PS+ and PSnow (should've happened years ago imo) but to lock your backwards compatibility initiative behind your most expensive pay wall is egregious!!! It's like they want us to pirate their old games..
PS1 and 2 games on the system will literally make me sign up for anything they offer. None of the benefits of Plus and Now appeal to me though so hopefully I wouldn't have to pay a crap ton if money to get to the third tier.
Could I FINALLY get to play Legend of Dragoon and Megaman Legends again??
While this sounds like an amazing idea I also have worries about how this will turn out. Will the service be too expensive? How well will the games run? Will we have to stream PS3 games or will they actually work on emulation? Will Sony actually maintain the effort to keep it a strong service? Only time will tell but this could be a great service if done correctly. I also don't see it as a Game Pass competitor because it doesn't offer their first party titles day 1, more of a combination of Plus and Now which frankly should have been done ages ago.
Been playing Wild Arms on ePSXe on my phone. PSOne RPGs really are some of the best.
@Richnj Everyone was unhappy Nintendo went that route...in an overly limited, expensive, confusing Nintendo way. Hopefully Sony won't be so stupid.
I will use the free trial.
@Sam_ATLUS It'll probably take a while to find it's feet, but Sony need to get behind that kind of thing sooner or later. I wonder if it'll be PS5 only or also on PS4? I'm guessing just PS5?
Most importantly, will this system recognise our old PS1-3 games? Digital at least, but preferably physical as well. I understand neither the PS4, nor PS5 can directly play these games, but perhaps they could recognise discs as a sort of physical emulation pass?
@Fyz306903 If Sony added full (on par with Xbox) BC support. Allowing past digital and disc purchases to be used, I'd make the PS5 my first 9th gen console.
But my gut feeling tells me that Sony is stupid enough to go the Nintendo route, and that they'll get away with it too.
If true I hope Monster Hunter Freedom Unite makes the cut for the PSP classics roster so I don't have to get a Vita.
@Richnj if you are expecting that , then you only let your self down. no one even said they were doing that. you are just assuming it. and honestly it just sounds like they are combining ps+ and psnow and those games will be streaming only.
Depending on the price of the 3rd tier, how the games are presented (emulation vs server), and whether or not we can download them...I may be interested in the service.
@twitchtvpat I'm saying I'm not expecting Sony to provide BC support on a system level, but to instead provide it through a streaming service.
The people I'm replying to seem to think that the support will be system level.
@Richnj that would be like saying i shouldn't have to pay for movies on netflix if i own them? you won't be able to stream a game for free because you own the disc that makes no sense at all.
@twitchtvpat What are you on about?. I never said we should get free streaming.
I'D BUY IT FOR A DOLLAR!
@Richnj you clearly said if sony let you use past purchases and discs for past games like ps1-ps3. which are only going to be playable threw streaming. so you did. unless for some reason you think you can put your ps1-ps3 discs and all of the sudden they'll become playable which isn't happening.
@twitchtvpat you need to read the whole post and not just half of it. I also said "if" at the beginning and "But my gut feeling tells me that Sony is stupid enough to go the Nintendo route, and that they'll get away with it too." in the last half.
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