PlayStation Now is the service Sony fans had been waiting for, and details about it have been doled out finally by the company. Fundamentally, it’s a game streaming service which will enable classic PlayStation games to run on current-gen PlayStation platforms as well as on other non-gaming platforms. This means it’s not only limited to the PS4 or the PS Vita, but will also be able to work on Internet-connected televisions, tablets and smartphones.
PlayStation Now has cropped up from Sony’s acquisition of the Gaikai game streaming service which took place in 2012. Although it was extremely clear that it will in some way or the other be incorporated with the PS4’s attributes, nothing had been revealed about it till now. PS Now will in a way look to resolve the console’s inability to provide backwards compatibility.
PlayStation Now will stream PS3 games onto many other systems apart from the PS4. And that doesn’t only include Sony products, as third-party hardware will also be supported in the future. Sony has made it clear that it will be a subscription-based service, but we don’t know still whether it will be included in PS Plus memberships or not. PS Now will support online multiplayer and Trophies, and moreover, you will also be able to subscribe and rent games.
For the time being, PlayStation Now will be limited to North America only. A closed beta is supposed to start later this month, while a full roll-out will happen this summer. It’s not sure right now whether or not your already-purchased PS3 games will be playable for free or not.