Sony announced on Tuesday that it will roll out its video gaming streaming service to Japanese consumers for a limited time.
Called PlayStation Now, gamers in Japan will now be able to sign up to test the beta at its official website. Those who are selected to participate will receive an email to giving them access to PlayStation Now when the beta goes live on August 20. The trial will last for three weeks, with games like The Last Guy, Puppeteer and Tokyo Jungle available to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV systems.
After the trial period, Sony will release the full service to the public, but no exact date has been announced.
The decision to launch PlayStation Now in the Japanese market comes as a reaction to low console sales in the recent years. Japan was previously one of the largest markets for video games, but as more games become available on smartphones, console sales continue to decline. According to a survey by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association in Japan, the console market has decreased by half in the past seven years.
Still, Sony has sold 20.2 million PlayStation 4 units worldwide as of March 1. The video game streaming service could bring new life to the Japanese gaming market and increase the chances of recurring purchases.
PlayStation Now is already available in the U.S. and the U.K., which offers over 100 games from PS3, PS4, PS Vita and select Smart TVs for free during its seven-day trial. The cost for the PS4 subscription is $20 per month, which gives gamers unlimited access to the library of PS3 games.
Photo: Global Panorama | Flickr
Via: Wall Street Journal
