Soon, you will be able to enjoy PlayStation games without actually owning a PlayStation.
Sony has announced that a pilot service for its new PlayStation Now streaming service will launch on Sony televisions on June 30. The TVs in question are particular 2014 models, including the newly released Bravia 4K televisions from Sony: XBR-X950B series, XBR-X900B series, XBR-X800B series, KDL-W950B series, KDL-W850B series, KDL-W800B series, KDL-W700B series and KDL-W600B series.
PlayStation Now is a game stream service, where a video game is run remotely on a server, but the graphics and sound are sent over the Internet to the player. In this way, a device that does not have the chips or the power of one of Sony's consoles could play PlayStation games.
Internet service is required, obviously, to stream games over the Internet. Sony recommends speeds of 5MB per second. For play over the televisions, the PS3's Dual Shock 3 controller will also be required. Games can be rented on PlayStation Now. Some will be free, others will be priced anywhere from $2.99 to $19.99.
The pilot program for Sony televisions launching on June 30 will be a limited service. An actual beta of PlayStation Now will launch in the Fall. A private beta of PlayStation Now is currently being held on the PlayStation 4, with an open beta launching on July 31st.
The private beta offers a rotating roster of games, though currently there are 35 titles. Games include Adventure Time, Dark Siders, Final Fantasy XIII, Guacamelee and Saint Rows the Third. PlayStation Now is currently offering games at a variety of prices, depending if you are renting the game for 4 hours, 7 days, 30 days or 90 days.
Right now, PlayStation Now is only offering PlayStation 3 games, though it will expand to titles from all generations of PlayStation, including PS4, in the future. One of the criticisms of the PlayStation 4 was its lack of backwards compatibility, that is to play the games of the previous generation. With PlayStation Now, Sony will be able to provide PS3 games on the PS4.
Beyond the current PS4 and Sony television support, PS Now will also be coming to PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and the new PlayStation TV media device that is launching in the Fall.
Sony is able to offer the PlayStation Now streaming service after the company acquired the Gaikai streaming service in July 2012. Speculation began that the service would be used for its next generation console. Press conferences in 2013 revealed these rumors to be true and PlayStation Now was formally named at CES 2014 held in Las Vega in January 2014.
Players can sign-up for access to the upcoming PlayStation Now open betas online.
