Is a PlayStation Game Pass-style service on the horizon? Sony was reported to be working on a new game catalog with the intention of releasing it in the Spring of 2022, and it appears that the company is already taking initiatives in that direction. Physical PlayStation Now cards have begun to disappear from UK stores, adding fuel to speculations that Sony plans to integrate its streaming game service with PS Plus.
“Stores have until the close of day Wednesday 19, January to remove all POS and ESD cards from all customer-facing areas and update their digital bays in line with this week’s upcoming commercial update.”
– GAME Store Message Board
This statement was reported by VentureBeat. According to the GAME email, UK merchants will have to withdraw all PS Now cards from sale before January 21st. These also appear to be Sony’s initial efforts in welcoming its new subscription.
PlayStation Game Pass?
Based on the information shared by these insiders, who requested anonymity, Sony plans to merge these two programs. However, they plan on keeping the PlayStation Plus brand and ignoring the PlayStation Now platform. Beginning in the spring, the membership, which has previously only allowed access to online titles and free monthly games, should have its own library of new and classic games for PS5 and PS4.
The revamped subscription would essentially be a reimagining of PlayStation Plus, with some of the (better) elements of PlayStation Now thrown in for good measure. The files include three subscription classes, which may not be official.
- The first would provide the existing PS Plus perks.
- The second would be improved with a substantial collection of PS4 games (and, later, from PS5).
- Lastly, the third would be the most comprehensive, with extra demos, cloud play, and a library of masterpieces from the first PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and even PSP.
This new service, expected in the spring, will likely retain the "PlayStation Plus" branding. Don't expect Sony to include its big new games day one like Game Pass does, but the expectation is a stronger offering than PlayStation Now
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) December 3, 2021
SOURCES: Bloomberg, Venture Beat
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