Sony announces PlayStation Now game streaming service

It looks like Sony did have a couple of PlayStation surprises planned for the CES this year.

Gaikai has officially been reborn as “PlayStation Now” and the cloud-based game streaming service is headed to the PS3, PS4, PS Vita and Sony’s new line of BRAVIA TVs. PS Now is also coming to other devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Slated to launch this summer in North America, PlayStation Now games (PS1, PS2 and PS3 titles) will be available to rent individually or be accessible via subscription, neither of which were detailed or priced yet. Games revealed to be working with PS Now include BEYOND: Two Souls, God of War: Ascension, The Last of Us and Puppeteer. The service will support features such as PSN Trophies, online multiplayer and more.

A beta program will roll out later this month in a few select areas.

Read on for the details.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that “PlayStation Now” (PS Now), the company’s streaming game service that leverages cloud-based technology, will become officially available in the United States this summer. PS Now will deliver a variety of popular PlayStation 3 (PS3) game titles*1 first on PlayStation 4 (PS4) and PS3 systems, followed by the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) system.

In addition to PlayStation platforms, most 2014 U.S. models of Sony’s BRAVIA TV*2 lineup will support PS Now. Eventually the service will expand beyond PlayStation platforms and Sony devices, allowing users to stream PlayStation games on numerous other Internet-connected devices.

SCE’s vision for PS Now is to enable users to instantly enjoy a wide range of full games on the Internet-connected consumer electronics devices they use every day. The accessibility of PS Now means, for example, that PS4 users in the living room can continue playing a game on a PS3 system in their bedroom. Or PS Vita users can enjoy instant access to a game wherever there’s Wi-Fi connectivity, such as outdoors, then can switch to a supporting BRAVIA TV’s big screen and play the same game after arriving home.

PS Now will offer choice to gamers with how they want to access content. Gamers can rent by title for specific games they are interested in, or they can choose a subscription that delivers additional value with the ability to explore and play many games available across a wide variety of genres. In addition, the service will support many popular PSN features such as online multi-player, Trophies, and messages.

“We are thrilled to deliver entertainment experiences only possible from PlayStation through our new streaming game service,” said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “PS Now will allow users to engage in the world of PlayStation, whether they’re existing fans or have never owned a PlayStation platform.”

During the 2014 International CES held in Las Vegas from January 7, attendees can visit the Sony booth to have a hands-on experience with the PS Now service for the first time ever. Attendees can enjoy four blockbuster PS3 titles, BEYOND: Two Souls, God of War: Ascension, The Last of Us and Puppeteer from SCE Worldwide Studios, on PS Vita or BRAVIA TV.

Prior to the official launch, SCE will begin a beta program on PS3 systems in certain regions of the United States from the end of January. Additional information about PS Now will be available at http://us.playstation.com/playstationnow.

SCE will continue to create and expand a new world of entertainment only available on PlayStation through the introduction of innovative technologies and services that deliver amazing experiences.

*1 Details of supported titles will be announced when ready.
*2 Among the 9 U.S. models launching in 2014, 1 model (KDL-R400B) will not support this service.