As we announced back at CES, PlayStation Now (PS Now) is the first-ever game streaming service available on a game console, where you can quickly access a rich and expanding library of PlayStation 3 (PS3) games from our cloud servers. Since January, PS Now has been in Private Beta for select gamers across the country, and I’m happy to announce that the Open Beta will be available to all PlayStation 4 (PS4) owners in the U.S. and Canada starting tomorrow.
As part of this Open Beta, PS4 users will see PS Now titles fully integrated into PlayStation Store, available to be streamed for various rental durations. Check out the video walkthrough of how it all works:
During the PS Now Open Beta, PS4 users will see a diverse library of more than 100 titles to rent, with more added regularly. PS Now will offer a variety of rental periods depending on the game, including 7-days, 30-days or 90-days, as well as a short 4-hour duration, so players can sample the experience first.
With a strong and stable broadband connection, visual and gameplay quality will be much like what you’re used to with other PS3 games. PS Now will also feature cloud game saves, as well as support for other popular network features such as Trophies, friend lists and leaderboards. You can also play seamlessly online with other people on PS Now, or even players who have the downloadable or disc based version of the game. As you know, the PS3 catalog of games is massive and incredibly diverse, and we’re thrilled to make these epic experiences available to PS4 first, followed by our other PlayStation platforms in the coming months.
Since we’re still in Beta, and in the very early days of PS Now, we plan to continue to collect feedback during this Open Beta phase to make further refinements to the service, so please provide us feedback once you’ve experienced the service.
We want to thank those that have been participating in the PS Now Private Beta for their time, dedication and valuable feedback, which have helped us continue to shape the service.
You will immediately see a clear breakdown of what’s included with game rentals, so it’s easier to tell what content you’re getting with your rental, especially since several games offered through PS Now include DLC that increase the value of the offering. Also, in a few weeks, you will start seeing reduced pricing on some 4-hour rentals which will appear at $1.99.
In addition, we’ve heard you loud and clear for an update on a PS Now subscription option and want to reassure you that we are working on it. We think PS Now represents the next step toward the future of gaming and we’re excited to have the PlayStation Nation come along with us on the beginning of this journey.
@M_K_Sniper The Last of Us was remastered for the PS4. That’s why the graphics and framerate look better, they’re optimized for the PS4. It’s not like you can stick a Last of Us PS3 disc in a PS4 and expect it to work…so yeah, still impossible.
#287 – You can do that now, there is no need for all of you to use 1 account/profile. I have the PS+ account on my profile. Any other PSN account that you have set up on that PS4 can play online. That feature has been there since day one. My son and daughter play online way more that I do, and they have no issues with playing online. They can also play the free games I get from PS+ each month and each of them earn their own trophies
I also hate to break it to you, but Xbox One is the same way. One Xbox Live account on the system and all other accounts on there can play online with no issues.
How do I connect to playstation now on ps4
If sony was really worried about the console war (which their not) they would make it an option to buy a console that plays every PS game ever created, A system like that wouldn’t stay on the shelves!!
But like I said Sony Isn’t worried about winning the console war.
Am i unlucky enough to not be able access psnow? Is there something special i need to do?
Why are you guys avoiding all questions regarding PS1/PS2 games and whether they will be available on PSNow? Can we please get an update so us retro gamers aren’t left in the dark?
If the subscription would be tied into a PS plus subscription..oh boy.. PS plus will be so powerful to have.. good now but great then..and as for myself a PS3 owner yet to go to a PS4 because none of the digital games I bought on PS3 can work on PS4 well a impossible to beat merge between PS now and PS plus would be great.
To add to the comments on doing away with rental pricing model and going with a reasonably priced subscription model; i.e., you must beat Gamefly pricing (as you only have games for Sony systems). I am thinking $11.99, cancel at any time, per month for 12 month commitment and $8.99/month for 24 month commitment. Anything pricing higher than these levels should include PS+ as well.
Another item which should be address with PS Now and PS+ is a family pricing model. My household has 3 PS3’s, 2 PS Vita’s, and 1 PSP. The PS4 Glacier White Destiny bundle is on pre-order for my 12 year old son and I’ll be getting whatever PS4 bundle is offered for Black Friday this year. How about a break on PS+? My son’s PS account is a sub-account of mine.
I don’t want to rent my games, I want to BUY them to keep permanently. A subscription that’s tied to PS Plus would be even better. When PS Now was announced, I assumed it would be a subscription service like Netflix, Hulu, etc. I had no idea we’d have to pay weekly/monthly prices to rent games individually, which is ridiculous.
You’ve done well with PS4 so far, sales have been great. But the slow release of system updates and lack of first party games is really making me regret my purchase. A game system is only as good as its games.
If you guys don’t get your act together soon I’m seriously considering selling my PS4 and buying an Xbox One. Microsoft has been far more reliable with their system updates, and they’ve been making more games on a consistent basis.
PS Now open beta isn’t available yet because we’ve been blowing this blog up the last 12+ hours lol
Part II:
How about his PS+ being a sub of mine as well. As I wait until 12 month memberships are on sale (see GameStop or Best Buy) for $39.99 ($79.98 for two accounts), a yearly fee $69.99 for a family account seems reasonable. And for a PS Now subscription service, I could stomach $17.99 for 12 month commitment and $13.99 for 24 month commitment.
As someone stated earlier, you should use the business method of enticing everyone to get on board as fast as possible with reasonable pricing. My advice is do so and then 24 months down the line from bump everyone up to a $13.99 single account access to PS+ & PS Now and $19.99/month family (multiple sub-account) access to PS+ & PS Now.
I dont care WHAT the prices are I just want to play PS3 games also im in North America its 12:24 Still dont have the open beta :/ guess it will be released later 3:00 or later i guess
WHY IS THE PRICING SO HIGH SONY. IT SHOULD BE LIKE 99 CENTS FOR 1 DAY, 5 DOLLARS FOR A MONTH OR 10 A MONTH FOR ALL GAMES. NO GAMES SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN 5 DOLLARS TO RENT OR 10 DOLLARS TO BUY. A SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE WOULD BE GOOD ALSO. I LIKE HOW JACK BUSER ONLY REPLIED TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHO HE COULD ANSWER TO AND ALSO ONLY TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WEREN’T SAYING THEIR PRICES SUCKED. REPLY TO ME JACK AND ANSWER MY QUESTION OF WHY IT’S SO DAMN EXPENSIVE.
A Playstation that plays Playstion games isn’t smart for business, come on guys! (Sarcasm) :D
how long do you have to wait until you get the playstation now?
I just sign up for it..wanna know how long would it take until i get to try it….
There are soooooo many PS3 owners out there that would gladly pay $$ to upgrade to the Playstion 4 if it actually played games, but it doesn’t. The light bar is pretty cool tho lol.
$1.99 is way too much for a 4 hour rental! Services like this make me mad after many game rental stores closed their doors because of the lure of online services! Now you want to make people pay a fortune to not even own a game!? What happened to the $0.99 a day rental?! This is not even a physical copy! Sheesh, Sony can do better than that!
WIll playstation now allow me to stream games iv’e already bought on the ps3 from the store. For free?
No, because that would make sense
I don’t understand why SONY doesn’t give the PS4 backwards compatibility through digital DL (ex. The last of Us) with people upgrading to PS4 and the PS + membership they would rake in well over a Billion a year!!! But that would make sense and they would just nickle and dime people by taking BC away from new consoles
What time do it starts?
BIOHAZARDOUS-X – The answer is No. I read somewhere that Sony said that it cost the company money to stream the games and that they didn’t see a solution for customers who already own games that they want to stream over PS Now.
They should really make that 4 hour rental like 99 cents because paying twice as much for a 4 hour rental gets you the game for an entire week. I see no logic in that pricing. You’re paying like 4 cents an hour for the week rental but 75 cents an hour for the 4 hour period. Come on SONY.
SONY, give me the ability to Digitally Download games like the last of us as far back as PS1, I will GIVE you my money to be able to BUY games from you and store them on my shiny new 1TB Hybrid Drive…please please please! I’m begging you SONY!,, let me buy the old classics and keep them on my SSHD!!!
What time does the beta start? It’s already noon in the central part of the U.S. and it’s not out.
There is no set time, but my guess is they’re tweaking it a bit after all the complaints in this blog haha
I can play PSOne games on my phone for free, with no internet required except for the actual download of the game… thanks internet
I’d rather BUY the games to own, or pay a SUBSCRIPTION like Netflix. Renting games individually for short durations is ridiculous.
Over 300+ negative comments,,, perhaps charging people to TEST a beta was a bad idea? Mehhh. Activision gave Bungie $500 mil for a Copy n Paste Halo/Borderlands shooter, so why can’t sony charge people for a demo?
@BIOHAZARDOUS-X the quote i saw was when asked if I could put a PS3 disc in my PS4 and play it was “We… uh, initially, no. So, we’re saying no to that right now.” Bu tI do find what you read interesting especially since PS+ is also a money bleed to the company
@jibjab79
That’s piracy and it’s illegal. I bet you steal your music and movies too. Prepare to get banned.
If you bought a PS4 to play PS3 and older games, you’re doing all F’ing wrong. Sony, just focus on make more great PS4 games and ignore the obnoxious vocal minority.
Still waiting for the day that I can pop in one of my PS3 discs and it gets recognized and allows me to play on Playstation Now on my PS4. Please tell me that this day is coming.
Just ’cause feedback is important, I believe:
1.) I would like to see this in a subscription model. As fun as “instantaneous” is, the novelty will wear off quickly as prices are seen as too high.
2.) This will be super cool for the Vita. The sooner Sony gets it put on my favorite handheld, the better!
3.) Please don’t forget about the whole backlog of PS1/PS2 titles. It was something that was promised early on and seems to have been shoved under the table. If you want to make this a “killer app” or premium service, it wouldn’t hurt to include those bits for the gamers.
Is it out yet for ps4 or are you guys running a little behind? (Not to sound mean)
Backwards compatibility is a good thing. How would you feel if you had to rebuy new copies of all your previously purchased software/games because your new phone/PC couldn’t play them?
TL;DR most of the comments but I know that it’s probably been answered..
I’ve been buying PS3 games like crazy.
Download list sits right below 1,000.
I’ve been so excited to use PS Now..
Until I’m asked to pay for the games that I’ve already paid for.
So good luck with PS NOW because I won’t be using it now or any other time.
I understand trying to bring in new numbers and more people.. But at the cost of not paying attention to the faithful?
Like those who have waited since PS Vita launch for Spyro and Crash to work on Vita..
@GiveMeSomeTots I think it’s more of those that have both a PS3 and PS4 at home that wish to still have the back catalog of games they have or wish to play without having to keep that extra system out or having to pull it back out. I do completely agree if you just want to play PS3 games then maybe (if you don’t already own one ) purchase that and wait until you have the catalog of games on PS4 to make that transition.
It’s all about the money folks,, why do you think Destiny isn’t available for PC? Because they wanna make that $500 million back and what better way to do it than selling to last gen PS3/360 which has a bigger fan base than current gen and PC combined!
If you get the subscription when that comes out, what does it do? At some point you should be able to buy the games.
When will the beta be available today?
The beta will come to the SEC store when we stop complaining about having to pay for a beta!! Lol
When’s the last time anyone has had to pay for an open beta?
I live in canada and i still dont have it in my ps4 market. Where is it?!
I’m glad that this will eventually come to the other consoles. The thing that I am worried about is the pricing. I’m glad that it has gone done, but $1.99 for 4 hours is still a bit much considering I can get a new PS4 game from Redbox for a full day with $1.99. At least bring the 4 hour rental down to $1. It’s not like you have to worry about discs getting damaged or stolen and having to replace them.
GiveMeSomeTots – Go back and look at the Sony E3 press conference, they spent a lot of time pushing the fact that you will have access to the PS1, PS2, and PS3 catalog on your PS4 and Vita. I think that is what has so many gamers upset.
What has gamers even more upset is having to pay for a game 1,2,3,4 times and still not be able to play it on new hardware
I’m starting to think Sony prefers world domination versus making loyal Ps fans happy
cyberdad4 – I remember the E3 conference. They mentioned the catalog one time. So what if they’re not all available on the beta yet? IT’S. A. BETA. I still think you’re all doing it wrong sitting on a PS4 to play old games. Stick to the PS3 & PS2.
Adding all DLC be default is a mistake IMHO.
Especially if I rent a game for 4hrs, how do you expect me to make use of any DLC in that time? Maybe if I skipped the regular content all together, either way I am not getting the added value of both game and DLC.
All rental prices should be sans DLC, and then if you want provide another price for the rental with the DLC.
Myself I dont really play online anymore, almost all DLC these days is for online content, where is my added value?
Dont force the DLC with the rental, its a bad move and options never are.
Will i have to pay more for some game like COD Ghosts because it has $1000 worth of DLC built in?
Despite the fact I wont play it online? If so I would just not rent it from Now, that’s not what you want. (I hate COD BTW, lol)
But a game like the Last of Us I would probably rent it with all the DLC on a longer basis such as 3 months.
Others may rent a game with all the DLC and only play the DLC, they are not getting the good value for it either.
Seeings how this all runs on PS3’s, PS Now has the oportunity to offer just the DLC’s as a seperate rental altogether, this would be a nice touch.
Make it so, So says Phillyblunz.
Count me in as someone who wants to see PS1 & PS2 titles on PS Now.
Suikoden 2 especially.