With PlayStation Now beginning open beta in the US today, Sony’s Jack Buser had some rather interesting things to say about the future of the service. Even though the current state of the platform relies completely on rentals, that may not be the case in the coming months and years. With competitive streaming services, users have become used to paying monthly subscriptions in exchange for access to a huge library of content. That sales model won’t exist on PlayStation Now on day one, but a recent video on the PlayStation Blog admits the idea is “definitely in the works.”
In its current form, PlayStation Now’s rental pricing has been a source of contention for many consumers. While cost can vary by game, a four hour rental generally costs $3, with other alternatives lasting a week, ($6) thirty days, ($8) and ninety days ($15). During the special beta period, Buser does say that some of the four hour rentals will be discounted to $2. If you’re the type to beat games quickly this model might work for you, but many players are dissatisfied about being pressed for time when trying these new experiences.
Should none of that bother you, PlayStation Now’s open beta starts today in the US on PS4. It looks like there will be hundreds of games to choose from in various genres, but more titles will supposedly be added to the list “all the time.” As long as you have a working 5MB connection you should be good to go, but bugs are to be expected in these early stages.
Is PlayStation Now the future of gaming, or a waste of money? Let me know in the comments section below!
