Report: Sony working on a Game Pass competitor

Report: Sony working on a Game Pass competitor

New service would combine aspects of PlayStation Plus and PS Now

Sony is apparently working on its own version of a service that allows access to a game collection, a la Xbox’s Game Pass and (to some extent) Nintendo Online. A new report out of Bloomberg states that the gaming giant is working on a tiered service similar to Microsoft’s moneymaker that would encourage new and existed subscribers to join.

Codenamed “Spartacus” the project will deliver a multi tiered subscription model: the lowest tier will be similar to PS Plus right now and keep its branding, providing online access as well as a few free games per month. The middle tier will introduce access to a much larger collection of PS4 & PS5 games. The highest tier will add the PS Now’s streaming, and incorporate a collection of games from the first PlayStation console all the way up to the PS3 and PSP. Sorry Vita fans, that console isn’t included yet. Exclusive demos and events would also be added in this top tier.

The report goes on to say that according to those “familiar with Sony’s plans” the service might launch in the Spring of 2022. Subsequent reports have also mentioned that Sony may push the service into the PC space as well, especially in the cloud gaming aspect, so that players without consoles can still have access to some of the catalog.

It feels like the right time for Sony to launch a service like this, as its back catalog is huge and enticing, just from a first party and licensed aspect, and with proper tweaks may end up looking alright on a non-CRT screen.

Source: Bloomberg