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PlayStation Now is criminally expensive

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L8menpf

The PS4 doesn’t allow you to play all your old PS3 titles, which is a real bummer for many fans who sold off their previous console to hop onto the next-gen train. Sony’s answer to this is PlayStation Now, a streaming service that allows players to rent PS3 games and stream them to PS4. The program came under fire during closed beta for its pricing, and it seems like nothing has changed in the open beta.
Sony have adjusted the PlayStation Now pricing a little bit for the launch of the open beta in North America, but the program is still criminally expensive. You can rent games for as little as 4 hours, or as long as 90 days. The problem is that some games are being rented out at a price that matches their retail cost, making the idea of renting almost irrelevant.

For example, you can rent GRiD 2 for 90 days for the low price of $29.99. If more precise F1 racing is more your thing, then your wallet might want to start running now. F1 2013 currently costs $49.99 for a 90-day rental, which is more than just buying the game and owning it outright.

The same goes for other titles. Deus Ex: Human Revolution costs $4.99 for just four hours, scaling up to $29.99 for the full 90 days. Metal Gear Solid 4 is a little more reasonable, but I still find it hard to swallow a $14.99 price tag for a 90 day rental on a very old PS3 title. Not ignoring the fact that these rental times are translated into real-world time, and not game time.

Sure, this is why the program is in beta and I’m sure Sony wants to make this program a little more affordable. It’s just worrying that after a closed beta where customers complained about the same thing, nothing has really changed. Sony have said they’re looking into a Netflix-like subscription which will give you access to a larger library of games, which sounds like a better approach to me.

Right now though, PlayStation Now just feels years behind of where digital consumption really is. That simple.

Last Updated: August 1, 2014

61 Comments

  1. I bet they got this from the EA playbook.

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      August 1, 2014 at 15:01

      Nope, they actually passed on the EA Vault to implement this draconian rip off instead!

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 1, 2014 at 14:36

    Maybe something got lost in translation when people were talking about ridiculous prices.

    Reply

  3. Admiral Chief Dovahkiin

    August 1, 2014 at 14:37

    *goes to check what Steam costs every month*

    XD

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      August 1, 2014 at 14:38

      Steam’s damn expensive every month. What with all those specials.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Dovahkiin

        August 1, 2014 at 14:41

        Haha, the sub is quite affordable though 😛

        Reply

        • JustAnotherGamer

          August 1, 2014 at 15:19

          pity the PC haz no gamez

          Reply

    • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

      August 4, 2014 at 09:46

      I just don’t see the use of a console anymore. Yes, my PC costs more to build, but the moment I have it, it does a millions things and Steam and Humble Bundle (to mention a few) makes it very affordable to own almost anything. Not even to mention I can torrent a game to test play it before actually deciding to purchase it.

      I think console guys are stuck with this now. I am just glad I went the PC way for many reasons now.

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    August 1, 2014 at 14:37

    Games as a service, welcome to the future. Now we know why Sony didn’t want to use EAs service. Hopefully I will be long gone before this becomes the only way of playing games.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      August 1, 2014 at 15:01

      The difference with EA though is they want to stream to set-top boxes at an affordable price.

      Reply

      • AceZero911

        August 1, 2014 at 15:03

        EA and affordable, surely you jest? The same EA that sells you half a game, sells you the rest as DLC and it’s still a buggy mess.

        Reply

        • FoxOneZA

          August 1, 2014 at 15:06

          Hey, I purchased FIFA ’09 for R29 and traded it in for R99 once 😛

          Reply

          • AceZero911

            August 1, 2014 at 15:07

            Have my upvote sir!

      • Hammersteyn

        August 1, 2014 at 15:19

        They have to make it affordable, it’s games by EA 😛

        Reply

    • JustAnotherGamer

      August 1, 2014 at 15:17

      It won’ t take off if we just say “No”. Same with Microsoft and EA’s Access. Just say no!

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        August 1, 2014 at 15:18

        The problem is the ID-10T errors that occur in the process of saying “No”.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          August 1, 2014 at 15:18

          Like Americans who has the bandwidth.

          Reply

  5. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    August 1, 2014 at 14:37

    Look. I like Sony. I really do. They have been trying their level best to be all for the gamer in the new generation, but this is just stupid!

    Why not make the service one where you can buy the game straight out and then you can stream it for as long as you like?

    Subsidise it by requiring a PSN subscription or something. But this renting is just bulldust and scares me.

    Watch what happens when EA or other large publishers decide that they want to do the same thing with their new releases. No longer allowing people to buy games but rather making people “rent” games for x amount of days.

    NO Sony! NO!

    People need to boycott this to make it clear that this model is NOT one that will work. If people jump on this then companies everywhere will start seeing dollar signs and start doing the same for their primary products.

    /Rant

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      August 1, 2014 at 14:38

      You forgot to close your rant.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Dovahkiin

        August 1, 2014 at 14:38

        XDXDXD

        Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        August 1, 2014 at 14:40

        Thanx. Fixed

        Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      August 1, 2014 at 15:03

      A customer is a customer. There’s no personal relationship with the client here. Same goes for MS or else we wouldn’t have had the DRM debacle.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        August 1, 2014 at 15:21

        Sad but true

        Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      August 1, 2014 at 15:05

      No need to boycott this, nobody can afford it in the first place!

      Reply

      • Rince/Trev4quoteofweek

        August 1, 2014 at 15:06

        Yeah, which is why there is a THREE TO ONE Boycott of the Xbone in favour of SONY. #keepstrong

        Reply

    • Errol The Terrible

      August 1, 2014 at 16:18

      “Watch what happens when EA or other large publishers decide that they
      want to do the same thing with their new releases. No longer allowing
      people to buy games but rather making people “rent” games for x amount
      of days.”

      Doesn’t WOW fall under that setup? “Buy” WOW for R200 then pay X every 90 days to be able to play your bought game?

      Reply

      • Praise Lord GabeN

        August 1, 2014 at 16:29

        That’s correct. It’s also the reason why WOW is a sinking ship.

        Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        August 1, 2014 at 18:14

        Wow is an MMO that has a constant stream of updates and server maintenance to keep it up permanently. It’s slightly different. I’m referring more to the single player, story driven AAA title that’s in danger

        Reply

  6. Sageville

    August 1, 2014 at 14:40

    Murica…. not for us…

    Reply

  7. The Gaming Alcoholic

    August 1, 2014 at 14:46

    Hm. In comparison to GameStop…just for shits and giggles.

    Hell of a deal. Well done, Sony. Well done.

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

      August 1, 2014 at 14:50

      Yes but the whole thing about this streaming is to allow PS4 players to play PS3 games since the PS4 isn’t backwards compatible.

      So it’s great you can get it cheaper but Sony know that many people have the PS4 now and not the PS3. They are trying to capatalise on need now.

      Reply

      • The Gaming Alcoholic

        August 1, 2014 at 14:53

        Very true. However, some people can just blame themselves for trading up their old console for a new one. A new one that doesn’t do much else but play rehashed versions of old games. This applies to both consoles. Not playing favorites here.

        This is why when I got a One, I never once thought of getting rid my 360. Too many games I still play and waaaaaay too much on my HDD after eight years to just shuttle it all away.

        Reply

        • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

          August 1, 2014 at 15:24

          Yeah, I would also not get rid of the older console if a newer one came along.

          This is why I like PC. Games keep playing for years and once they can’t be played someone figures out how to make them compatible.

          Either way. It’s disgusting that Sony think they can get away with robbery like this

          Reply

          • The Gaming Alcoholic

            August 1, 2014 at 15:28

            Gaming is like traversing a warped version of Dante’s Inferno.

            The major levels of Hell are of the main console makers themselves. Within those are the publisher circles. Within those are the smaller developers.

            We are all but lowly witnesses to various misdeeds and sins.

      • Pieter Kruger

        August 1, 2014 at 14:56

        No the whole thing about this streaming WAS to allow PS4 players to play PS3, PS2 & PS1 games. Now they did a quick 180(just another thing copied from MS it seems LOL!) AND they’re trying to charge you the same EA charges you for their complete vault for a couple of hours! BAD Sony BAD!

        Reply

        • iAmWeasel

          August 1, 2014 at 15:00

          The only 180 here is the 180 I did as I was rolling on the floor laughing my arse off at you. Keep trying bud.

          Reply

        • JustAnotherGamer

          August 1, 2014 at 15:20

          Must be hard to be an xbot these days… 🙁 Shame dude

          Reply

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            August 1, 2014 at 22:43

            He’s not JUST an xbot. He’s OUR Xboner. SO show some respect!

        • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

          August 1, 2014 at 15:21

          Oh I wasn’t saying it’s good. Just pointing out the corporate greed of taking advantage of a desperate want

          Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      August 1, 2014 at 16:33

      tsk-tsk

      https://www.humblebundle.com/

      Humble Square Enix Bundle. You get 20 games, 20 GAMES! For $15. And that includes Deus Ex.

      Reply

      • The Gaming Alcoholic

        August 1, 2014 at 16:42

        That’s a good deal, but it’s also on PC. Which pretty much negates any interest I have by default. Just not my platform and never has been.

        Reply

        • Praise Lord GabeN

          August 4, 2014 at 08:27

          I’m so sorry, my condolences.

          Reply

  8. AceZero911

    August 1, 2014 at 14:52

    Oh wait, streaming games from the cloud costs money?? But haven’t XBone been saying they can use the cloud to make games better… for free?

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      August 1, 2014 at 14:54

      That could mean *gasp* Microsoft is going to do another 180 and start charging for their Cloud.

      Reply

    • The Gaming Alcoholic

      August 1, 2014 at 14:56

      The cloud has been said to do a lot of things. I just keep waiting for it to actually exist.

      Reply

      • AceZero911

        August 1, 2014 at 14:59

        I’ve used the cloud before. In the end it was cheaper and faster to use a physical server. In the end it’s a best effort service, they don’t guarantee a level of service, you just fight for resources with other people.

        Reply

  9. Kensei Seraph

    August 1, 2014 at 14:53

    You should be able to register your PS3 games to your PSN account and then get access to those games on PS4 free or for a small monthly fee (PS+).

    Reply

    • AceZero911

      August 1, 2014 at 14:57

      I wish, that would mean I could play my already purchased PSP games on my Vita. It’s the one issue we have for being able to resell our games, because they don’t have CD keys it’s impossible to track. I put the disc in my console, register it, lend it to you and you do the same 🙁

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        August 1, 2014 at 15:00

        True, but then I’m used to PC games which have been (mostly) using serial keys for years now.

        Edit: although after thinking about it for 5 seconds it shouldn’t be that hard to have some kind of software that is able to tell what PS3 disk is in the PS4 and thus allow the person to then stream that game for as long as the disc is inserted.

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          August 1, 2014 at 15:02

          Although after thinking about it for 5 seconds it shouldn’t be that hard to have some kind of software that is able to tell what PS3 disk is in the PS4 and thus allow the person to then stream that game for as long as the disc is inserted.

          Reply

          • The Gaming Alcoholic

            August 1, 2014 at 15:06

            Please. Up until a few months ago, I didn’t have a battery life indicator on my damn console. IQ’s have been dropping steadily on both sides this generation.

  10. CAE9872

    August 1, 2014 at 15:00

    Ummmmm….NO

    Reply

    • JustAnotherGamer

      August 1, 2014 at 15:21

      Computer says “NO”

      Reply

  11. FoxOneZA

    August 1, 2014 at 15:00

    Sony have outdone EA on this One.

    Reply

  12. JustAnotherGamer

    August 1, 2014 at 15:16

    Why rent when you can buy? This is a weird thing that Sony is pushing. I would have expected it from Microsoft to be honest.

    Reply

  13. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    August 1, 2014 at 22:42

    I have to be honest though, and this might be because I’m old codger who is yet to take digital seriously, but I just can’t see the appeal of “Games as a Service”. Yes, I know, all you youngsters hate actually owning physical stuff and would rather lease stuff via some cloud-based service, because money is a myth, and come on your dad’s credit cards.

    Services like Playstation Now (EA Blah blah) just does not appeal to me. No matter how much they’re sugar-coated about ease of use, I always come back to one single point, 15 – 20 years from now, when those servers go dark, what then? Look at EA, they can barely keep game servers up for longer than a year – unless your title is Battlefield or Madden or Fifa. Every thing else, 12 months tops.

    Reply

    • Ryanza

      August 2, 2014 at 13:19

      I don’t know why Steam, Xbox Live, and all those other DRM clients became so popular. How can people not want to own the physical copies of games they buying. Ok, people were forced to use Steam whereby making the physical copy useless and that’s a big problem. Why did people not fight shit like that. Now that I’m back gaming on the PC, I’m like, what the fuck happened. Microsoft and Sony wants to do the same thing now. At least people fought back against Microsoft.

      Imagine buying a car from BMW but you can’t keep the car at your house. Instead you are forced to have the car stay with BMW and when you want to use your car then you have to phone BMW to to bring your car to you. And then still being charged for that service.
      Then when the BMW branch closes down. You don’t have a car anymore.

      I don’t know why people are supporting this digital only future. Something big needs to happen, like Steam, Xbox live, PSN, shutting down for a long period of time, only then will people realize.

      Anyway. I’m still happy with and still playing my Theme Hospital, Sim City 4, GTA 3 copy’s. And happily waiting for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

      Non of these DRM client games has lasting appeal.

      Reply

  14. Guest

    August 2, 2014 at 12:21

    4 hours? it takes 4 hours to download the damn thing!

    Reply

  15. Zander Boshoff

    August 2, 2014 at 22:16

    How can the marketing department sit back and say yes this is good? Research on their own prices prove its not

    Reply

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