Yesterday at CES, Sony announced the imminent beta testing of its much anticipated cloud-based game-streaming service. Called PlayStation Now, the re-appropriated Gaikai cloud streaming service would allow gamers to to play PlayStation games beamed off of servers on the internet.
It’s coming to the US later this month by way of a closed beta roll-out, and in future will let gamers play a wide range of PlayStation 1, 2 and 3 games which they can rent. Additionally, gamers will also be able to pay for a subscription that will let them “explore a range of titles.” It’s quite probable that this subscription is separate from PlayStation Plus.
speaking rather hyperbolically, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai affirms that “The tethers that have constrained consumption for decades… soon dissolve.”
It will, for one thing, finally make the PS4 very nearly backwards compatible .
When the streaming system first launches, it’ll be available on PlayStation4 and PlayStation3, but Sony’s said PlayStation Now will soon be coming to the Vita as well, along with support for a range of 2014 model Bravia TV’s and eventually smartphones and tablets as well. That all sounds quite lovely – except we may never actually get it.
Sony’s said it’s “not quite ready to confirm launch plans for PAL territories” yet, because broadband penetration is apparently quite an issue. Sony recommends a 5Mbps connection, but latency here is more important than speed, so we’d need local servers and datacentres – which I just don’t see happening.
“When it comes to broadband provision, Europe is a considerably more complex region, with a huge number of different providers and varying connection speeds from country to country. In short, we need a little more time to ensure a smooth and successful roll-out.
That’s in Europe. Here in South Africa, things are quite a bit different. though things are changing, and the internet landscape in this country is a damned sight better than it was just a few years ago, I’m not sure we have the speed or the bandwidth necessary for internet streaming of games.
Hell, some days, I can barely stream a video from YouTube. I really have to wonder just how well game streaming – which depends more on latency than speed, really – will work when, or more than likely if, it ever launches here.
Last Updated: January 8, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2014 at 10:35
You shut your mouth
how can you say
we’ll never get Now some day
we’re gamers & we need to be loved
Just like everyone else does.
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:42
When you say it’s gonna happen “now”
Well when exactly do you mean?
See I’ve already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
Sageville
January 8, 2014 at 10:43
Haiku?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2014 at 10:45
Header image – The Smiths – Now soon is now? 😀
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 8, 2014 at 10:51
I debated the header, wondering if anybody would get it. thanks.
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:56
I won’t lie , only reason I know the song is because of The Craft
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2014 at 11:01
I think that might be where I heard it first too, although that was a cover version.
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 11:02
And then it was Charmed’s theme too…gosh…….#exposingAge
TiMsTeR1033
January 8, 2014 at 11:06
how old are you like 100!
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 11:07
Not older than Geoff though…Don’t think anyone is
TiMsTeR1033
January 8, 2014 at 11:07
he is father time here on LG
RinceThis2014
January 8, 2014 at 10:58
He’s old enough to get it 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2014 at 11:31
You shut up & respect your elders. Git orf mah lawn!
Sageville
January 8, 2014 at 13:34
Lost on me, sorry
Weanerdog
January 8, 2014 at 11:09
Was never a huge Smiths fan. But knew what you were getting at sort of.
Edit: posted this in wrong place, stupid Mondays, what oh sorry Stupid Wednesday. It really is tough when all the voices in my head are shouting together, hey look pie mmmm
JJ's horrible secret (John)
January 8, 2014 at 11:15
I don’t know about the love. For gamers it’s usually just “like you as a friend”
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2014 at 11:31
#foreverSP :/
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:46
I wana watch charmed now
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:47
I really like Tatu’s cover too
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:48
By the way what ever happened to Tatu, they were pretty big in the day….wait I feel like I’m getting side tracked…..
Devourer of Small Bunnies
January 8, 2014 at 10:49
i have kidnapped them and turned them into my sultry pizza slaves. Wanna slice?
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 10:49
Funny enough….I do actually
TiMsTeR1033
January 8, 2014 at 11:12
They had awesome tunes man! loved Malchik Gay
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 11:00
Umar Appreciates Nier
January 8, 2014 at 11:02
DrKiller
January 8, 2014 at 11:59
If this works.. I’ll get a PS4..
Drewidian
January 8, 2014 at 16:28
There are a few questions that need to be answered first. There are far too many things that don’t make sense about it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about it, but we clearly need to take a step back and ask the right questions.
They are at a huge convention. Internet access at Las Vegas should be heavily congested with tons of traffic, so either they established a VPN with their own dedicated trunk for the service to get the low latency, or the servers were onsite. How will the remote play work in a “real world” scenario? Was the TV using a wired connection or a WIFI connection? Since there should have been a ton of interference at the convention hall, I’m going to suggest wired. If that was wired, how well does it perform at someone’s home over wifi with the internet? If its the same as what we see with Remote Play with the PS4 and a Vita when away from the home network, that has to be taken into consideration.
How many concurrent users will it support and what investments are they making to ensure quality of service?
Is the Video service going to exist on the same infrastructure as the gaming services?
Will there be an extra fee or will this come to PS+ subscribers as a free additional service?
You see where I’m going with this? There’s just a lot of unanswered questions, but I’m personally hopeful this will work as advertised.
DrKiller
January 8, 2014 at 16:34
Thats the fun part of being on the “customer” side.. Its not our problem 😉 I’m just keen to get a console where I can play like ALL the Tekkens etc on there..
Lets hope for the best I guess.
Mark Treloar
January 8, 2014 at 12:14
Problem with streaming is that most ISP’s have fair usage policies which throttle these services when you want to use them most. Biggest problem though is our government not investing in infrastructure upgrades so that High Speed broadband can become a reality.
MakeItLegal
January 8, 2014 at 14:38
Biggest problem is government not investing period …. In all wakes of life
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2014 at 18:17
Not true, they fixed my street the other day…. no wait sorry that was before 94.
Marc O Polo
January 8, 2014 at 18:23
well i must say that us in the western cape see it all the time, the money invested in the myciti bus system, they also went on a major road repair drive in early 2013 and that is just to mention a couple things.
Marc O Polo
January 8, 2014 at 18:10
why should government invest in high speed broadband?
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2014 at 18:18
We should tell government about internet porn. That should get the ball rolling.
Marc O Polo
January 8, 2014 at 18:20
and convince them that you have to have fiber optic lines to access it!
Hammersteyn
January 9, 2014 at 07:36
LOL
Uberutang
January 8, 2014 at 13:29
http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2014/01/07/playstation-now-5mbps-recommended-us-mainland-at-first-save-files-move-lots-more/
5MBPS+ needed. (and local servers_)
Hammersteyn
January 8, 2014 at 18:17
Guess that’s not happening here anytime soon 🙁
MakeItLegal
January 8, 2014 at 14:36
So by sony’s logic , buy a ps2 , buy mgs 2 and 3 then buy ps3 re purchase mgs 2 and 3 buy mgs 4 new buy ps4 pay subscription to rent , mgs 2 and 3 and 4 …. Um ye I don’t have a bcom in accounting or logic or maybe I have one in common sense , but what the fuck that’s 3 games and 5 purchase and rental agreement
On the other hand if u own a copy of kotor back in 2005 for pc I think it would still work to this day …
(Metal gear solid and knights of the old republic )
Sageville
January 8, 2014 at 15:37
Can’t you just remove the “buy a ps2 , buy mgs 2 and 3 then buy ps3 re purchase mgs 2 and 3 buy mgs 4 ” part of your comment.
MakeItLegal
January 8, 2014 at 19:06
Why ? Am I wrong in my logic ?
Sageville
January 9, 2014 at 08:44
Well, I don’t think u need to buy a PS2 or PS3 or mgs games for those consoles just to rent those titles on a PS4.
Unless ur saying u already bought all of the above cos ur a uber mgs fan…
Marc O Polo
January 8, 2014 at 18:09
nobody forced you to get rid of your ps2, or ps3 for that matter…
MakeItLegal
January 8, 2014 at 19:07
Perhaps it broke thus my decision to keep it or not is void ….
Brian Murphy
January 8, 2014 at 19:24
It may take time, but eventually, broadband connectivity will be an issue for all South African’s, and the Government will be forced to act or lose to other candidates, who are more in tune with the issues of the populace.
It may not come as soon as you’d like, but it will happen eventually.