Sony (SONY) has finally debuted its competitor to Microsoft’s (MSFT) popular Game Pass game subscription and streaming platform. But the service, called PlayStation Plus, falls short of one upping the online gaming king.
Sony’s revamped PlayStation Plus combines the company’s existing PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services into one offering. Currently, PlayStation Plus, which costs $9.99 per month, gives gamers access to online multiplayer on the PlayStation Network, as well as two free games each month. PlayStation Now, meanwhile, lets players stream PS2, PS3, and PS4 games to their PS4 and PS5 consoles or PC for $9.99 per month.
With its new PlayStation Plus, Sony is giving gamers access to both online multiplayer and free games, as well as the ability to stream titles to their consoles and PC. That’s more or less the setup for Microsoft’s competing Games Pass.
But Sony’s offering leaves much to be desired in terms of variety and prices. And that could give Microsoft, which already has 25 million Game Pass subscribers, an even bigger lead than it already has at a time when the gaming industry is becoming increasingly consolidated.
No day-one releases, pricier options
Sony’s PlayStation Now will be available in three tiers: the $9.99 per month Essential, the $14.99 per month Extra, and the $17.99 per month Premium.
The Plus Essential tier is simply the standard version of PlayStation Plus, albeit with a new name. Plus Extra, meanwhile, gives you the same features as Plus Essential as well as access to up to 400 downloadable PS4 and PS5 games.
Then there’s Plus Premium, which includes everything from the Plus Essential and Plus Extra tiers, and adds 340 additional games including titles for the original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PSP. PlayStation, PS2, PS4, and PSP games can be streamed or downloaded to your PS4 or PS5 console or PC, while PS3 games can only be streamed.
Out of the gate, Sony has more games on its service than Microsoft. We’re talking a whopping 740 titles if you go with the Premium tier. Microsoft, meanwhile, says it has more than 100 games, and usually more than 300.
But Sony’s platform won’t include first-party PlayStation titles the same day they’re released in stores. So if you’re hoping to play a game like the upcoming “God of War: Ragnarok” via PlayStation Now, you’re out of luck.
That makes sense from Sony’s perspective, since it means gamers will pay the full $59 to $69 for a title at retail, rather than getting it as part of their $17.99 monthly subscription. It’s more money in Sony’s pockets.
But it’s also a letdown for gamers, especially if they’re loyal enough to sign up for a $17.99 per month subscription. What’s more, Microsoft already offers same-day releases of its first-party titles via its Game Pass service.
On top of that, Microsoft’s top tier option, Game Pass Ultimate, costs $14.99 per month, undercutting PlayStation Plus Premium by $3.
No mobile options
One of the key selling points for Microsoft’s Games Pass Ultimate is its streaming option. Users can stream titles without needing to download them to their Xbox console, PC, or mobile device via a web browser. That means you can play available games on, say, a Chromebook without the need for a pricey console or PC.
But Sony’s PlayStation Plus doesn’t offer the ability to stream to a mobile device, instead locking you into playing on a console or PC. So if you’re hoping to play “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” on your tablet or Chromebook, you’re out of luck.
We’re still a few months away from the launch of the next iteration of PlayStation Plus, meaning there’s plenty of time for Sony to make adjustments to the plan as needed. Even if it sticks to its current layout, the service will undoubtedly draw plenty of PlayStation diehards and people hoping to play Sony’s incredible back catalog of games.
But for a service meant to take on Microsoft’s popular Game Pass service, Sony’s offering feels like a missed opportunity.
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