PlayStation Now on Xbox One & Other Competing Consoles? Yeah, Why Not?

The Games Cabin: After five minutes explaining the concept, the lads were hooked and the discussion kicked off. Arguments came about over whether a Netflix-like streaming service was fit for games (it is) and if the price was too high (that's subjective) and whether it's worth playing older games on newer machines. One thing that stuck with me over the last few days was what one of the boys said about PlayStation Now, and after days of the idea sitting in my head, popping up at random moments, I've concluded it's actually a genius idea. Unfortunately, it's probably the only decent idea he'll ever utter and it's also very unlikely to happen: PlayStation Now on Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U etc.

[Genuine-User]

It might happen. More the merrier.

[Bigpappy]

I do think it will get more than 10 subscribers worldwide. There are some people who buy whatever is available, but the value is just not there to me.

[Genuine-User]

Sarcastic or serious?

[Insomnia_84]

Everyone knows you're an Xbox fanboy here. Don't even bother.

[VforVideogames]

insomnia_84 you're a fanboy too, I check.

[Insomnia_84]

@VforVideogames I never said I wasn't ;)

[nowitzki2004]

I can pay $20 for the next month and get a library of over 200 games that I can play instantly... Where can I get better value with same kind of service? I would love to know.

[otherZinc]

@Bigpappy,

I think there'll be 8 subscribers. There's no way an XBOX ONE owner would pay for backwards compatibility when they could get better games backwards compatible for free.

And, with those astronomical prices, please, XBOX ONE owners wouldn't buy into that.

[r2oB]

@ bigpappy

Value is in the eye of the beholder. Just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it's valuable, and just because something is expensive doesn't mean is has no value. For example:

Ea Access is $30/year with access to 14 EA games, which equates to about $2.14 per game. With added benefits of early access and discounts on EA games.

PSNow is $180/year ($45 three month sub multiplied by 4) with access to about 250+ games from different publishers, which equates to $0.72 per game. With the added benefit of being able to play the games on numerous devices, even if you don't own a console.

So what's more value? 14 games for the price of half a game, or 250+ games for the price of 3 games?

Do you automatically discount the value, for everyone, of a high end sports car based on its price, just because you can get an economy car for a fraction of its price?

PSNow isn't for everyone, that's understandable. But being able to stream a huge library of games unlimited, to different devices for as little as $15/ month is not as bad a price as people make it out to be. Heck, some people pay more than that on gamefly.

[Bigpappy]

No /s. EA access is doing well because it has other perks like discounts and early access. EA access is also very cheap at $30/yr. It is not a knock on the idea itself, but the service as it is right now. TOO EXPENSIVE. This is the same reason Badestha had to move away from the subscription model for EO.

[Genuine-User]

Why are you comparing EA access to a multi-pub streaming service that works on more than one device?

The service is expensive no doubt, but that can change.

Do you think Sony won't slash the price in due course ?

[Hereiamhereibe2]

Anyone who thinks Bethesda controls EsOTU loses any credibility...

[Bigpappy]

I also compared it to ESO, because those are the only other substances to compare it to. When it was first announce, I sad it would work at $50 a year because console gamers don't like subscription. But their pricing ended up wayyyy too high to the point where I had to lol.I would like to see the numbers on NOW subscriptions to see if it's just me that would not even try it knowing the pricing. I have no idea what Sony will do with pricing in the future. I would be dumb to pay high subscription for a service I see as too high because the seller promise to make it cheaper in the future. Cheaper could be 10 cents off.

[Genuine-User]

You're comparing widely different services.

Your argument is based on personal incredulity and fallacy of composition.

For your information, you don't have to subscribe. You can also rent games.

[Kavorklestein]

@Genuine user
What you are missing is that FAR too expensive rentals are actually the problem with PS Now.

Nobody ever said No to a subscription.
It's the very specific, expensive, and limited "single game" for 3 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, etc pricing structure that makes PS Now have no value.

Most people have been BEGGING for a subscription based pricing structure.

People aren't saying the games are BAD, they are just saying the pricing structure is shit..

Especially if they can just OWN a good system like the PS3 on the cheap, and rent games Via redbox etc.

Or maybe it's more appealing to own some of those good Playstation classics by purchasing them for the price of a Few hours rental...

Nobody wants to pay triple the price for half the enjoyment.

I'm pretty sure BigPappy knows about PS Now and how it works...

The question is, do YOU comprehend why nobody sees value in it?

[zeuanimals]

@Kavorklestein:

Yeah... Red Box's selection of games is EXTREMELY limited, extra emphasis on EXTREMELY. Now, if you're talking Gamefly, that's a different story. Still, you have to wait for the game to get to you whereas PSNow is instant and allows you to play everything whereas you have to wait in between shipments of your game with Gamefly. Also, if you want to play the game you were playing earlier, you can with PSNow, with Gamefly, you have to order it again. PSNow depends on your connection though, but Gamefly is only available in the US and I think Canada. I don't know if there's am equivalent in other countries.

I don't know why you're saying people have been begging for subscriptions... They've been available for nearly a year. They might have been begging before, but it's kind of weird to keep begging for something that's already available.

[ABizzel1]

Yes make it happen, bring use closer to that single console future.

edit:

Now that I actually think about, this could be a huge benefit to Sony. There are a lot of fanboys who act like they don't care about anything PlayStation and vice versa, but it could really be a big push to get some potential XBO only owners a reason to also buy a PS4 (not that it really needs it).

I don't see it happening, because I don't see Sony willingly putting the service on the XBO, and even moreso I don't see MS wanting to allow this kind of potential outcome listed above for happening.

[Genuine-User]

You make a fair point. But you never know what the future hold.

[vegasgamerdawg]

You realize MS and Sony already work together on their consoles? MS uses Blu Ray and Sony uses MS DRM. The are in fact partners already in the console business. The fanBOY war is a fantasy made up by pathetic corporate zombies.
Sony and MS are both on record saying they want to get out of the hardware part of console gaming. As they move closer to more of a streaming service. Having both readily available on the same device is not a far fetched ideal and will more than likely become a reality. Sony is already reconsidering Ea Access, it's the future.

[stuna1]

It could happen, because the perk would be playing PS exclusives.

[Persistantthug]

The Barrier would be Microsoft.
But maybe one day it could happen.

[Software_Lover]

Microsoft gets money from subscriptions (I'm greatly assuming and it would probably be a very very small amount) and they probably will not have to host the servers. Plus, it's potential for them to deny a playstation sale.

I don't see how Microsoft would deny the service, but I've seen stranger things in business before.

[stalepie]

There are Sony-made games on PC for Windows, and Windows is often used as the OS for developing games for any platform. I think the whole advantage of streaming content is that it can be played on any device, so this makes sense to me.

You can also stream Sony-made movies through Xbox One, and listen to Sony-owned music through Groove.

[Persistantthug]

Microsoft will not allow cross game "inter-mingling" between Playstation and XBOX users.

This has been a pretty well regarded fact for years.

[ninsigma]

I think they'd be cool with it tbh. I'd like to see some collaborative work between the Console manufacturers myself.

[Soldierone]

I doubt it. The barrier would be Sony, not Microsoft.

Microsoft simply requires Xbox Live to use the service and they get money for it. Second it would mean PlayStation titles are on Xbox. That means either Sony restricts certain games from being on the service, or Xbox gets some PlayStation exclusives without even paying for them.

[shadowknight203]

Actually this allows xbox only users the chance to play once thought to be only playstation games like uncharted. In the scheme of things this could populate more sales for the ps now service but also ps4 console sales in general. (With no ps4 titles on now there would only be the incentive to buy the console to get the latest in uncharted being that I used for example here)

DUE TO THIS, ps now wont and will never be on a competitors system.

End of discussion next article please.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Nintendo would be the bigger barrier.
Not just because no one would offer them the choice, but also because Nintendo's games wouldn't sell well enough on other consoles to justify such a thing.
Especially in a form like PSNow, where so many things from the most recent last-gen system are rented and streamed instead of downloaded and kept.

[Concertoine]

This article isnt about nintendo or anyone else offering a streaming service. It's about PS Now possibly appearing on other consoles.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@ Concer
Ah, my bad. Well, I'm fairly certain that Nintendo gamers and Microsoft gamers alike wouldn't want a streaming service from Sony over native backwards compatibility, and especially not over the option of downloading some games that appeared on older systems as opposed to streaming.

Me, I'd DL the Ratchet&Clank series on my Wii U in a heart-beat because I own and love them on the PS3, but I can't currently use my PS3 due to it being loaned to my new step-bro.
But I'd never settle for renting, then streaming, it.
My house manager's internet isn't strong enough to keep up the connection; I'd never be able to play it through to completion even in single player without lag, and that would be the ultimate frustration for me.

[Kavorklestein]

MS might say no.. but only because they know better than charging outrageous fees to stream last gen games.

Backward Compatibility is free on xbox one after all...

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

A subscription based app to stream PS titles... Of course that should happen on X1, but I don't think MS would be happy about it :/

[freshslicepizza]

why wouldn't they be happy? in fact they would be gloating about it. sony won't allow it though but they should. the more people subscribing the more money in their pocket. it costs sony nothing to allow psnow on as many products as possible. so why isn't it available on the pc?

[BDSE]

It will never happen.

[blackblades]

It can happen, but it won't. They competing with each other and why have ps where you can have a xbox that plays xbox and ps games.

[Spotie]

Because all you could play is the old games.

Meanwhile, buy the newest PlayStation to continue the franchise you've come to love!

Seems to me the hindrance would be on Microsoft's end(like with cross-platform play). They don't tend to play well with others, so I expect them to say no to this, should the opportunity ever arise.

But it's certainly not without the realm of possibility... which is why I find it so odd that people say PSNow is Sony's equivalent to BC.

[blackblades]

Old games that's still playstation which one day will play ps4 games.

[gangsta_red]

"Seems to me the hindrance would be on Microsoft's end(like with cross-platform play)."

Why do you keep saying these false statements when MS is making the biggest push this gen for cross platform play?

Exactly what steps has Sony taken to make cross platform possible with other consoles?

[IRetrouk]

Gansta red
Look it up, shu came out last gen and basically said they were willing to do cross play with xbox as well as with pc but that micro wouldnt allow it. Also it was sony pushing cross play with pc looong before micro even mentioned it.

[maniacmayhem]

@IRetrouk

So Shu from Sony says it and that means it's true? C'mon now!

MS had cross play with PC long before Sony, you should look that up and MS is pushing cross play now.

[Black0ut]

Highly unlikely. Neither side would never allow it IMO. Interesting idea though!

[ninsigma]

That would be cool. It's probably possible too! Bringing some games that people miss out on and making them available on their console so they can play would be a really good idea :)

[ruefrak]

I hope it comes to devices like Fire TV as well. I'd say AppleTV, but knowing Apple, they probably wouldn't allow the device to sync with a PS3 controller.

[Software_Lover]

If they make a PS Now app for Windows 10, then it is possible for it to also be on Xbox.

[AstroCyborg]

now if only the service wasn't a ripoff

[pandehz]

I wouldnt mind at all and this should go vice versa. Xbox live should go on PS4 too.

Atleast Playstation owners will get to see how fluid and awesome Xbox live service is.

[WeAreLegion]

Absolutely not going to happen. Though I think working together on games would be great for some of the teams.

[Software_Lover]

I agree. Bungie, 343, Quantic Dreams, and Naughty Dog should all work together to help each team get the best out of the hardware and themselves.

[WeAreLegion]

Exactly. Several teams already hang out. Why not develop together?

[SmokingMonkey]

Infinite universes Morty (Bbuuurrrppp)

I-I-I-It's technically possible Morty!!!

[frankdrebin72]

Then the term console exclusive dies.
No more rabid fanboys tearing at each other's throats.
Unicorns and rainbows with candy cane trees.

It all comes down to money.
Plain and simple.

[FlexLuger]

If they put PS4 games on PSnow...Im sure it would be popular on XB1. Remove the cost barrier of owning the console. Sell a few extra PSnow accounts(seriously..XB1 peeps would buy it. Just look at the success of XBL and EA access). More gamers get to play there games, who dont have a playstation (there are lots of those, believe it or not). Sony gets more money. Its a win for everybody.

[chrish1990]

I wouldn't mind seeing it go the other way, too, but again, it's unlikely.

[joeorc]

@FlexLuger + 1d 11h ago
"If they put PS4 games on PSnow...Im sure it would be popular on XB1. Remove the cost barrier of owning the console."

Let me ask you why not reverse that situation?

And of course Microsoft's could than Market, play PlayStation 4 games on your Xbox one?

So in other words Sony would be bolstering the xbox one platforms viability as a go to game console under the TV instead of the system they in fact make?

Why in Gods green earth would Sony do that? As a matter of fact why would they even need to do that at all when Sony can just support iOS, Steam, Android, Smart TV's and Roku & Amazon Fire & Google chrome cast instead?

Why would Sony reduce the perception Viability of Playstation over helping Microsoft's platform? Money? How so Sony is selling more PlayStation's world Wide than Microsoft is selling Xbox one systems.

I mean we already seen this pitch before.

This is the very same market dynamic Microsoft already has in the PC market..

hey you can make all of your software Run on our platform, and allow Microsoft's OS be the gateway for your Software.

Here is a thought what about Microsoft make Windows PC OS , DirectX 12 Api open platform for Linux, Mac, etc, and make their 1st party IP games be released on an open platform such as:

released on SteamOS & playstation also instead?

hell Microsoft could sell forza, Halo, gears on playstation & steamOS they would make more money for Microsoft.

Forza & Halo and gears would reach more markets for Microsoft's IP because Sony could multi language Halo & for a crackdown and gears to make it better suited for world wide distribution for Asia, like Japan and Korea etc.

Playstation and SteamOS gamers would be able to save money no need to buy an Xbox but lots more gamers would be able to play Microsofts 1st party game's it would be a Win..Win right?

You see how freaking dumb that sounds? Why would Microsoft even do that? That's the point they would not.

So why would Sony?
What? Because Windows OS is the bigger platform?

This is the consumer electronics industry , not the PC market, it is here that Microsoft's platform is not the go to platform, google's Android & Apple's iOS has an enven larger stake in the consumer electronics market over Microsoft not even counting Nintendo & Sony.

So no I doubt very much Sony is really hyped up in bolstering Microsoft's platform over their own!

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Oh lord, no.

Not just no, but HELL NO.

PSNow is a TERRIBLE replacement for native backwards compatibility.
People don't realize it, but they're being slowly PRICE GOUGED by such a thing as a rental service for old games.

Especially since the fact that they're streamed and rented, means you don't have even a FRACTION of the feeling of ownership or whenever-you-want playability that you would with a title you've actually DOWNLOADED, or played straight from its DISK.

The amount of money you'll spend on that service, if you use it enough to justify even having it on the system at all, will EASILY go beyond the little extra amount you would have spent on a slightly more expensive BC-enabled SKU at launch, just to play a bunch of games you likely have already played before on older systems, if not already own for a past one.

It's a rip-off, and I hope, nay, PRAY, that it NEVER catches on with the other two console makers, and that Sony DROPS the idea next gen in favor of PROPER BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY.

[chrish1990]

It's not being billed as BC, so while I understand your point, it doesn't really fit.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

It's not being billed as BC because they want to REPLACE native BC. Because they know they can CHARGE for PSNow.
Even SONY knows that what they're doing here isn't worthy of being called legitimate backwards compatibility, so of course they wouldn't make the obvious comparison by trying to bill it as such.

[ScorpiusX]

Hell NO , MF NO WAY , LET THEM PEDDLE THAT GARBAGE ELSE WHERE.

I didn't buy an Xbox to support them MOFO , I bought an Xbox to support MS not some other company from across the Pacific.

[chrish1990]

Aaaand you've just proved the point being made towards the end of the article. Well done...

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

@castillo
There's no need for all that u racist.
We get it, u like xbox and support MS and u don't like PlayStation, but that was too much dude. MOFO's, really? wow!

[FN4GM]

That comment and attitude right there is exactly what turns people away from xbox, people dont want to associate with a fanbase of angry, miserable, childish and in your particular case a bit racist, people.

[KilKarazy]

Yeah cool idea except PS now sucks. I played killzone on it and there was just enough latency it gave my a headache.

[KilKarazy]

It would be cool for less demanding games though, that don't require split second timing.

[NeoGamer232]

I think PS Now should go across platforms. No issue at all with that.

But, the pricing sux so I wouldn't do it. I still have a PS ID with games and the thought of paying for stuff I already own is ridiculous.

[Godz Kastro]

I wouldn't mind. I think consoles hurt the industry. Imagine if all devices could focus in one area. Play uncharted and halo. Oh yeah...

[DanzoSAMA]

No thanks.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Just from some of the comments, you can see where the fanboys are and the usual ones comparing psnow and Xbox one BC.

Xbox one BC is native backwards compatibility through a software update. You can stream to other devices through windows 10, but it was made for Xbox one.

Psnow is a STREAMING SERVICE. Theoretically giving you ability to stream PlayStation games from a server to any compatible device. That includes:

Microsoft surface tablets
Microsoft windows phones
Microsoft Xbox one

Not that Sony or Microsoft would allow it. But it shows the DIFFERENCE between the two.

The fact that you can use psnow on PS vita,ps3,cell phones,TVs,etc,show the ignorance of some on this site in that they are not the same thing being offered.

Ps4 does not have BC because of different tech used. But ps4 is selling like gangbusters without that feature enabled.

[danny818]

the offerings of psnow are trash

[joeorc]

@Godz Kastro + 45m ago
I wouldn't mind. I think consoles hurt the industry. Imagine if all devices could focus in one area. Play uncharted and halo. Oh yeah...

So all games to PC right?
No need for Xbox, no need for playstation, no need for Nintendo's game console's than?

How about since its PC
Why not all games made for all OS's like steamOS, and Window's and Mac, Android & IOS..if so than that would be fantastic

Halo, gears, Forza..along with Uncharted, Killzone, GT , new Mario, all running on Linux, Android & iOS..would be fantastic.

As long as day and date all software made for every OS now were talking.

Choose what OS you want & what ever hardware you want as long as you have the min Specs to run the game..

[MultiConsoleGamer]

It's already on PlayStation consoles and Sony / Samsung TVs. It will eventually find it's way to Android and iOS devices, along with PC.

And it's a brilliant idea. As soon as they can overcome a number of technical hurdles, such as lag, this will be the future of gaming.

[chaosx]

If it ends up on a PC it will end up on the XB1 , would be nice to play unCharted again

[FoxyGotGame]

Honestly, it's a great idea for the X1. BC/PS Now is the best option for the system ....

"IMO" ...Old Classic 360/PS3 games are better than what X1 is offering, even after 2 years on sale. The Halo's on 360 are still better than Halo 5, so thank goodness for MCC. Plus, X1 visuals and framerate are starting to mimic Xbox 360 anyway. Take Star Wars Battlefront and a slew of other 720p games on Xbox One right now. Fallout 3 (360) plays better on X1, than Fallout 4. A terrible advert for upgrading.

X1 was looking & performing like last gen on the day it launched, and it hasn't gotten much better since. X1 games are super scaled back (Forza 6/Halo 5) visually just to accommodate 1080p/60fps. MS expect a new UI, and the same old repeat 'n play IP's are going to save it. X1 Won October NPD was because there was no competition. /

[joeorc]

Well its doubtful it would go to a Window's Os powered device but, I could see PlayStation Now go to these such platforms.
Many I think are looking at Sony wanting
To support more platforms seem to think it would include Microsoft's windows..in my opinion I would not bank on it.

Take a look at this

http://blog.us.playstation....

Most likely if playstation now was also going to other platforms it would still not be going to window's.

I think its pretty clear, only really targeting other OS's outside of Window's OS device's.

[skratchy]

Why would Microsoft bother with backwards compatibility AND Sony's rental like equivalent?