PlayStation Now Is Way Ahead Of Its Time- And Microsoft And Nintendo Both Need To Learn From It

Sony are ahead of the game here, and Microsoft and Nintendo must act fast to catch up.

[SpaceRanger]

The two streaming features that Sony is untouched in:
- Remote Play (Across 8 platforms, and can be played outside of local network)
- SharePlay (Letting friends test out a game before buying it, or if they can't afford to buy it)
- PSNow (For people who want to access a huge library of AAA and indie PS3 games just about anywhere)

MS and Nintendo are considerably behind in these gaming features (NX may change that for Nintendo). And with Sony introducing new hardware soon with a new software update, I expect it to only get better!

[kaizokuspy]

Ps now is a stupid feature. I'm a ps fanboy this gen absolutely, but ps now will be a defunct service after this gen, with similar architecture in ps5, it's highly probable ps4 will be BC with ps5. It's sony that actually learned from MS and Nintendo

[lobocob]

Have you used it? Cause the only problem with it is its price, and how it'll lose games every once in awhile

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Ms has only taught them what not to do. Have fun enjoying the most flip floppy brand of the 3. How do you like that essential kinect. Or voiding your warranty to put in a new hard drive? How's that lack of exclusives or knowing all future exclusives will be better on pc (that's if Microsoft doesn't keep shitting on pc well saying they are all about pc).and for Nintendo they make great games but love to shoot themself in the foot with questionable removals of features long waits for zelda games

[Concertoine]

@lobocob

Yeah, other than probably the most important aspects of a game rental service (price, having games), PS now is fine and dandy...

[ninsigma]

See the flaw in your logic right there is that you're associating ps now with bc. Forget about the fact it's available on ps4. Instead think about how it's available on tvs and devices that aren't part of the playstation family.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

Stupid are the people feeling threatened by PS now thinking Sony is forcing them to play old games with it.

Too bad the cell processor is too hard to emulate on PS4 (so they say). Keep your PS3 or buy one. PS Now was always meant to be a service for non PlayStation devices such as PC, tablets, and TVs, not Backwards Compatibility. It is on PS4 because why not? Options are good, but it wa always meant to be a service not BC. Hate PSnow because it is not native BC is stupid.

Say what you want, but it is a cool tech no one else is doing atm that can be useful in the futute. Sony already invested on the platform and it can only get better with time. It is a cool idea that can draw new consumers to the PlayStation ecosystem. Whether we like ot or not, Digital content is catching up fast, and PS Now may be the future just like services like EA access. Both companies have their platform ready for whatever comes.

But Sony is broke and is in not position to take risk right? Well:

PS Now
PS Vue
PS VR

That's a lot of risk they are taking for the longterm you don't see the other companies taking with the supposedly deep pockets. But let me guess, they are stupid because they are doing something is not for you... Well gaming is not only about you, and second ***you are not being forced to use it**

[Aenea]

PS Now is not meant to be a BC replacement, you and I aren't even really the target audience. Don't forget it's available on more than just the PS4...

[Death]

@XIK,

The cell can't be emulated? Do you think the remasters were recoded from the ground up on PS4? The "cell" is amodified PowerPC processor. The 360's processor uses the same PowerPC based architecture. How many third party 360 emulators do you see in the wild? There is no incentive to add b/c to the PS4 since.it would cut into PSNow which Sony invested.millions on. The bottom line is Sony is content charging to access the PS3 library on PS4.

[Aloy-Boyfriend]

@Death

PC can't still emulate PS3, and it's been said you need a hell of a computer to do so. That is because the Cell is a new breed of CPU with a much different architecture than the rest. This is why the PS3 was such a struggle at first. It is not the same as the CPU on 360. This was said numerous times last gen.

The CPU on the PS4 is outdated. There's no way it could emulate PS3 when PC can't do it yet. They can only put a Cell chip in PS4, but Gamers are too stingy to buy an native BC console.

And yes the remasters are a new line of codes for the new hardware. Programming is not Copy and Paste.

[BattleAxe]

Gamers, and especially hardcore gamers do not want to stream games, mainly due to the fact that it takes up to 4x as much bandwidth as Youtube or Netflix, the graphics quality is terrible compared to a digital download on dedicated hardware, and you don't end up owning anything.

In terms of the existing selection of games on PS Now, it's really not very good at all. I went through the list of games that are available lastnight, and there were maybe 10 games that interested me, and they are games that I already own on PS3 or on PC.

The other big problem with the service, is that only half of the games that are available on PS Now, are able to be played through the monthly subscription, while the other half are rentals only, and for a very short period of time. Not very good value in my opinion.

There's an article up on EGM that talks about a rumor that PS Now is going to be announced for PC towards the end of August. If Sony were smart, they would have done this from the very beginning. They've released this service on platforms that make absolutely no sense to this point in time. Why would a person who owns a PS3, pay for a subscription to play PS3 games on PS Now, especially with PS+ already giving gamers free games? Also, I've never heard of anyone who uses apps or streaming services on their smart TVs. PS Now has been a botched deal from the get go.

If they really wanted the service to grow, they would need to add PS2 and PS4 games to the list of 'subscription' based games, not rentals. But even then, I think PS Now is a tough sell. Anyone who has a monthly bandwidth cap with their internet provider is going to end up with a real unpleasant surprise when they get their bill at the end of the month.

[indysurfn]

I agree if you look at my comment history you will see I am honest about being a Playstation Jrpg fan first and then Nintendo and Microsoft. PSnow is the only negative thing you can say in a debate between Microsoft and Sony being best for gaming that will shut me up! I have no defense for it! wish they would make it PSWAS! And do like Nintendo, build hardware in. If Nintendo can do it for SEVERAL generations, then these mega sized corporations have no excuse for not being able to do it for at least there disks. They dont even have several cartridge formats to make compatible! Just discs.

[Thatguy-310]

Ps now is aim at individuals who don't have consoles. It was never meant to be an alternative to BC

[donthate]

lol... PS Now?

That is one crappola service I ain't subscribing to. I didn't bother using it when it with my free trial, let alone pay for it. I don't see too many people subscribing either. Wouldn't surprise me if Sony loosing gobs of money on it, and about to shut down the service soon.

[blackblades]

It's not stupid it's a good app, all they have to do is improve on it.

[chuckyj1]

@Lobocop... another BIG. GIANT. HUGE thing wrong with it you failed to mention... is if I owned the physical game or the digital game, but no longer own a PS3... I shouldn't have to pay again to play it on the PS4 if it is available in the PSNOW library of games.

That is the beauty about Xbox One BC... If a digital game becomes Backwards Compatible... It automatically becomes available to download for FREE on your Xbox One.

I haven't even heard about PSNOW losing games once in awhile... What's that about? Licensing issues or a glitch?

[chuckyj1]

@xMANB3ARP1G Why void the warranty by putting in a new HDD? Why not just plug in an external HDD.. That way when you go to your friends house and sign in on his Xbox you have all your digital games ready to play?

[LexHazard79]

@manb3arp1g, don't worry I have more fun on the flip floppy xbox than I do my PS4.

[kraenk12]

This is just nonsense. PS5 will naturally be downwards compatible since it will also be based on x86 technology.

[LabRat]

@MANBEARPIG - Still talking about kinect? That died as soon as Spencer took over 3 years ago. As far as putting a hard drive in your system? Why? Just put in an external... pretty sure everyone on Xbox does this. Lack of exclusives? MS/Xbox fans know that Xbox is a brand and that includes Xbox One, Xbox S, Xbox Scorpio and Windows 10. Worrying about which games are going to what system only matters for Playstation users now because as long as it falls on any of the four options listed above, fans of MS games get to play it. MS increases its install base at the same time. I love my ps4, but respect that MS is not worrying about fanboys, and more about trying to give options and allow as many people as possible the opportunity to play their games

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Whoa wait a minute @Kurta "But Sony is broke and is in not position to take risk right? Well:

PS Now
PS Vue
PS VR "

"That's a lot of risk they are taking for the longterm you don't see the other companies taking with the supposedly deep pockets.

X1 reveal of May 2013 MS unveiled the console and talked up lots about TV media functionality and even a dedicated studio for original content like VUE. 3 years later none of that exist because the media, journalist and gamers complained to death about it despite MS saying numerous times the games were at E3 but of course nobody listened. 3 years later all those are "risks now" "securing the future" "digital is taking over" "Options are good" or the famous one " Its not being forced on you."

The thing is literally a year later in 14 Sony started announcing TV streaming functionality and gaming media completely looked the other way leaving it to fanboys to make excuses for Sony.

If MS announced a XB NOW MS would be killing gaming by making ppl pay for old games.

If MS announced XB VUE well we saw this already MS is not gaming focused and is not for the gamer.

VR: MS needs to focus on hardcore gaming not gimmicks they need new AAA IP's what are they thinking!

Nothing but complaints paranoid colds sweats and fears.

"But let me guess, they are stupid because they are doing something is not for you... Well gaming is not only about you, and second ***you are not being forced to use it**"

Saying this sorta thing will get you scrutinized 3 years back and MS would get scolded to the very death for defending it (which they did numerous times) but fast forward this comment is damn near acceptable now. Its truly amazing how the tone is vastly different and the hypocrisy is outta this world.

[RosweeSon]

Great ps4 will be BC on ps5 still would need NOW to play PS3, I'm not bothered as owned a PS3 last gen amongst others it's cool option tho and works very well.

[Liqu1d]

Another one who doesn't understand what PS Now is. It is NOT a solution to backwards compatibility, PS Now can coexist with BC.

[sampson3121]

it's just price that's stopping most people from using the service. But don't kid yourself, it's making money for them. If they had the price point the same or even a tad less as psplus, i would subscribe right away. i tried the service for a month and with my high speed net it worked beautifully.

i would never want to be forced into buying new games through streaming only, but for older games it's a great idea.

[s45gr32]

There will be no PS5. Playstation Now will be the successor to console hardware 😄. This generation it was proven that consoles can no longer keep up with current technology. It was proven that consoles cannot longer offer unique features or ideas. Consoles lack the magnitude of exclusives from previous generations, its variety/innovative games is an all time low. Turning consoles into wannabe gaming PCs is detrimental to consoles because it offers a PC gaming experience without the benefits of a gaming PC (lack of choices, struggling to get mods off the ground, poor performance, prevents gaming from reaching its full potential, no free online gaming). All in all why continue morphing consoles into PCs and just go with the power of the ☁ in conjunction with digital distribution.

[WeAreLegion]

Don't forget PlayStation Vue.

[DragonDDark]

My family got rid of cable and now they just use my ps4 because of it lol

[joeorc]

@WeAreLegion1h ago
[Don't forget PlayStation Vue]

Exactly!

PlayStation Vue has DVR features built into the software.

Works on :
Roku
Amazon Fire player, Fire stick, fire Tablet.
Google Chromecast
Android OS.
Apple iPhone, iPad , iPod touch..and deal for Application TV is in the works Rumor.
Smart TV's
Android TV devices.
PS3
PS4

Why make it available on the PS3 & 4 if they were intending to replace the Living room PlayStation console's with someone else's box.

[Segata]

I have had a Roku for 6 years.

[leeeroythe3rd]

Ps vue is a great value...

[_-EDMIX-_]

@drag- lol, my family hasn't gone that route yet but probably will I personally only use Netflix and Amazon Prime in I could see me possibly buying into a package for Vue.

I think the service is very smart and you're going to see Microsoft and Nintendo possibly adopted such a thing next generation but more so Microsoft and it's something I believe lots of TV goers want to see we need to see more Alternatives and been with has gotten powerful enough to have streaming as a solution for television now.

[pinkcrocodile75]

We tried PS Now for UC3, the drop outs were taking the piss and this was on a 300Mb/s fibre connection.

Just not reliable. Not now

[shiva1]

TV,Tv,Tv. Is it really something to discuss. If yes, then its time to bash sony right?

[lobocob]

You'd think like fanboys would have better things to do than just downvotes on the internet but then again, you can only play through quantum breaks campaign so many times

[EazyC]

Tosser.

[Mrveryodd]

Why the down votes ??? Your trolling that's it

[Redgehammer]

What a presumptuous fan boyish thing to say, but at least you're not down-voting. Right?

[SolidDuck]

Remote play is the only one of those features I use. I remote play ps4 on my laptop all the time. Works great for SP games.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Are Microsoft and Nintendo always behind or is Sony always slightly ahead?

You have to consider that they are features that Microsoft and Nintendo have in their platforms that make them slightly ahead in specific Concepts.

Yes streaming is something that Sony is focusing on this generation but they spent lots of money to build such an infrastructure maybe that's something Nintendo or Microsoft are not interested in doing right now and just want to see how it plays out with Sony it doesn't really need to be this whole vs concept.

Features like PlayStation now will be very commonplace likely within the next Generation it will be very normal to have the option to stream.

I believe it's going to be
physical
digital
and stream as the distribution methods for games.

@kai- I don't use PlayStation now but I would say your comment is a stupid comment more than PlayStation Now is a stupid feature.... you've given no real explanation to even say why it's a stupid feature. enough people use it to justify its existence and clearly those that use it and continue to use it are doing so because it's doing the thing it was provided to do.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@boom-agreed. I think streaming games will only really catch on once Microsoft and Nintendo start doing it and more Publishers begin putting their games on the service for extra Revenue.

I believe it can find its place in the market with casual consumers.

[shiva1]

How are they streaming? If u r answer is servers then which of the three companies have the best and max servers? Why is that not being discussed.

Are these exclusive features?

[_-EDMIX-_]

@shiv- I don't mean streaming in the sense of doing the EXACT same format, as much as having the game run else where on a rental service.

MS has the resources with Cloud and I see them next gen having a rental option. As why not?

Why NOT make money from something that is clearly making others some money? MS is a start competitor, I don't see them merely letting this slide.

They never do. If Sony has something that offers consumers value, MS will give its consumers the same thing, its only fair and smart business.

They would be STUPID to NOT add such an option in light of PS Now. I think MS actually could likely even do it better then PS Now. Just my opinion though.

Also this isn't saying they are going streaming only or exclusively streaming or anything like that, merely that they will add it as one of their models to gain revenue.

As to the rest of your post.......irrelevant and it seems your more so looking to meaninglessly argue over petty things and semantics.

Call it what you want, Streaming, cloud compute etc. MS will have an option in the future that offers a rental service REMOTELY to its users.

NOT ONLY, merely an option. I see no harm in it and it only goes to help consumers and even publishers.

btw, I don't use PS Now and don't at the time plan to. Merely speaking from a business prospective, this isn't about if I use it, like it, hate it etc.

[blackblades]

Nintendo way behide in alot of things like media. You still can't play music and movies on nintendo.

[zb1ftw777]

No. Just No !!

Live streaming murders remote play.
Family account murders shareplay - every game is half price.
Backwards compatibility murders psnow.

MS have nailed all these points and do them all WAY better than Sony.

Sony are the ones who screwed up, especially with psnow, it is an absolute waste of money for the consumer.

[LexHazard79]

I like how you guys ignore the fact that MS is also trying to bring everything together and make games accessible on many devices aswell.

[Bigpappy]

LOL. Psnow was and is a bad idea at the ridiculous price point.

[t-hall785]

Psnow has to be the worst business practice this gen. Making people pay for things they already own. Please msoft and ninty keep doing what you're doing with back compat and play anywhere.

[s45gr32]

I agree except for the PS4 Neo. The Neo is a waste of resources, time, and 💰. Sony should focus on improving PlayStation Now by making it affordable and allowing all Playstation games on the service. Bringing Playstation Now to PC and smartphones is the next logical step. Is time to show that cloud gaming not useless outdated console hardware is the future of consoles. Is time for Sony to move from selling a product to a service.

[shiva1]

Ok. Just go look for the number of patents that are being filed by these companies. You will get shocked who is innovating.

First ask sony for opening up on cross play. Then we can talk who is ahead. You don't have to lecture people on who started it first...do it now if its so many millions of miles ahead of others.

[Geoff900]

Remote play exists for Xbox... and frankly it's far better, everytime trying to connect my Vita to remote play it always has issues, on Xbox you can connect it via ANY Windows 10 device, plug in your controller and away you go that simple.

PSNow in all honesty is shite, not only are they charging stupid money for their service, it's not very good streaming games to your PS4.

I find it quite remarkable that you are touting this like a marketing exec, when frankly it's their way of selling you old games rather than focusing on either remaking their old games for the PS4, or making them BC.

[PlatinumGX]

PSNow needs to learn from EA Access.

[Majin-vegeta]

Exactly what does it need to learn?

[PlatinumGX]

That installing is superior to streaming since it doesn't add lag to games.

Also games do not disappear from EA Access unlike PS Now. It would be disappoint to pay a subscription just for the game you wanted to play to be removed.

[TheCommentator]

To give us all the features of the original releases, at their original quality, when we rent from PS Now?

[Concertoine]

@Platinum

They should but they dont because they need to make money off of their Gaikai acquisition (just guessing here).

[joeorc]

@Majin-vegeta1h ago
[Exactly what does it need to learn?]

Exactly, that if you want a game that you could just download and buy on PSN?

The only real reason , BC is not offered on the PS4 for Legacy games is because PS1, PS2 & PS3 all are different architecture and would require new license agreements and yet more coding to get it to work ..unlike Home brew Developers who just make an emulator that they put out , where gamers can just download a digital back up copy online that some other gamer may have ripped from a disc or cartridge.. Sony has to get a licence agreement for the privilege of doing so.

And also has to get testing , investment time and manpower to take place in order to have it done to get it .

PlayStation Now, was not backwards compatibility answer to not having it. It's a service to be able to play Legacy PlayStation games not PS4 games now as people are thinking it is.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Lmao what so it will only be 3 games? In your eyes that's better? Ea access is sub par the games are meh and the whole vault thing is the reason for the crap games. Gamers wouldn't buy anouther ea game if ea access was worth it. Your worried about losing games sorry your game pallet is so mono toned.games on now don't just disappear a week after being added do quit acting like they do . Licenses expire and the service is cheap for what you get.

[PlatinumGX]

If you enjoy playing games in crap mode that's not my problem lol.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

I'm done with a idiot like you. I would much rather stream a bad ass game then install garbage. Your the definition of a tool looking at the only good thing out of a 100 negatives and saying it must be the best textbook xbox fanboy. Your replies are the standard xbox fanboy bs enjoy your garbage games I will enjoy my bad ass new games that you couldn't understand maybe if you beg Bill Gates he will fund anouther shooter so you can say how xbox has the best games when they only have shooters and racer games for the most part. And save your list I can give you several bad ass first party Sony games that are not just all shooter halo/cod clones

[PlatinumGX]

Might want to check that bad ass, it's making you butthurt lol.

[leeeroythe3rd]

Sub par? How many aaa titles would justify it to you? Ea access and the pc version are well worth the price of membership x 2 or 3

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Your the one who admits he would rather buy garbage then innovation. I bet you bitch about all your games being to much like cod then go buy the new code every year and wonder what happened pull your head out your ass for 5 minutes shower off then smell the roses from the garbage your spewing.i will agree a install is better then a stream but only a idiot or a xbox fanboy with there head planted far up their ass will tell you ea access is better then playstation now as there is no comparing now is years better and the lag is completly within reason. Sorry your neighbors wifi sucks but that not sonys fault or problem. Plug your system in then try it. Oh wait I forgot you don't have a playstation and just wanna bitch about stuff you have never tried. Thank you for ruining video games for the real gamers.

[PlatinumGX]

"i will agree a install is better then a stream"

Right, so EA Access is better than PSNow, simple logic.

[Redgehammer]

I don't own any Sony products; so, in comparison/contrast terms, I don't have the data to make a fair assessment. However, I do enjoy being able to play 6 hours of a new game, achievements and all, a week before release. I also don't mind the discounts either. 30$ a year is quite reasonable, and the vault it growing. Most importantly, I like having the option to decide if I like the service.

"Thank you for ruining video games for the real gamers.", Those kind of hyperbolic statements are something I don't like, regardless of which fan base lobs it. I have been an active gamer for 40+ years, and don't believe I have the right to dismiss, or quantify gamers into real or non real categories. Rhetoric like that, is one of the components, that contributes to the toxicity of the gaming communities. Shall we build a wall to keep us segregated from one another? Good points lose their luster when covered in the grime of mean-spiritedness.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

There is nothing innovative about PSNow.XD
To those that are disagreeing, You're defending what is essentially a step towards an Always-Online console, where everything demands a near-perfect net connection or you don't get to play at reasonable speeds period.
The same thing that you hypocrites took the micky out of Microsoft for with the original form of the XB1.

Anyone supporting PSNow, is just a hardcore Sony fanboy that will suck up anything Sony pours down their gullet.
It's not a great service, it's a streaming rental shop. There's nothing innovative about that. The idea is worse than the claims you fanboys make about the game pad, even: at least the game pad explored new ways of interacting with games from time to time, but PSNow is just a watered down Netflix/Gamefly hybrid.

[Goldby]

PS now isn't for current playstation gamers who own ps4s. thats the difference.

PSnow is on tvs, tablets, smart devices, for hotels, resorts, and people who want to enjoy the odd game without paying 400 dollars just for the console.

[game4funz]

If that were the case then it wouldnt be defended so much in the forums. Unless of course this forums is made up of non ps3 or ps4 owners.

PSnow was not aimed towards the casuals who don't play games. It was aimed as a substitute for playing older games on the ps4. Sony was hoping to cash in with the feature, just remember the pricing structure before it launched. What casual who doesnt own the playstation would pay so much just to play 1 or 2 games?

[Aenea]

"EA Access is better than PSNow"

The two services aren't even remotely the same thing so comparing them is silly...

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed I'm not entirely sure why that's even being brought up considered they're not really the same Services even slightly.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Xbox fanboys need something to feel relevant on their dead on arrival system.

[iceman06]

The point of PS Now isn't BC (playing on current hardware...though it does help when there's no other way at this point). The point of PS Now is to attempt to expand PS games beyond the traditional PS platforms. They want gamers to be able to access PS Now's library on smartphones, tablets, TV's, and set top boxes. Not just gaming platforms. The issue is that some find it too expensive to rent/own games and there is latency. As a game rental service, it has potential (especially if they add a decent subscription model and improve the tech to reduce latency). The idea IS ahead of it's time and ambitious. The product, as it stands, needs some improvement.

@wonderful...Ummm....okay. Even though Sony has said as much. Could it lead to some sort of console without physical games? Possible. But, as of right now, the idea is to try to expand the reach of PS games beyond PS consoles. As for the "Xbox-hating hypocrites"...it wasn't just haters. There were tons of Xbox fans and Xbox "journalists" that were wary about that as well. While you might not see this as innovative, the idea of a streaming, game rental service is indeed pretty interesting. It IS ambitious, because it is unproven, but has potential (if done right) Your comparison to Blockbuster and Gamefly is about right...as if that's a bad thing. Both were highly successful until streaming surpassed them. Well, PSNow is a solution for everything that they do (or did). But, as you stated, the pricing DOES suck and the latency is still an issue.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

If that were true, and the system is aimed at people who want legacy Sony games without paying for a Sony system, then it would be the none-PS4 owners who want Sony games without playing on a Sony system leaping to defend it, not the established PS4, 3, 2 and 1 owners that the service isn't even aimed at who are constantly on forums like this one trying to damage control for the service.
PSNow is essentially a step towards an Always-Online console, where everything runs on a perfect net connection or you don't get to play period.
The same thing that a lot of XB1-hating hypocrites took the micky out of Microsoft for with the original form of the XB1.
Ironically, they did this at the same exact time that they forgave Sony for paywalling multiplayer behind PS+, after literal DECADES of making fun of Microsoft gamers for having paywalls in front of their online multiplayer.

But I digress: PSNow is not innovative, nor is it ambitious or a step forward.
It's a gorified always-online-streaming Block-Buster poser with a dash of Gamefly tossed in, with bad prices and even worse stability in many instances, on top of many games not even sticking around as long.

It's the last thing Sony fans should be defending, let alone praising Sony for.

[Majin-vegeta]

"Also games do not disappear from EA Access unlike PS Now. It would be disappoint to pay a subscription just for the game you wanted to play to be removed.

So you're telling me Eas own games wont disappear from their OWN SERVICE.Compared to Sony service where they are only getting license to use it for so long??Lol the dumbest crap I've heard just stop.

[PlatinumGX]

Maybe Sony should stop trying to use third party games as a crutch then, and rely on their own games to provide a service on par with EA Access.

You want to hear dumb crap? Some people actually pay for PSNow lol, now that's dumb.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@plat- use? What on Earth are you talking about? PlayStation Now is a service that lets you stream PlayStation games, which yes could be third-party games Sony is not stealing them from third-party they need their licensing permission to even stream them...

PlayStation Now is nothing like EA access it's not even slightly like it.

Also why are you being so blatantly disrespectful and rude for? There are people that play for PS now just like there are people that play for EA access neither are dumb they have their own reasons why they wish to use those services and they clearly exist for a reason.

Fyi I use neither service, but still respect that it is up to the consumer to decide if they want to purchase or play their games through such a model.

Consumer choice is not dumb.

Also marked as inappropriate there's really no need for that , you could have differences of opinions without name-calling consumer choices.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Edmix just ignore him platinum is a text book xbox fanboy everything said will go in one ear and out the outher unless it involves sucking bill Gates people who can't enjoy games regardless of system are the worse such blind fanboyism is just idiotic. Some systems suck it happens sorry if you back the wrong horse but it happens but don't get mad at everyone and everything else and accept it but never stop enjoying the games. I have made no secret to liking Sony games over Microsoft as they embrace uniqueness insteadof shunning it they have the most unique game profile of the big 3 and show no signs of cutting back but I will still play a good game regardless of the system it's on.

[Kingdomcome247]

Goodness, that comment is quite rich coming from you, ManBearPig. Lol. "Textbook fanboy", huh? Might want to take a moment for a little self introspection, what with your constant blatant trolling and unhinged Xbox hate in Xbox articles. Must suck to be not only a textbook fanboy, but a textbook hypocrite as well.

[game4funz]

Good job at not responding at all to his valid point.
The facts remain. Games on PSnow will disappear and games on EAaccess will not.

[Redgehammer]

@xMANB3ARP1G
So if I prefer Samsung over Apple I'm an idiot? If I could drive, and liked the Dodge Charger more than the Ford Mustang I'm the worst kind of person? If I cheered the "insert sports team here" but rooted against the "insert sports team here" instead, I should be castigated? The answer is no. Everyone is free to like whatever they want to, it's their money. People are entitled to have differing opinions, even if those opinions are narrow minded, vitriolic, demeaning, standing at the intersection of bullying Blvd and ludicrous circle, opinions. It's cool if you don't like Xbox; however, verbally attacking others because they're opinions differ from yours is trumptastic. Be a gamer, not a platform Nazi. Life is to short to hate. Or keep being a Nixon, but remember everybody's free to wear sunscreen.

[rainslacker]

They're completely different services, offering different things. If EA access comes to multiple devices that aren't PC's, or whatever, then maybe they'd be comparable, but until then, EA Access is more akin to PS+.....so much so that I'd consider them competitors to one another, whereas PSNow is simply an alternative product to consume games digitally.

[game4funz]

EA access is on pc's, which some people use as their TV's.
EA access is on the xbox.

That's multiple devices.

[rainslacker]

And EA access lets you stream games on demand no matter where you are? And EA Access still runs on PC's, and Xbox's, which is what I said. PSNow is offered on any device that can run the app, regardless of if the device is capable of running the game natively. EA access requires the game to run natively, PSNow does not. Major difference, which is why the comparison made above is stupid. EAA is much more comparable to PS+ or GWG from MS. Maybe if EAA ran natively on the TV's, it'd be more comparable, but even then it's still not, because you are limited to the selection which EA decides to include in it's vault.

They are completely different kinds of services.

[COMMENT-OF-THE-YEAR]

EA Access is a distribution model like steam. Where as Now is an on demand service where you don't have to download or install your game but is dependent on the network. 2 different models. PlayStation already has this in the sense of digital distribution.. just not in a subscription sense.. although it would be dope if they did that with their first party titles.. Either way one could argue that now has no install times nor download times and you can just play any games the service offers quickly and without fuss.. either way. They both have their own caveats.

[daynnight365]

The games don't go away on Access bc theyre all EA games. PSNow has games from multiple publishers and licenses expire. It is what it is

[RosweeSon]

How to charge for yearly churns? Sure it's great if you want the following years FIFA again not everyone wants EA access some people are far too busy playing a wide varied range of games that EA don't even get a look in.

[RosweeSon]

If they remove a game you subscribed for you cancel its not hard.

[crazychris4124]

If rather just keep my old consoles and games then paying for a subscription

[Idiedgoodbye]

I don't think your crazy for doing that.

[supraman21]

I don't think you're crazy for thinking he isn't crazy for thinking that.

[DragonDDark]

Same

[PhucSeeker]

It's all well and dandy until they bite the dust (especially the Ps3 and X360). Some options to play my games before getting a replacement would be nice.

[Idiedgoodbye]

I agree X One needs more compatibility support. I love not having to swap disk everytime I want to change the game.

#I'mnotcrazy

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

A separate SKU with native BC for a higher price?
Or a separate accessory that uses emulation tech so you can just pop your disk in?
I have a very hard time believing that Sony could not have made a higher priced "bulky" PS4 sell, after the performance they put on for its premiere and the hype wave that followed.

[Geoff900]

Same here bud, it's expensive and quite frankly a crap service.

[DillyDilly]

I prefer owning games which you do with Microsofts service & dont need to be online either

[_-EDMIX-_]

..... what is that going to really matter if Microsoft offers a rental option for streaming?

I'm pretty sure this is an issue with you based on rental versus ownage.

The reality is Microsoft is going to clearly adopt an option that allows for rental streaming in the future. I don't see why they wouldn't as it would be completely stupid if they didn't.

[DillyDilly]

As long as its an option & not their way or the high way I dont see a problem with it

[_-EDMIX-_]

@theran- well that's how I would expect it to be, gaming is always going to have multiple options as all mediums currently have multiple distribution options.

we've yet to have a single medium that has one exclusive distribution method.

I don't see Microsoft and being successful in trying to force some sort of distribution model that singular. I'm more than positive that when Microsoft introduces this feature on their next platform it's merely going to be an option, it will not be the only method.

[PhucSeeker]

Right. You know M$'s plan better than M$ itself.

Just because you think it's good doesn't mean other will think so as well. I'll believe you if you're the head of M$.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@phuc- why would Microsoft make an attempt of having a single distribution method when it didn't work the first time with Xbox One? If not the reversal of Xbox One reveal very much shows them that they listened to Consumers when they realize they'll lose customers.

Also exactly why when it Microsoft have a streaming option if their competitor does? So you're telling me Microsoft is never going to have a rental service in regards to streaming and they're just going to let Sony show off a feature that Microsoft very much could also do?

I'm not saying I work for Microsoft or could tell the future but the reality is if you have a company that owns burger chain,v chances are you could guess that they're going to have a drive-thru in fact chances are you could get many of the features they're going to adopt based on the market they exist in.

After Wendy's made there for for Ford deal it is not a shock that Burger King McDonald's Arby's and checkers followed suit it simply a very educated guess that they would Implement something consumers are demanding.

I'm once again not saying that Microsoft is going to have some streaming set up that is the only method to play their games I'm merely saying it's extremely easy to predict that the next Xbox will have this as an option simply because PlayStation also has it , Microsoft needs to keep up with what consumers are demanding all companies sort of do.

You really think you're going to see a burger chain with no drive-thru and no dollar menu or no 4 for 4 deal or anything like that?

You don't really need to work for these companies to guess what they might do I'm just merely throwing out an educated guess based on the company's history.

[Billybobjoey]

Personally I'd like actual backwards compatibility, but seemingly Sony doesn't care about it.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Did you buy a luanch ps3? If not your at fault and quit bitching about it. They tried bc these cheap ass xbox gamers didn't want to pay for it so they got rid of it. It's not coming back. Keep your old hardware or move onto new games.

[Billybobjoey]

No, I skipped last generation, so I don't want to buy another console just to play a few games, and streaming doesn't work with my internet setup.

[PygmelionHunter]

"Did you buy a luanch ps3? If not your at fault and quit bitching about it."

Oh please keep writing these fantastic pieces, they're rather amusing!

[ShaunCameron]

What Xbox gamers? It was Sony gamers that didn't want to pay for it. The same Sony gamers who are now blaming Microsoft for "influencing" Sony to charge for online multiplayer.

[shinrock]

Wow

[DragonDDark]

It's not that they care or not. It's that they just can't do it. The Ps3 was way more complicated compared to this gens' consoles.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Also yes but even if they could I really doubt they would no one wanted to pay the cost for it last gen and now all of a sudden it's a killer feature I guess when all the good games are on diffrent systems xbox fans need something to play I guess.

[Billybobjoey]

It's not impossible. If community members can make an emulator work as well as this, imagine what a team of hundreds of people at Sony could do. https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Bg116 you need to learn the difference between emulated software and hardware built in. emulation will never be 100% it's always better to have the actual hardware. Also didn't miss out on a thing on xbox one had one played the few games I wanted got tired of waiting for crackdown 3 and sold it now that all the good xbox games are going to pc it was a great choice as I will just play the few I want on pc. Have fun convincing yourself you bought a new system for the convince of playing old games. be real backwards compatibility in systems is a nice perk not a killer app it makes a slow launch feel better and fills in the gaps for the awesome games to follow within 2 years only the most hard core use it regularly and purist tend to stick to hardware not software emulation.

[Redgehammer]

@xMANB3ARP1G at present 60% of the BC games released are games that I own. Why is it a bad thing that I get to keep the games I purchased, but with the added bonus of Game DVR, screenshots, upload studio, being able to play with my 360 friends etc.? Is the entire Xbox community your mortal enemies? Also, only when compared to the meteoric launch of the ps4, does the launch of the X1 appear slow. The X1 is a very capable machine, and is constantly improving. Kudos to Sony, but those Kudos do not, in any way, reflect negatively on the X1. I love my console, have fun on my console, have great friends on my console (some for 10 years); and, barring something crazy transpiring, will be a Xbox gamer for as long as I am able to hold a controller. I truly hope you get the same pleasure, and comradery from your gaming decisions, as I have.

[game4funz]

Trust me, if they wanted to they would've.
What kind of excuse is that in a meeting. Im sorry we can't do it.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol

That's not even really a feasible Choice considering the PlayStation 4 is unable to emulate PlayStation 3 , PC modders are unable to emulate the cell right now bud. So you're basically asking for something in place of another feature that has nothing to do with what you're asking for

PlayStation Now was likely always going to exist regardless of whether or not PlayStation 4 was backwards compatible if , you factor that PlayStation Now exist on PlayStation 3 and on TVs and on other devices that don't even play those games natively , so why on Earth would they had created a service specifically just for the PlayStation 4 in regards to backwards compatibility?

I own a PlayStation 3 to play my older PlayStation 3 games because I value it enough to never sell it.

You could probably get a PlayStation 3 for a little over 100 bucks used....

To my understanding no company cares enough about backwards compatibility to have their entire libraries available fully natively working......

Soooooo yea.

How come you didn't care enough about your older platforms to keep them? I have no plans of selling my PlayStation 4 when PlayStation 5 release is bud.

[xMANB3ARP1G]

Lol so true cheap ass gamers want to bitch about selling there old system and having no way to sell the games they only kept becuase gamestop didn't want t9 give them enough in their book. It really is sad if gamers were this big a group of crybabies during snes gaming would of died out completly.

[kraenk12]

You don't seem to understand the technology behind it. It's impossible to emulate the cell processor.

[Bladesfist]

Except you know the people who have already emulated it. You seem to be set on becoming the Sony version of Rookie Monster.

[kraenk12]

@Bladefist

The Cell was so advanced it even puts both current gen CPUs to shame even today in certain calculation areas. You don't seem to know what you're talking about. Even a high end PC can't emulate it at a reasonable rate.

[Nosferatu_Zodd]

Lol it's the opposite, Sony needs to catch up with Microsoft's backward compatibility.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

more like Nintendo who allowed from day one.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

This.
Honestly, I'm going to dislike the NX if it gets rid of native BC, but as long as online multiplayer isn't paywalled then I'll give it a chance.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

It is an amazing technical achievement, but it needs to be repackaged and sold as a cheaper, Netflix-style service (for all Smart TVs as well).

[PhoenixUp]

PS Now's $100 annual subscription option translates to $8.33 a month, which is the same price that you'd pay monthly for Netflix.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

People don't like buying things at that price up front though, especially if they don't know if they'll like it. It should be $7.99 per month.

[shinrock]

EA access says hi 🙏

[littletad]

Completely bullshit. Both Nintendo and Xbox have backward compatibility, which is far better than a paid-subscription service, no matter how you spin it. I love my ps4, but I have all consoles and I know a useless feature when I see it. ANYONE would prefer to play their own ps3 games they already own on a ps4 than pay for a continuous service with input lag etc.

[PhoenixUp]

Except PS Now isn't an answer to backwards compatibility nor is it a feature exclusive to PS4. It's a growing service that will be available on more devices in the near future.

[Kaneki-Ken]

Haters going to hate! I don't use PlayStation Now because I am not interested in last generation games but is a great service when I try the free trial. I bet it's going to become popular, if they released it on PC since a lot of people are interested on PlayStation exclusive and mostly with The Last Of Us, God Of War , Resistance, Uncharted, more.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

It's not an answer, because it's not GOOD ENOUGH to be an answer.

[PhoenixUp]

Everybody wants Virtual Console to have a subscription model as an option so they can stream an unlimited amount of games on the service

[zerocarnage]

What utter bull crap this all is. Each service maybe different and each service offers its own unique style that sets itself out from the others, but to say all that is just so wrong.

The fact that Xbox live has more subsciption payers than what any of the other console developers has to there paid services just says how bull**it this article is. Sony mite of sold more machines between ps4/xbox one, but ms by far hold the numbers on there paid service in terms of paid subscription users, which would mean that the better service is owned by ms..

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

PSNOW is trash. Not worth the money at all. Downgraded graphics, lag, and games being removed makes this feature worthless. I don't think anyone seriously uses PSNOW on a consistent basis. And other services have been around much longer than PSNOW like OnLive. Yes it's gone now I know but the point is Sony wasn't the first to bring this service. I payed 2 months worth and never once did I feel I got my money's worth.

[joeorc]

@BLKxSEPTEMBER

[been around much longer than PSNOW like OnLive. ]

Ironic that you mentioned that service:

>Sony buys streaming games service OnLive only to shut it down<
http://www.theverge.com/201...

You did not think Gaikai was just the only acquisition did you?

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

Your just proving my point for me.

[spoilerjerk]

While I would definitely agree that they are ahead in terms of the service I still find the tech to be lagging with the slightest bit of lag ruining the experience and I have Google Fiber so speed isn't an issue.

[joeorc]

It's like this point, you are going to have the need of a TV or Streaming box or some kind of system under the TV or inside it.

Sony is not going to give up being that box or write nder the TV box , just so another company can replace a Sony box or hardware inside that smart TV.

That's exactly why Sony is including ..key works including the TV and smart devices , cloud streaming Box's that connect to the TV's to be part of the PlayStation Eco system, not Replace it!

The cloud require lots of investment, and bandwidth is being limited in many ways outside of landline fiber-optic or either net, DSL and or Coax.

Not everywhere is upto that level even in the United States. Sony looks at the game console market on a world wide market level, not just a few regions..and they want to put PlayStation gaming into as many hands as they can for their PlayStation Eco System.

[REDDURT]

The price needs to be better

[P_Bomb]

That and they need to start using it in more creative ways.

Offer some free PS Now game rentals with the monthly PS+ freebies people always complain about. Offer a PS+ discount. Offer free trials more often than once per account. Use it as a reward. Say you buy the Last Guardian Collectors edition, throw in a year of free Ico/SOTC streaming.

Point is, do things that might get people to at least *look* at the service again. As it stands, out of sight = out of mind.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

And untie the online multiplayer from their pay model, while they're at it.
That crap needs to go; be it Sony, Micro, or Nintendo, I will never support paywalled online multiplayer.

[Redx165]

PS Now is a terrible feature making people have to rent games to replay them on the PS4. I'm more a PS fanboy and even I'll admit that Microsoft destroys Sony in the backwards compatible part...

[quent]

Bs, it exists to try and kill the 2nd hand market, how's that backward compatibility going btw ?

[Vasto]

PS Now?

Nobody cares about this and never will. Act fast to catch up to a service that nobody uses?

[King_Lothric]

Playstation is ahead of the competition in everything. There is a reason why they are dominating the console market everywhere in the world.

[stalepie]

"From a usability perspective, too, a Nintendo Virtual Console offering NES and SNES games would be far better than PlayStation Now- unlike PS3 games, which can be dozens of GBs in file size, and therefore require a lot of bandwidth (and, by extension, come with the threat of a lot of latency), NES and SNES games are tiny- we’re talking maybe a few MBs at best. Not only would something like this not require a lot of bandwidth, it would also be accessible to a lot more people with poor internet connections that PlayStation Now cannot reach."

That isn't how game streaming works. It sends a video feed (like 1280x720 / 30 fps / stereo) to your TV. It's DVR-ed live from the server and sent to you like Netflix. So you can be playing simple games like Thomas Was Alone or Nidhogg and it still uses a similar amount of bandwidth as does Borderlands 2 or something else large (although the quality of the feed can probably get away with being lower on a simpler game).

[XXanderXX]

I say Sony go at it alone .
if its successful 3 years from and still worth it , then the other 2 companies can go in offering the new tech of the time and make it better all round .Till then those other 2 companies should continue with their own concepts .

[S2Killinit]

OBJECTIVELY its evident that PSNow is actually a better choice than Backward compatibility in certain situations. Namely, when you don't yet own the old game, having PSNow is a better,cheaper, and more convenient option than buying it.

In other instances, example, when you already own it, and for some reason you want to play it again (although I honestly don't know why considering the number of current gen games in my backlog); OR when you are given the old game for free, THEN backward compatibility is the better option.

So, yeah. Objectively, PSNow works better for my purposes, which is playing games I haven't already played and missed last generation.

[leeeroythe3rd]

Psnow is a joke. Tried it and found lag too much... not ready for prime time feature. Ps4 sharing is also far too laggy and prone to disconnect. Great on paper but poorly executed. I agree that it will be the platform of the future when the internet and server build improves

[Tedakin]

How come there are no articles on N4G about PSNow potentially coming to PC?

[Majin-vegeta]

There was but since anonymous sources are not allowed.They are failed If it gets announced at PS event next month then you can expect articles.

[Brettman2008]

The more people who use the service the quicker this will become the only way to game. I think it is a horrible future for gaming. Laggy gaming and no physical copies, just terrible.

[wolokowoh]

PS Now is way ahead of its time in the sense it will be far in the future before it is feasible for a large install base. It is great idea but right now it hasn't fully realized its potential. Eventually it will have PS4 games and latency will be low.. The problem is the bandwidth that is required to make latency go to its absolute minimum would have to have a ridiculous ping time which means the servers would have to be close to your house. There would still be latency but it wouldn't be that bad even on shooters. This can be achieved but that is way down the line for most people. Should others be investing in cloud streaming? Yes, it will eventually be feasible so why not get a head start if you can afford to? The thing Microsoft already is. They bought Onlive. Just because they don't have a service up and running like Sony doesn't mean they don't have plans for it behind the scene. Nintendo is still gettingthe basics down on their end so its doubtful they are doing anything. In the near future Microsoft(the entire company not just games) is heavily invested in cloud computing which for all purposes already works very well if you have a half decent internet connection. Sony is more less leaving cloud computing to third parties.

[ScreenCritics]

What do Sony have to learn from it? That you can charge people for backwards comparability and its OK?

[Gwiz]

I think Sony can learn from Microsoft in that regard.

[AstroCyborg]

ps now could be great but heres its biggest problem it relies on your connection & the subscirption prices are an insult

[Mystogan]

stupid article is stupid. its like saying Xbox is leading with motion control. while technically true, nobody uses Kinect and its got terrible support.

[guitarded77]

I'm a mostly PlayStation gamer, but I'd rather have backward compatibility. I have a catalog of over 1,000 PS 1, 2 and 3 games... why would I want to pay to play them again? I understand not everyone's in my situation, and PS Now can fill a gap for them, but for those of us with back catalogs, MS and Nintendo are doing something right that PS could learn from.

[Auron]

Nvidia's streaming servie is light years ahead of sonys.
1080p 60fps and max pc settings for their service.
Just saying...
PS vue though. . Gotta love it!

[USMC_POLICE]

Ps now should be free with ps plus because we don't even have backwords compatibility.

[thelaughingwiseman]

I just wanted to play games I own digitally on ps3 on my ps4 :"C

[chaosx]

PS Now sounds great but not a fan of having to pay for my games again if i have the media sitting there ready to use. Maybe its the elephant in the room but Sony could learn a bit from MS in regards to a fair BC system.

[ShaunCameron]

But that's the price you pay for Sony not wanting to jack up manufacturing costs of the PS4 and Sony gamers not wanting to pay higher upfront retail costs.

[lastking95]

Dat price doe, ps vue however, Now that's good, sick of these rip off cable companies.

[Geekman]

This sites not biased at all

[Elda]

I don't use it.

[blackout]

When Sony goes DEDICATED then we can talk.

[DAEMONIFEAR]

Repurchasing a game you already own so you can play it isn't ahead of anything! PS Now is a joke! It's sonys money cow they've put a new label on backwards compatible but charging you for it! Get real people!

MS has backwards compatible and it's absolutely free! MS have shareplay where you give your friend your account details so they can play your games for FREE!

[we420]

Until they introduce PS1 and PS2 games, I could honestly care less about the service

[DeeBeers]

lol

[Thomaticus]

It's good but the pricing keeps people away from it. If I have the disc, then that should give me access to the game on PS Now.

[SynestheticRoar]

WOW . All the haters are out and about. LOL. This site is just looking for hits.

[Segata]

Onlive and GameTap existed years before PS Now. Nintendo and SEGA had the idea of steaming games in the 90s on SNES and Genesis. Sega Channel and Satellaview. Not that new of an idea.

[PFFT]

lol nope not really.

[yay111]

Ok then... thats sorta why the Xbox Scorpio was announced

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I don't care how many old games that I'm uninterested in they try to bribe me with; I won't touch any program that paywalls online multiplayer, and it was a d*** move on Sony's part to do that to PS3 fans that were looking for reasons to trade up, outside of a power leap that wasn't even a big enough leap to satisfy a lot of devs (Neo wouldn't be a thing this soon if it were), let alone something that isn't already showing diminishing returns graphically.
The amount of people on PS4 who traded up from PS3 would be easily double what it is now, if they had not paywalled multiplayer and had made a separate SKU with proper backwards compatibility. *Equips Flame Shield*

[BLAKHOODe]

I wouldn't have a problem with PS Now, but I own dozens of digital copies of PS3 games that I can't play on my PS4, without subscribing to PS Now. I even bought digital copies of GTA V and Batman: Arkham City thinking PS4 would support backwards compatibility since those games released so close to the launch of the PS4 and I thought I would be able to play them on my PS4. Nope! So, NO thanks, Sony! (I did eventually re-purchase GTA V on PS4 for cheap.)

[Mrveryodd]

its a nice option , but really you buy a shiny new ps4 to play ps2 games that are 10 years old and everybody thinks this is the best.
Not to mention that you own the disk and you should have to pay again to play that old game

Then to crap on BC which is free ..... and in some cases the games run better RDD comes to mind as i dont remmber it looking so good.
Because the ps4 cant emulate the cell cpu you cant have BC ps3 games , if it could do you think it would be free .... hell no, you would be charged as you are for 10 year old ps2 games ... most likley more money.... get your head out of the sand sheepole sony are in it to take as much money out of your pocket as possible just like MS Nintendo , apple and everyother bastard .
Sony are a bit more open about it than some.
MS on the other hand , because of the massive leed Sony has , has been kept some what honest this gen and had to give alot of free shit away this gen ,and yes i have been had a sub to live since day one and icant keep up with all the games i am collecting ...

If you cant see that you got issues

[MooseyXTC]

With a perfect internet connection, I couldn't even run Metal Slug 2 at a decent framerate or without input lag.
A goddamn SNK arcade game from a billion years ago.
Same goes for Darkstalkers Resurrection.

It's unimpressive as hell.

[lodossrage]

The first paragraph of this article made me realize the author doesn't know what he's talking about. I'll quote:

"You know, I’m really not a fan of PlayStation Now. A lot of that probably has to do with my distaste for how the service has been offered as a replacement for proper backwards compatibility"

How many times has Sony themselves TOLD people over and over again that PS Now IS NOT a replacement for backward compatibility? They've been telling the world this since PS Now's existence yet people STILL claim otherwise (such as this article)

Plus if it was a replacement for backward compatibility, why would it be on the PS3 as well. So let me get this right, Sony is giving you backward compatibility on the PS3.....to play PS3 games that you could ALREADY do without PS Now anyway. Am I the only one that realizes how stupid that sounds?

[game4funz]

- Remote play
MS has it too.
-SharePlay
Unncessary but a good point. If i want someone to test or play a game I would just make their console a home console with my user. Tada, they can now play.
-PSNow
This is actually a backwards kind of feature. It went from BC to PSnow. So no thanks I hope it dies with the ps4.

[s45gr32]

Playstation Now will replace consoles sooner than later only if Sony makes Playstation Now affordable and it allows to download all of Playstation games (yes even PS4 games). I was shocked to see Sony planning to release PS4 Neo (useless piece of crap) instead of making the major announcement of bringing PS Now PS4 games and bringing it to PC. In all honesty, the hardware of consoles is done; why wait for consoles to fully become outdated gaming wannabe PCs (doesn't make business sense). Playstation Now in conjunction with digital distribution is the true future of consoles.

[PutridPlop]

LMAO! Is this guy joking?

[shinrock]

My stomach is hurting right now 🤣

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Except I can just buy a Wii game or play my Wii games easily by just going into Wii Mode.
Xbox One backward compatibility is growing.

What so great about Sony charging you for backward compatibilty on PS4.

[NET_Nomad]

Correction: The idea of using the PS3 as a cloud-based server in order to play games remotely is way ahead of its time.

So much so, that ~16 years ago Ken Kutaragi described the idea as being a total disappearance of the PS3 “as a console, as a shape”. [1]

The invisible, shapeless PS3 that Ken characterized then has since become an ever expanding cluster [2] of PS Now rack servers, housed in Gaikai datacenters. [3]

As for Microsoft and Nintendo catching up… I don’t see how. SIE’s timely acquisition of Gaikai and strategic purchase of ~140 OnLive patents [4], will most likely make it impossible for them to do so. [5]

[1] see post by vertigo for quote; see post by Onslaught for full article http://www.goodcowfilms.com...

[2] see ‘Cell-based Cluster Structure Boosts Performance to 1 PFLOPS’ near the end of the article for 1st paragraph http://techon.nikkeibp.co.j...

[3] see 1st paragraph http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[4] see 1st paragraph http://www.gamesindustry.bi...

[5] see 3rd paragraph; also see ‘Update’ near the end of the article for 2nd paragraph http://venturebeat.com/2010...