Sony has two subscription plans on the PlayStation that have always existed separately from each other: PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus. The number of users differs considerably between these two services, but PlayStation Now is growing. The fact that PlayStation Plus has by far the largest user group should come as no surprise, as it is necessary on the PlayStation 4 to be able to play online. PlayStation Now is mainly intended for the somewhat older games and will undoubtedly play a major role on the PlayStation 5.
There is a good chance that Sony will push PlayStation Now as a backwards compatibility tool for PlayStation 3 games, as well as older titles. Most of the PlayStation 4 games should just work on the PlayStation 5, so that covers everything. The only question is whether it is useful to still offer the two services separately, because Microsoft is more interested in Game Pass within its own environment.
Much has already been said and written about Game Pass, it is clear that it offers great value for money. You pay a relatively small amount per month, which gives you access to various games, including first-party exclusive titles. Game Pass has been around for a while now, but Microsoft has now taken a new step forward. In September, Microsoft will offer a modified version of the Ultimate Game Pass for an amount of approximately € 15.
This includes the library of Game Pass games, and therefore first-party exclusives on release, as well as Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass for the PC. There will also be unlimited access to the Xcloud streaming service in September. Admittedly, if you put the monthly amount of PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus together, you’re about the same. In that context, Sony could offer a similar service, but even then Microsoft has one advantage: ‘free’ access to first-party games on release.
Sony, of course, has a nice asset with free games every month, but Microsoft is going over that again. After all, the Ultimate Game Pass also includes Xbox Live Gold and through that service you get four games per month, two for the Xbox 360 and two for the Xbox One. Ultimately it is Microsoft under the line who still knows how to offer the best deal with some distance. In short, Ultimate Game Pass offers exactly everything you need.
Where Sony used to offer an advantage with PlayStation Plus by offering optional extras, Xbox Live Gold was a relatively basic form of subscription at the time. Over the years, Microsoft has made considerable progress and they have now passed Sony, especially in terms of content offered. Now Sony has a large audience and the majority likes to pay for the good services they offer, yet the gap with Microsoft is starting to grow and Sony will have to answer that. After all, you have enough gamers who are not tied to a platform and who look purely at the best deals and content.
With the arrival of the PlayStation 5, gamers expect an upgrade in PlayStation Plus to free titles for that platform. But if we take the PlayStation 4, it took quite a long time before we got notable PlayStation 4 games ‘free’. If Sony follows the same route, the distance will be even greater, because with Ultimate Game Pass you will soon have direct access to the largest first-party releases on the Xbox Series X, and yes, that is a very attractive idea.
Nice to throw that up for your opinion this week. Do you agree and will Sony at least have to combine the two separate services to make it more attractive? Or do you prefer Sony to come up with an answer in a different way? For example, by making its first-party titles plus a select number of second / third-party titles available for free upon release via PS Plus or PS Now? Or do you think it is fine, because with PlayStation Plus you are comparatively cheaper compared to Ultimate Game Pass or because PlayStation Now simply does not interest you?
Well, it can go in any direction and we would like to hear your opinion below as always!
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