Playstation users will not need to buy a console to play old classics. The cloud gaming service, PlayStation Now, announced a broad selection of PS3 titles coming to Windows PC trough a paid subscription system.
Eric Lempel, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Head of Playstation Network, unveiled the news on its official blog yesterday, August 23rd.
The new service will first arrive in Europe, and the U.S. would follow shortly after. A library of over 400 games will be available, including highly popular franchises such as The Last of Us, God of War, and the Uncharted series. The company is expected to expand its offers to PS2 and PS1 games eventually.
In July 2012, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a $380 million investment to acquire Gaikai, a high-end video game stream service, with plans to develop a new online gaming platform.
Sony officially unveiled PS Now at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, where it demoed PS Vita versions of God of War: Ascension, and the interactive drama-action adventure, Beyond: Two Souls. Since then, PS Now remained as an Open Beta in the U.S, Canada, and Europe.
Microsoft could also follow the same road
This move from Sony came after Microsoft released a preview of the Xbox One Anniversary Update in July. The update brings more Windows 10 compatibility when streaming games from the console to PC. However, recent rumors suggest Microsoft is also planning to let players enjoy Xbox titles without owning the game system, according to an article by The Verge’s Tom Warren.
No need for control pads, the classic DualShock will handle PS Now games
Playstation also introduced new device, the DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adaptor. This gadget allows users to connect a PS4 controller to PC and Mac wirelessly.
The adaptor was designed to deliver the command features of the DualShock 4 such as buttons, analog sticks, touchpad, light bar, motion sensors, vibration, and headset jack. The product will hit the shelves in September with a suggested retail price of $24.99.
Apart from the 400+ game library of PS Now, the platform is also offering fifteen new RPG titles, including Eternal Sonata, Legasista, and Child of Light.
Recommended PC specs for PS3 titles
Windows 7 (SP1), 8.1 or 10. AMD A10 3.8 GHz processor or 3.5 GHz Intel Core i3. 2GB or more of RAM memory. Standard Sound card and USB ports. A Minimum 5Mbps connection, and an alternate wired internet connection for an optimum experience.
A free 7-day trial of PS Now is available on Playstation’s official site. Paid subscriptions consist of a month-to-month plan for $19.99, and a 3-month plan for $44.99.
Source: Playstation