Shifting streaming to a separate tier underlines cloud gaming’s peripheral role at present in terms of distribution for most users. The inclusion of streaming distribution as a core proposition to the highest tier partially aligns with Microsoft’s approach, where Xbox Game Pass Ultimate permits cloud gaming. Merging PlayStation Now with PlayStation Plus could combat brand confusion around the two services, offering greater clarity to consumers. Again, this differs from Microsoft’s approach with Ultimate, which focused on the Xbox Game Pass content service. Sony can do this if it focuses the product strategy on the base online console platform subscription of PlayStation Plus which has far bigger user numbers than the more expensive content subscription offer of PlayStation Now. However, if this tiering within the service approach is confirmed, it would suggest that the individual products will no longer be available as standalone subscriptions, which differs from Microsoft’s approach. Even though PlayStation Plus is defined as an online console platform service the inclusion of regular free games does mean it has a content dimension. Microsoft pursued a similar strategy with the launch of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate back in April 2019, which integrated both Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass for PC.

The integration rather than simple bundling of individual services makes sense, considering both PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now are games services centred on the company’s console platforms. Tier 3: Extended demos, game streaming and a library of PS1, PS2, PS3 and PSP gamesĪn integrated product strategy makes commercial sense.Tier 2: A large catalogue of PS4 games and, eventually, PS5 games.Tier 1: Existing PlayStation Plus benefits.The report suggests that PlayStation Plus will absorb PlayStation Now, maintaining the Plus branding, and the resulting service will have three tiers: While no details are officially confirmed, Ampere expects an overhaul of Sony’s gaming subscription services with 2022 a realistic relaunch date.

PlayStation is planning to fold its two subscription services into a single offering according to a report by Bloomberg.

Playstation now vs xbox game pass 2018