PlayStation to Reportedly Announce New Subscription Service 'as Early as Next Week' - News

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Sony Interactive Entertainment is set to announce its rumored new video game subscription service, codenamed Spartacus, "as early as next week," according to a new Bloomberg report.

Spartacus will reportedly combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now into a single service and will give subscribers access to a catalog of modern and classic games for a monthly fee. Sources claim the new service at launch will have a lineup of hits released in recent years. 

It was previously reported Spartacus will come in three tiers. The first tier includes existing PlayStation Plus benefits, the second includes a large catalog of PlayStation 4 and, eventually, PlayStation 5 titles, while the third includes extended demos, game streaming, and a library of classic PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP games.

The report says the new subscription is Sony's answer to Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass, however, it won't include big releases on day one. Having every first-party title available on Xbox Game Pass day one is one of the main appeals of the service.

Spartacus appears to be more about Sony combining its two PlayStation services into a single service, rather than being a direct competitor to Xbox Game Pass, which has grown to over 25 million subscribers.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

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eva01beserk (on 25 March 2022)

This really sounds like the cancellation of ps now. Some of the benefits go into ps+ and the rest probably they make a ps++. Probably just cheaper than having ps+ and ps now.

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method114 eva01beserk (on 26 March 2022)

Well they are adding more things. At one point there was a rumor that they were adding their anime streaming service to one of the tiers. With Funimation media being moved over to crunchy roll now and the announcement being imminent makes me think that might be true. Plus the trialsdemo system they will be adding which I'm looking forward to. Would be nice to try out games before buying them.

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Wman1996 (on 25 March 2022)

I hope the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP rumors are true. My body is ready.

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KLAMarine (on 25 March 2022)

"combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now into a service service"

Serviceception

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dane007 KLAMarine (on 25 March 2022)

Lol I hope not. I hope they do their own version of gamepass.

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method114 dane007 (on 25 March 2022)

I would like that but not if the quality of games is going to suffer because of it. At one point Sony out right stated it's not financially viable for them to do that. So if they can do it and maintain their current quality great. If not then I'll just buy the games the old fashioned way.

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dane007 method114 (on 25 March 2022)

Exactly and if they do it, does that make them a hypocrite with that their previous statement?. I want them to seriously put an effort in competing with gamepass and I want them to support it long term unlike some of their projects where they quit so easily

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dane007 CGI-Quality (on 26 March 2022)

I was referring to psvita, psp. Amazing handhelds especially psvita but they dropped the support after a short period. Loved the psvita.

They killed psvita by forcing people to buy their. Proprietary memory cards. That was one of manybreasons

The motion controllers that they had. I forgot the name. I also called the glowing dildos. Amazing concept but wasn't given proper support. Had alot of potential.

That's just at the top of my head.. There's more for sure

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dane007 CGI-Quality (on 26 March 2022)

I know that. But just saying they have projects that they quit quickly or don't do anything to keep it alive and competition well despite consumer feedback. I couldn't remember any software but I am sure theres some for Sony as u said it happens with alot of companies.

I know Nintendo has with wii u which was a shame as wii u was a good console and had potential of used right. From my own experience, Sony has done it more as I bought two handhelds from them and the motion control equipment hoping it last longer than it actually did.


Hopefully with their gamepass equivalent they do better than just combining psnow and psn plus. I would love to pay for Sony equivalent to gamepass if its similar concept to xbox gamepass. Fingers cross

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dane007 CGI-Quality (on 26 March 2022)

How's psnow? I heard it took ages to reach 1080p for streaming and there's still input lag? I haven't tested out yet. Just from people reports.

For me psp didn't have many great games. I remembered the last great I played then was the final fantasy game which I 100%.it was better at indie games or smaller Japanese niche games and as an emulator which is what u used it for at the end.

In saying that everyone had their own experiences with psp.

It wasn't the competition that destroyed. I remembered it was
the format that they made the games which wasn't easy to get and was expensive and also forcing people to use their proprietary memory cards. They even carried on the same flaw that psp had to the psvita. You would have thought they learnt their lesson.

Back the Nintendo ds and even 3ds and switch used easy micro sd cards for memory and the cartridges are easy and cheap to get to make games. It was more accessible hence why people bought it more

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DonFerrari CGI-Quality (on 28 March 2022)

Can`t say DS was a better device than PSP, but we can say better competitor just fine. And well PSP still sold very healthy (80M right?)

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Runa216 dane007 (on 25 March 2022)

Isn't that just PS now with more recent titles?

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dane007 Runa216 (on 25 March 2022)

Well ps4 games don't need to stream where quality is dependant on how good your net is. The rest u need to have good Internet connection. U get max 1080p and there's still input lag.

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ConservagameR KLAMarine (on 25 March 2022)

Basically canceling each other out, so........there really is no service?
Well played Sony. Well played.

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V-r0cK (on 26 March 2022)

Hope it includes Crunchyroll/Funamation subscription as well

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method114 V-r0cK (on 26 March 2022)

This is what I’m hoping for as well. I’ve been holding off on signing up for CR.

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DonFerrari (on 28 March 2022)

Another week, another rumor that Spartacus will be unveiled this week, rinse and repeat until you eventually get it right and pretend yo have insider knowledge.

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