PS5 Game Cloud Streaming is Coming to PS Plus Subscriptions and Engagement are on the Rise
Last year, Sony relaunched their PlayStation Plus service, offering multiple tiers and shifting their focus to providing a large catalog of recent and classic games to play (although not Day 1 releases ala Game Pass). The initial rollout of the service was perhaps a little rocky, but a year later, Sony tells GamesIndustry.biz they’re “happy with our strategy” and the success of the new PS Plus.
When the new tiered PS Plus first launched, revenue was boosted, but subscribers actually dipped. That’s since changed, as the service has now “very much returned to growth.” Over a billion hours of games have been played through the new PS Plus, with the average subscribers spending 7-times the hours with PS Plus games than they previously did with Sony’s old service PS Now. Interestingly, the sometimes-criticized PS Plus Premium tier is actually more popular than the mid-level Extra tier.
Speaking of PS Plus Premium, Sony has plans to add the ability to stream PS5 games from the cloud to the tier. The option won’t launch for everyone for a while, and you won’t be able to play on PCs or mobile devices yet, but it will allow you to free up SDD space by playing PS5 games you haven’t natively installed.
“We’re currently testing cloud streaming for supported PS5 games – this includes PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported digital PS5 titles that players own. When this feature launches, cloud game streaming for supported PS5 titles will be available for use directly on your PS5 console. That means as a Premium member, it’ll be easier to jump into your favorite games without downloading them first onto your PS5 console. Our goal is to add this as an additional benefit to PlayStation Plus Premium as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the value of PlayStation Plus.
We think it’s important for Premium members to be able to enjoy as many games as possible via cloud streaming. As more games continue to launch on the PS5 console, we look forward to adding cloud streaming capability for PS5 titles in addition to the PS3, PS4 and classic titles that are already available for Premium members to stream. We’re in the early stages right now, and we can’t wait to share more details when we’re ready, including a launch time frame.”
Meanwhile, Sony has also revealed the games coming to the PS Plus Extra/Premium catalog in June:
- Far Cry 6 (PS4/PS5)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (PS4/PS5)
- Rogue Legacy 2 (PS4/PS5)
- Inscryption (PS4/PS5)
- Soulstice (PS5)
- Tacoma (PS4)
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4)
- Killing Floor 2 (PS4)
And here are the classics coming for exclusively for Premium members:
- Killzone: Liberation (PSP)
- Worms (PS1)
- Herc’s Adventures (PS1)
The games above should be added to the PS Plus catalog on June 20. And hey, if you you’re not a subscriber, a free multiplayer weekend (no PS Plus subscription required) will be held on June 24 and June 25.
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