In response to Microsoft’s resounding success with its Xbox Game Pass game subscription service, Sony is reportedly expanding its own PlayStation Now service with even more games and multiple-level options. After being reported by Bloomberg late last year, this new project, internally codenamed Spartacus, appears to be nearing completion as reports of its price and content have now begun to surface.
According to a recent report, VentureBeat, PlayStation Spartacus will offer users three levels: Essential, Extra, and Premium. However, according to the report, these names are subject to change before the service is launched.
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The first tier of the plan, Essential, will supposedly cost players $10 and offer a small selection of games each month, not unlike PlayStation Plus in its current state. The extra tier then starts at $13 and includes not only those monthly “Essential” games but also access to a larger catalog of PlayStation games like PlayStation Now. Finally, the Premium tier includes both of these features, as well as PlayStation Now’s streaming capabilities, a “classic games” library, and a new “trial games” feature that allows players to try out new games before purchasing them. However, the report states that these trials are likely to have a time limit feature similar to EA Play. The premium tier subscription is also the most expensive option, costing PlayStation users $16 per month.
The report states that just like the tier names themselves, the tier prices are also subject to change. However, this is a general outline of what to expect from Spartak at the moment. While the program doesn’t offer Day 1 releases, it does help bolster PlayStation Plus and could turn the program into a more serious competitor to Game Pass. After all, just last month, Xbox reported that it had reached 25 million Game Pass subscribers, a staggering number that could rise quickly once Activision Blizzard joins its ranks.
Sony is reportedly moving into the testing phase of Spartacus in the next few weeks, with the goal of announcing the project sometime in March. Exactly when Spartacus hits consoles remains to be determined, though it’s safe to say you can expect it later this year.
