If you've ever wanted a PlayStation Now-like service in India, there is a bit of good news on the horizon. Fans could be seeing a similar service coming to the country soon. Sony’s PlayStation Now subscription service is actually older than Xbox Game Pass but doesn’t have the same level of excitement surrounding it as it is available in limited markets, and unlike Game Pass, doesn’t get new PlayStation games on launch day.
A report from IGN India suggests that Sony was planning on introducing PlayStation Now back in 2020 but the plans were put on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report says, “According to several sources at Sony familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information, the company is mulling an India release for PS Now after plans were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.”
The report goes on to say, “In addition to this, it’s looking at ways to increase awareness around its Play At Home and PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5 initiatives.”
PlayStation Now is Sony's subscription-based game streaming service. It launched back in 2014 in North America and over the years has released in a few other markets. To put things into perspective, Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass back in 2017.
PlayStation Now has a catalogue of more than 300 games. The service allows its members to stream PS2, PS3 and PS4 games to a user's PS4, PS5 (review) or PC. Sony later added the ability to download PS2 and PS4 games on a PS4 or PS5 so users don't need to rely on the internet to “stream” the game.
While PS Now predates Game Pass, the latter has gained a lot of positive traction as Microsoft makes its exclusive games available to players on launch day. Xbox has also partnered with EA to offer EA Play as a part of Game Pass Ultimate. While PS Now has a bunch of Sony exclusives, it doesn’t have the same launch day availability for new AAA exclusive games.
With the launch of the PS5, Sony introduced the PlayStation Collection, a curation of select first-party and third-party games players would get access to along with their PlayStation Plus subscription. This list comprised 20 games.
Sony also introduced its Play at Home initiative offering a bunch of indie and VR games for free for PS4 and PS5 gamers.
Sony launched the PS5 back in February in India and the console sold out the minute the first pre-orders went live. Gamers are waiting for the console's availability in India and information circulating the internet suggests that we could see the PS5 back in stock in India in April 2021.