Sony PlayStation Subscription to Compete with Rival Xbox Game Pass is Under Development

Sony is planning to launch a new video game subscription service for the PlayStation as soon as next week, according to those familiar with the plans. The developers have codenamed the program, Spartacus. It is Sony's response to Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Game Pass, a kind of Netflix for video games with over 25 million subscribers. 

The Sonys will launch with a big lineup of recent successful titles, according to the sources, who asked to remain anonymous because the plans are private.

Sony's new subscription services Playstation Now and PlayStation Plus, two of the company's current services, will be combined. Customers will choose from a variety of tiers that include recent titles as well as oldies from previous PlayStation periods. 

According to documents released by Bloomberg last year, the most expensive tier will also allow users to access extended demos. Additionally, the tier will allow users to stream games over the internet. 

In recent years, PlayStation consoles have outsold Xboxes, but Sony still trails Microsoft in the streaming market. For $10 a month, Xbox Game Pass gives you access to hundreds of games. Game Pass has some of the most appealing features.  For example, customers get early access to a number of titles before they go on sale in stores for $60 or $70 each. This includes the highly anticipated Microsoft sci-fi game Starfield, which launched earlier this year.

Sony will very certainly be at a disadvantage in this area. The major titles aren't likely to be available on the day they're released on the new service. One of the persons aware of the strategy indicated that the impending God of War Ragnarék is unlikely to be available on the streaming platform immediately.

The Bloomberg report does not specify which titles will be accessible as part of Sony's new subscription service. Neither did it provide pricing details. However, the pricing would have to be competitive with Xbox Game Pass. Xbox Game Pass offers a PC Game Pass and vanilla Xbox Game Pass for $9.99 per month each. A more advanced Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is available for $14.99 per month.

What’s your take? What do you think of the upcoming Sony PlayStation Subscription? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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