Sony is working on an equivalent to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, according to a new Bloomberg report. The project is code named “Spartacus” and could be launching in the spring.
Xbox Game Pass allows Xbox subscribers access to a huge library of games from across Xbox’s history, including new releases of AAA titles, as well as enabling online multiplayer for most games. Sony’s online subscriptions are more fragmented: PlayStation Plus allows online multiplayer and grants access to three games per month. Their other services, PlayStation Now, is closer in concept to Xbox Game Pass, but does not offer anywhere near the quantity or recency of games that Game Pass does.
According to the report, “Spartacus” will likely launch under the PlayStation Plus brand, effectively merging its current incarnation and PlayStation Now into one service. The report’s author, Jason Schreier, advised on Twitter not to expect Sony to “include its big new games day one like Game Pass does, but the expectation is a stronger offering than PlayStation Now”.
Even if the offering isn’t as robust as Microsoft’s, who clearly sees cloud and subscription services as the future of gaming, a renewed focus on PlayStation Now’s core idea is extremely welcome news for PlayStation owners. While the PlayStation ecosystem has plenty of perks, Game Pass’s enormous library and day-one releases of huge titles has been a point of envy for every console gamer without an Xbox.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
