PlayStation Now Manual

What was PlayStation Now?

Just like PlayStation systems, the way of distributing games to customers has evolved greatly over the years. Originally PlayStation games were sold on CDs, then on DVDs and finally on Blu-Ray discs. Along with physical distribution, the online PS Store became more and more popular, allowing players to quickly download any game they owned and keep them all in a large online library, without the need to store dozens of discs at home. In 2016 a new method of distribution was introduced in the form of a Netflix-style subscription, enabling subscribers to play any PS2, PS3 or PS4 game in a curated library by streaming it in real time, without the need to download anything to the console. Many games were also available to download and play offline, for users who could not or would not play in streaming. The name of this innovative service was PlayStation Now.

What happened to PlayStation Now?

While the service enjoyed good popularity, the fact that it was separate from the old PlayStation Plus service (which was needed to play multiplayer games online) and it required an additional subscription did not sit too well with many gamers. Probably for this reason, and to simplify its service offering, in 2022 Sony decided to discontinue the PlayStation Now service and integrate its functionality in the updated version of PlayStation Plus, which is the one currently available.

How does the new PlayStation Plus work?

The current PlayStation Plus is comprised of a 3-tier offering. All tiers grant users the ability to enjoy online multiplayer and provide 3 free games each month. The middle tier also gives access to a large catalogue of games that users can download and play, while the top tier expands the catalogue even more and adds the option of streaming games, just like the old PlayStation Now service did. We could therefore consider the top PS+ tier (called Premium) the true inheritor of PSNow since it offers the exact same functionality of the old service plus access to online multiplayer.

Where can I learn more about PlayStation Plus?

More information on the PSPlus tiers, their price and what they offer can be found on our PlayStation Plus page, where you can also buy your subscription. Each month some games enter and leave the service, so if you want to be up-to-date with the latest change, and also learn about the free monthly games that all PS+ tiers offer, you can do so by reading our Free PlayStation Games blog page.