PlayStation Now service revealed at CES 2014

January 8, 2014

Andy House, CEO and President of Sony Computer Entertainment unwrapped the mysteries of the PlayStation ecosystem’s cloud services at CES 2014 by unveiling PlayStation Now, which involves the streaming of games to several PlayStation devices using Gaikai technology.

Previously touching on the possibilities of cloud gaming ever since the PlayStation 4′s announcement earlier in 2013, Sony had hinted at the idea of playing PS3 games on the PS4 and PS Vita without the need for physical backwards compatibility. With this new announcement in tow, attendees of Las Vegas’ CES event were invited to try the full version of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us on the company’s premiere home console and handheld devices.

PlayStation Now will support much of the functionality that is considered standard on other Sony devices, such as online multiplayer, trophies, messages and more. PlayStation Now will offer users to pay for a subscription much like Sony’s own PlayStation Plus as well as the ability to rent titles available on the service.

To compliment what PlayStation Now brings to the table, Sony has also announced a cloud based service based around live TV, DVR recording as well as video on demand.

Sony has revealed a beta phase for PlayStation Now, which will first roll out on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita soon after. The entertainment and electronics giant is aiming for a stable release around (Australian) Winter this year. Release of the service within PAL territories may take a little longer.

More on this as it comes.