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PlayStation Now Public Beta Starts Today on PS4 With 100+ Games; Check Out This Walkthrough Video

Game streaming service now available to anyone on PlayStation 4 in the United States and Canada.

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Sony's much-anticipated game streaming service, PlayStation Now, is now available through a public beta in the United States and Canada for the PlayStation 4. The service has been in closed beta since January, and will come to other platforms and regions sometime in the future.

To help get you up to speed on everything the PlayStation Now beta has to offer, Sony released a walkthrough video featuring commentary from Jack Buser, who is senior director for the service. More than 100 games are available through PlayStation Now currently, and you can rent them for a variety of durations (as short as four hours) and for a range of prices (as low as $1.99).

If you rent a game and then want to purchase the full product later on, your progress will be saved through Sony's cloud servers, allowing you to pick up where you left off.

The first thing you'll want to do when you fire up the PlayStation Now beta (available in the PlayStation Store on PS4) is access the "Connection Test." This will determine if your broadband connection is beefy enough to run PlayStation Now and get good results. Sony recommends at least a 5Mbps connection for an optimal experience on PlayStation Now.

PlayStation Now supports both wired and wireless connection types, but Buser says a wired connection is preferable because it is often more stable than wireless.

In addition, Buser stressed that the PlayStation Now beta you see today is just that, a beta. It's "early days," he says, adding that it is important that users share feedback with Sony so they can make the product better in the long run. "We're going to be listening closely to what the gamers tell us, and [PlayStation Now] will evolve over time."

Though you will only find a la carte rental options on PlayStation Now today, Buser reiterated that Sony is planning to offer a Netflix-style subscription plan sometime in the future. "It's definitely something [that's] in the works. So stay tuned for that," he said.

For more on PlayStation Now, check out GameSpot's in-depth interview with Sony about the streaming service.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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bluepuppy82

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Get Sleeping Dogs on there and you'll get a 90 day rental from me.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >> XBL gave away sleeping dogs (free download)5 months ago

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> PS+ gave it for free last year

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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@Dcyple3000 @mi_hung_lo @bluepuppy82 No they didnt. They loaned it to you. You dont own sh^t. If you're not a PS+ subscriber, you can no longer play it

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >> why would i not have PS+ i have a PS4 too. and MS took that same policy for GWG.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Gaming 101: PS+ members can play those free games as long as they are subscribers. XBL Free games belong to you. DRM was originally Sony's idea, but Sony removed it at the last minute because of the backlash MS got. Sony even showed you their true plan at E3 this year when they pushed the camera and Sony TV. The same sh^t MS got slammed for last year. That was their agenda from the jump. Learn something.

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> LOL!

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bluepuppy82

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Wow, all this from wanting Sleeping Dogs :)

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psuedospike

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<< LINK REMOVED >> lol, sleeping dogs was fun as hell

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Yeah it was. Once I played the hell out of it on PS+, I D/L'ed it when it became available on XBL to own it. Deleted it from my PS3 to make room for more games.

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psuedospike

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> And how is this not a good thing for PS+ members? Personally, I hated paying for Xbox GOLD (why was it gold again) but had to for years and got next to nothing for free, Playstation Plus has given me dozens of awesome games already and we get more everymonth! To me that's totally worth it. Not to mention this is the way backwards compatibility is going to work from now on with high speed internet being the norm. Alls I'm saying is that Playstation Plus is a hell of a lot more alluring than Xbox Live Gold ever was and Sony has shown that they at least listen to their customers wants.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> So you're saying a timed rental is how BC is going to work from now on? So you're comfortable paying $7 for a weeks rental or $15 for 90 days?

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sagejonathan

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> PS+, rental or not, has given playstation players loads of games to play for a great price. I will always be a subscriber, especially considering that its necessary for online play. So yeah, you get to own the download for a game every now and then on XBL. But PS+ get access to countless more games for the same price. And as long as one is a PS+ subscriber they can redownload the game at no additional price.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> I'm hip and that's why instead of X1 I started my next gen gaming on a PS4. I actually canceled my XBL account 2 months ago because PS offers more. This is not about who's service is better, it's about being disappointed with this PSNow business model

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psuedospike

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@mi_hung_lo Well, I pay for Netflix when I could just torrent every single thing I wanna watch ever, so in a way I guess I am...and if the library is big enough maybe a small fee each month (a pricing structure I hope they adopt) might be better than digging out my PS2 and hooking it up. Nahmean?

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Small monthly fee is fine by me, but not charging for every game I play especially limiting my play time

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psuedospike

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I totally agree, I aint payin for no demo!

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Games with Gold took on PS+ model when they announced changes to XBL gold policies months ago.

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psuedospike

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@Dcyple3000 Yea, I know but I've gotten maybe two games, Gotham City Imposters and Battle Block Theatre, cause all the other games they give you are years old and everyone has played them...at least PS+ gives you free brand new games!

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name333

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So lets see... Sony recommends 5mb/s for the service. Now, since Xbox got all the hate for requiring online once/24 hours, most of those people who went to Sony would either have shoddy or nonexistant internet connection, so it won't work.

Second, the rates are too high. $2 for four hours? I'm paying $60 if I play a game for 120 hours. Lets assume that is straight, and that the hours owned is equal to the hours played, which it likely isn't.

"PlayStation Now supports both wired and wireless connection types, but Buser says a wired connection is preferable because it is often more stable than wireless." That worries me. That makes it sound like "always online or screw you" type of deals.

Also, only available in US and Canada. While I am Canadian, I am not used to getting things like this, but it's just a piss off to the rest of the world.

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >> 1.The Xbox DRM required it just to use the console, the other is just a service you can decide to use or not. Also it's just recommended 5mps, not required.


2.It's already been discussed thousands of times, nobody likes it.


3.That literally makes no sense.


4.It's the beta...

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >> yea internet required for a streaming service. those bastards

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name333

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Just saying it's the ridiculously high recommended speed. No issue with needing it, just how much is needed.

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> 5mps is ridiculously high? What kind internet do you have out there?

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> well im in small town TX i get around 6-10 most of the day

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Out in MN I pay for 50 but only get around 35.

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> sounds like heaven. 1st world problems!

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Haha yea I guess, You two have humbled me, I don't think I'll complain as much anymore.

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name333

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Pay for 30, get 3 on average. Least it's consistent.

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xantufrog

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xantufrog  Moderator

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> comcast? yeah...


to be fair, though, they seem to prioritize - I can stream 1080p movies fine but can't watch a video on gamespot (not really, but you know what I mean). Hopefully services like this work better than you expect.

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diggyphelps

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Holy crap, that would infuriate me.

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deactivated-617422934ef91

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That 4 hours for that price should be 1 day at least.

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Dcyple3000

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Did anyone find out if the games downloaded from EA Access has any DRM?

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SuppaPHly42

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<< LINK REMOVED >> the drm would be the xbox gold account sub and then the EA access sub that you can't cancel or you can't play the game

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> well i mean can you play them offline? they said you can use Access without XBL but to play online its required

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SuppaPHly42

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@Dcyple3000 @suppaphly42 funny i don't know i don't think that has been addressed yet
but since you download them its more then likely you can as long as your sub is up to date

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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@Dcyple3000 Doesn't matter since that is only for XBOX ONE and this for PS4. *** BREAKING NEWS *** Sony rejected EA because they didnt want their game service to interfere with their milking

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> so what i am getting a X1, why wouldn't matter either way. EA is gonna set a standard if this service gets popular so all info is much appreciated when making a purchase.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> They never stated if it will have DRM. Since Sony said No to EA then XBOX ONE is the only console that will have the EA service.

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> ok. you have said this twice now. i get its only on XB1. like i said i just want to understand the service since my brother likes EA games and i don't want to buy him games. so if i get him a X1 and this technically, i won't have to.

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SuppaPHly42

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@Dcyple3000 @mi_hung_lo ahhhh what?! you don't want to buy games why?

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >> buy EA games like madden, fifa,nba live, i'm a 2K guy since dreamcast

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SuppaPHly42

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@Dcyple3000 @suppaphly42 well yeah those games suck and your bro likes them O.o

sorry it sounded like you just didn't want to buy games any more and i thought you may have been one of those people who wanted the xbox they way it was going to be

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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@Dcyple3000 @suppaphly42 He wont play Madden 15, but he'll be able to play Madden 25. I'm a 2K nut myself

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Dcyple3000

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<< LINK REMOVED >> well that will hold him over until the new one goes free, either way a win.

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Mi_Hung_Lo

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Their entire library is not available at the moment. I would wait to see what they have listed. This is just an introduction. More will follow. From the way it stands now, X1 seems like your best bet since they are the only ones having the EA service.

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