Since December, there have been rumors and speculation about “Spartacus.” It is said to be an attempt to create a Game Pass for Sony’s PlayStation. Now there are finally more concrete details, including the expected subscription models and prices. Find out everything that is known so far about Spartacus here on MeinMMO.
What is Spartacus about? Spartacus is not a new action game where you play wild gladiators, but a code name for Sony’s attempt to establish something like a Game Pass for PlayStation.
Currently, the big competitor Microsoft is achieving great success with its Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers can play hundreds of games at no additional cost, including many brand new titles that are available in the Pass at launch. A current example is the highly anticipated Total War: Warhammer 3.
Contrary to initial fears that games would be sold off too cheaply and purchased less, this has not materialized and even reversed. Therefore, it was only a matter of time until Sony would also try to create such a subscription service.
New Subscription Models Mix PS-Plus and PS-Now
What are the three subscription models and their costs? According to the site VentureBeat and the expert Jeff Grubb (via Twitter), there is now information on how the new “Game Pass” could be structured. It is believed to include three tiers with elements from Sony’s previous subscription services PS-Plus and PS-Now. The branding and terms are expected to come from PS-Plus:
- PS-Plus – Essential: This is essentially the PS-Plus subscription you already know. You get a few games per month at no additional cost as well as online access. This subscription costs 10 dollars per month.
- PS-Plus – Extra: Here you get everything from the Essential level plus the Game Catalogue. This is a collection of hundreds of older games that you can download. This feature was previously included in PS-Now. This subscription costs 13 dollars per month.
- PS-Plus – Premium: Here you also have the option to stream games instead of installing them. So it’s a cloud gaming service like Stadia or Geforce Now. In addition, there are “Classic Games” and “Game Trials.” This subscription costs 16 dollars per month.
What are Classic Games and Trials supposed to be? The streaming feature was also previously included in PS-Now, but what are Classic Games and the Trials supposed to be? There is no information about Classic Games. Jeff Grubb also does not know what that is supposed to be. The Game Trials, however, are likely preview versions of games that you can play before release. It is suspected that these are time-limited demos, similar to those already available from EA.
What about movies and series? Earlier rumors mentioned that there would be not only games but also series, movies, and music in Sony’s new “Game Pass.” After all, the anime provider Crunchyroll was acquired by Sony in 2021. However, Jeff Grubb (via Twitter) knows nothing about movies and such. The information that has leaked so far only speaks of games in the new PS-Plus subscriptions.
What about PS-Now? Sony’s new subscription offerings will all operate under the PlayStation Plus label. The PlayStation Now brand will be discontinued, and its features will be integrated into the PS-Plus subscription models.
When is all of this coming? According to Jeff Grubb, the launch of the new PS-Plus is imminent. There are no official statements, but it is assumed that it will happen in March.
What do you think of the features that are likely to come with the new PlayStation Plus service? Do you think Sony can seriously compete with Microsoft, or is this just a weak attempt to challenge Microsoft? Let us know in the comments.
Microsoft’s Game Pass is expected to become even more attractive soon, as with the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, their players will likely soon be included in the Pass.
