PlayStation expanding to non-Sony devices in 2015
Sony Computer Entertainment is expanding support for PlayStation games to non-Sony devices for the first time, starting with Samsung Smart TVs.
The two Japanese electronics companies announced a partnership that will bring popular PlayStation exclusive games like Uncharted or Bloodborne to select Samsung Smart TVs by summer 2015.
The games will be played using Sony’s PlayStation Now service, which will be available for download as an app through the Samsung Smart Hub. The games will require the standard DualShock 4 PlayStation controller, which is sold separately, and they will provide full access to standard PlayStation game features like trophies and cloud saving.
“Since we first introduced PlayStation Now at CES 2014, our vision has been to open the world of PlayStation to the masses by offering the service on the devices they use every day,” said Sony’s Masayasu Ito. “Partnering with Samsung is a key step toward realizing this vision, as we can reach a broader audience of consumers who may not own a PlayStation console to show them why gaming with PlayStation is such a unique and amazing experience.”
PlayStation Now is a video game streaming service that allows games to be downloaded and played on multiple Sony devices, including Sony’s Bravia TVs, but this marks the first time the service will be available on a non-Sony platform.
Samsung will be showcasing the new TV line and its PlayStation capabilities at the Consumer Electronics Show next month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Older than you think
With more and more home entertainment devices coming equipped with access to services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Watch and Hulu, online video game services are the next logical step, and PlayStation Now is not the first such platform.
The concept of streaming games is surprisingly old, having been around for over 20 years. Throughout the mid 1990s, Sega ran a program called Sega Channel, which allowed players to access gaming content through a subscription service using their cable connection.
More recently, Amazon Inc. created the Amazon Fire Controller to be used with games played through the Amazon Prime service. Valve Corporation has also been working on the Steam Machine, which brings Valve’s popular Steam content delivery platform to a console-like device optimized to be used with a TV.
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