PSNow getting download feature? (Rumour)

[flashfire926]

Landale_Star said:
I still believe this is just a mistake, PS Now has been "offering" game downloads for ages, some games just appear in the download list after playing but produce an error message if selected. Downloading games seems to fracture the PS Now userbase, PS Now could not offer game downloads of PS3 games on PS4 or any games on PC.

PS Now is full of odd things like this, for example it closed service on PS3, Vita and other platforms last august but it actually still works on PS3 but only via certain PS Store links for specific games. I could almost believe that this download option is a relic from the time that only PS3 games were on there and this would have allowed downloads on PS3 only. Alpha Protocol is an old game from this era of PS Now.

I can't verify how commonly this option appears since it doesn't show up on the UK service and I don't fancy paying for a month of US service right now but since other people in the US don't see it in every game I have to wonder if shows up randomly (lots of things on PS Now seem to affect certain users but not others).

It could be that they've cracked PS3 emulation on PS5 and are planning this for then. As well as getting games like Alpha Protocol onto the PS Store since it is currently disk only (at least in the UK) I find this scenario hard to believe and it would still leave PC users with an inferior version of the service, which might be their goal I suppose to drive people to a PS console to subscribe, try out some games and then buy some games. I just can't see this being possible on PS4 though.

PS Now and Xbox Game Pass both need to introduce each other's features, streaming and downloads on the same service is better than one or the other since they both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Even given downloads I would mostly opt for streaming since my internet connection can handle it no problem and I prefer the speed of access and no storage requirements that streaming offers. Though for visual quality and people who can't stream games the downloads are a better option.

Xbox has downloads and is looking at streaming, I have to expect Sony is looking at downloads to compliment it's streaming options too but I don't think we'll see PS3 games downloading on a PS4/PC.

I think the FastStart stuff they announced at E3 will handle that problem.

Other than that yes, Xbox Game Pass should incorporate Streaming as an option. PS Now should incorporate downloads, as well.