By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Machiavellian on 15 October 2018
Edit Thread
shikamaru317 said:

Mainly because there haven't been any rumors or announcements about Sony's plans for PS Now next gen. Comparing the current PS Now to Microsoft's XCloud and Google's Project Stream is like comparing PS1 to the original Xbox and Gamecube, it's like 2 different generations of technology.

XCloud will have lots of data centers because it shares MS's Azure Cloud network, meaning that the distance to the closest data center will be shorter for most people than PS Now in it's current state, resulting in less latency. They are working on predictive algorithms that help to minimize the additional input lag that streaming services have, and we've even heard rumors that MS is working on a streaming version of the next gen Xbox, which will cost less than the traditional next-gen Xbox and will run latency dependent tasks locally, while pulling the non-latency dependent data from the streaming service, resulting in even less input lag. They are also also rumored to be working on a unique foldable tablet codenamed Andromeda, which will basically act as a handheld version of the next Xbox, able to access the full Xbox library over XCloud (yes, the eventual plan is to make the full Xbox library, including OG Xbox, 360, XB1 games through backwards compatibility, and next-gen Xbox games, playable over XCloud).

Project Stream meanwhile will also have a ton of data centers, because it's Google, meaning that much like with XCloud, most people will be closer to the nearest data center than PS Now in it's current state. Early tests show that Project Stream will go up to 1080p on a strong internet connection, compared to 720p on PS Now, and that you get about 40 ms of additional lag, compared to 62-80 ms of additional lag on PS Now.

Now, that's not to say that Sony doesn't have plans to improve PS Now to bring it more in line with the "next gen" services from MS and Google, we just don't know about those plans if they do have them. 

If we are looking at a shootout in hardware, software and infrastructure, you would believe that MS, Google and even Amazon would have a leg up in this race.  All big 3 already have paid the money for they datacenters and their datacenters make them cash.  Sony on the other hand would have to rely on ramping up datacenters to co-exist with the big 3 and PS Now would basically have to be the bread winner.  This could be very pricey for Sony as their market cap just isn't in the same league as the big 3.  It would be interesting to see if Sony has a response to MS and Google entering into the market and if they have kept some hidden secrets on making PSNow a better offering before the big boys start to throw their weight around.  At least Sony still has the content, which is always king.