The PlayStation Now subscription service began in 2014, and it's about to get a big facelift with the streaming quality of titles through the service improving from its current 720p cap. PlayStation has officially confirmed that its cloud gaming subscription service is about to be updated with games in 1080p, and this update will roll out across Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States for PlayStation Now subscribers.
Currently, PlayStation is focusing on putting 1080p capable games on PlayStation Now before upgrading the visuals of existing titles in the library. PlayStation hasn't officially confirmed which 1080p capable games will be brought to PlayStation Now as part of the rollout, but it may be the beginning of more titles with improved visual quality being added to the service.
PlayStation Now looks to compete with others in the industry such as Amazon Luna and Microsoft, both of which are testing streaming games in 1080p too. While Google Stadia can hit up to 4K resolution, Microsoft's Project xCloud reaches a wider audience through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in select regions.
There are over 800 games on PlayStation Now, and the service allows for players to download over 300 PS4 games to their console with resolutions going up to 4K. Considering PlayStation hasn't officially confirmed what titles will be included in the initial 1080p update, it's anyone's guess what the initial additions will be. The announcement was accompanied by the April PlayStation Now titles Marvel's Avengers and Borderlands 3.
The rollout will begin in select regions this week, but many fans are still clambering for the PlayStation Now in their region. PlayStation's cloud gaming service is currently available where this update is rolling out to, but fans from Australia, Latin America, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey, and more have responded to the announcement to voice their displeasure in waiting longer.
Considering how quickly PlayStation is able to raise the resolution cap on games streaming through PlayStation Now from 720p to 1080p, it'll be interesting to see how long it takes to reach the 4K bar Google Stadia has set. Microsoft continues to test Project xCloud in 1080p on supported devices, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate reaching 18 million players.
PlayStation Now recently surpassed 2.2 million subscribers, but this update may improve subscriber numbers for those who are interested in visual fidelity. May's PlayStation Now lineup hasn't been officially confirmed yet, but subscribers can enjoy Marvel's Avengers until July 5 and Borderlands 3 until September 29.
PlayStation Now is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
