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Report: PlayStation Working On New ‘Spartacus’ Project To Counter Xbox Game Pass Featuring New PlayStation Plus Tiers For Extended Backwards Compatibility

When distinguishing the Xbox Series platform to PlayStation, the easy gap to note is the initiative for access to games. While both platforms offer some sort of legacy support, Microsoft’s ecosystem goes beyond that with four generations of backwards compatibility. That also links close together with Xbox Game Pass that expands on that through a monthly subscription service. However, Sony has yet to design a true counter to the Xbox service.

Yes, there is PlayStation Now, however, it does not shake the industry like the competitor. But, Sony Interactive Entertainment President & CEO Jim Ryan previously stated it is working to create an opponent to the service titan that is Xbox Game Pass. In a later statement from Twisted Metal creator David Jaffe told elsewhere.

With the launch of PlayStation 5 last year, the industry witnessed PlayStation Plus Collection which shares some DNA to Xbox Game Pass but has yet to truly flourish since its inception. Additionally, the PlayStation firm also soft launched PlayStation Plus Video Pass in Poland as an extra incentive with no sign of a broader release.

According to a new report from Bloomberg Tech’s Jason Schreier, Sony Interactive Entertainment has a project in mind for PlayStation’s version of Xbox Game Pass, codenamed ‘Spartacus’. The new incentive is said to expand upon the current PlayStation Plus service with additional tiers for more games – similar to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack which features Nintendo 64 & Sega Genesis titles.

Where Project Spartacus becomes parallel with Nintendo’s service is there is plans to integrate classic PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 games. Part of that is to integrate PlayStation Plus with PlayStation Now; likely to introduce streaming legacy games through this new tier. Already, users have access to PlayStation 3 games via PlayStation Now, but, this will be more prevalent as indicated by the scope Sony has for this new project.

Furthermore, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s plans to expand into cloud gaming is also said to be a bullet point for Project Spartacus. Previously, CEO Ryan explained that plans for cloud services under the PlayStation banner will be unique to the console sphere for the platform. At the moment, there is no certainty as to when this will manifest for current PlayStation hardware.

What can be determined is the three tiers: the first will be PlayStation Plus that we are familiar with now. Second tier is to feature select PlayStation 4/5 titles as third tier is where the classic PS/PS2/PS3 games will be. The service is said to be aimed for both PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5.

Do you favor Project Spartacus for PlayStation or is there a better way of pursuing Xbox Game Pass for the platform?

Source: Bloomberg

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