PlayStation Now Adds Option To Download Games For Offline Use

Sony's cloud-based video game streaming service PlayStation Now has added a major new feature available only to subscribers: the ability to download content for offline use. This is an important feature for the service, opening it up to customers who want the on-demand content but don't have an Internet connection capable of streaming the games.

PlayStation Now is a subscription service that offers on-demand access to a variety of PS2, PS3, and PS4 games for free. The service first launched for PlayStation 4 console owners, later expanding to include PC gamers, as well. Dozens of games are available on the service; in some cases, this is the only way PS4 players can relive certain nostalgic titles.

A big issue with the service is the lackluster Internet speeds available in many parts of the country. Because the game is streamed from the cloud, users must have a certain minimum connection to adequately play the game, otherwise it is very choppy or entirely unplayable. That's where downloading comes in.

In a blog post today, Sony said that it has enabled downloading in PlayStation Now for PS4 and PS2 titles. Nearly all of the PS4 games support the downloading feature, including some major titles like Bloodborne. The feature isn't live for all customers yet, instead "gradually" rolling out to them over the course of the next few days.

The downloads will include any microtransaction content, DLCs, etc. Once a game is fully downloaded, subscribers can play it even if the console isn't connected to the Internet, though of course online multiplayer won't be available in that case. PS Now is available now for $29.99/three months, which is a discount over the usual $44.99 price.

SOURCE: PlayStation Blog