Sony will upgrade subscription service to challenge Xbox Game Pass

For the past few months, there have been rumors that Sony wants to challenge Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass with an upgraded tiered subscription service, codenamed “Spartacus.” The new service will combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now and will likely retain the PlayStation Plus branding while PlayStation Now will be phased out. It is understood that Sony is still studying how to expand cloud gaming services, and perhaps some functions on mobile platforms in the future.

According to Wccftech, the plan will be divided into three tiers: Essential will cost $10 a month and offer what PS Plus does now (online play and monthly “free” games), Extra will combine PlayStation Plus with some of PlayStation Now’s current features for $13 per month; Premium will provide all the features in the second tier, plus services like new game demos, classic games, and streaming.

Previously, the subtle changes on Sony’s promotional page were discovered by careful players, and many people speculated that it might be related to the “Spartacus” project. It is believed that Sony may launch a service like Xbox Game Pass, where players can play all the games in the game library after paying for a subscription. Perhaps Sony wants to add to the appeal of the subscription service with a slew of classic games accumulated over the years.