14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has announced that its PlayStation Now streaming service will be discontinued later this year on the majority of devices, with the company retaining support only for two platforms, namely Windows PCs and PS4 gaming consoles.
The company explains that all efforts would be focused on these devices, and the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV, 2013, 2014, and 2015 Sony Bravia TV models, Sony Blu-ray players, and Samsung TVs will no longer be supported by PlayStation Now starting August 15 this year.
Furthermore, on April 1, 2017, Sony will pull support for 2016 models of Bravia TV models, in addition to the other devices that will be added to the list in August.
“After thoughtful consideration, we decided to shift our focus and resources to PS4 and Windows PC to further develop and improve the user experience on these two devices,” Sony says.
“This move puts us in the best position to grow the service even further. If you use any of the above devices, we want to give our heartfelt thanks for your support, and we hope you’ll continue with us. Remember that all of your PS Now cloud game saves can easily be accessed on both PS4 and Windows PC.”
No word on possible refunds
PlayStation Now, which is essentially a cloud gaming subscription platform with support for a wide array of devices, was announced on January 7, 2014, at CES. Sony introduced the new service with much fanfare, showcasing demos like The Last Of Us and God of War available on Bravia TVs and PlayStation Vita connected to PlayStation Now.
Sony reminds users that disabling auto-renewal in their accounts is absolutely necessary if they do not want to continue their subscription to the service on other devices than the ones not supported anymore.
“For 3 months subscribers, depending on when you joined the service, your subscription may auto-renew a month or two before the service discontinuation date if you do not turn it off,” it says.
Sony hasn’t provided any other details as to why it discontinues PlayStation Now on the aforementioned devices, so this decision is likely to cause more criticism aimed at the company, especially because it’s not yet clear if the company wants to offer refunds to those who recently purchased a subscription for canceled devices.