The PlayStation Now service is said to have been planned to be available on mobile devices, and Apple may have known about this plan in advance.
According to Engadget, Microsoft isn’t the only major console maker hoping to bring its games to phones. The Verge reports that it has obtained a document from Epic Games’ lawsuit against Apple showing that the iPhone maker knew Sony was planning an expansion to PlayStation Now in 2017. The service was originally intended to be released. stream over 450 PS3 games and track PS4 titles.
Apple mentioned the PlayStation Now expansion because it is in the early stages of developing Apple Arcade, its response to Sony’s service as well as Xbox Game Pass. While Arcade didn’t launch until 2019 and still doesn’t have a streaming feature, Apple has taken PlayStation Now as a sign of a larger shift to the game subscription service.
If Apple’s information is correct, it’s not clear why Sony is still not rolling out game streaming for smartphone owners. A PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus hybrid is said to launch in spring 2022, but the related rumor makes no mention of access on mobile devices. Sony declined to comment.
It can be caused by several factors in the workplace. Sony may not want to experiment with Apple’s policies for blocking cloud gaming apps (Microsoft had to use web apps to get around that restriction). There are also familiar technical challenges, such as adapting a gamepad to a touchscreen or ensuring reliable streams on a cellular connection. Either way, this shows that at least Sony was considering a more ambitious version of PlayStation Now than the service currently has.
