Sony Tests the Streaming Waters Again: Is PlayStation Plus Video Pass a Step Too Far?

The ever-shifting landscape of streaming services has just gained another potential contender, courtesy of Sony. Following swirling rumors, the tech giant has officially confirmed that it’s dipping its toes into the video streaming pool with a new service, currently undergoing testing in Poland. This new offering, dubbed PlayStation Plus Video Pass, is bundled with the existing PlayStation Plus subscription and promises access to a curated library of Sony Pictures films and television shows.

The news has been met with mixed reactions, particularly from those already fatigued by the sheer volume of streaming options available. In an era where Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and countless others vie for our attention and subscription dollars, the question naturally arises: does the world really need another streaming service?

According to reports from Spider’s Web, PlayStation is embarking on a year-long trial run of PlayStation Plus Video Pass in Poland, a move that aligns with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Gizmodo independently verified this information through a company spokesperson, confirming that the video pass will be an added perk for existing PlayStation Plus subscribers in Poland.

The service will be accessible on both PS4 and PS5 consoles, offering a selection of Sony Pictures-produced content. At launch, the library includes notable titles like "Blade Runner 2049," "Bad Boys" (1995), and all six seasons of the cult-favorite sitcom "Community." The initial offering consists of 15 films and six television series.

Nick Maguire, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s vice president of global services, highlighted Poland as the ideal test market, citing the country’s substantial PlayStation player base. He noted their "commitment and activity in the network and social media," as well as their propensity for using video-on-demand (VoD) services. On the surface, this reasoning seems sound. Poland presents a concentrated audience of engaged PlayStation users with a demonstrated appetite for streaming content.

However, the core question remains: Does PlayStation Plus Video Pass offer anything truly unique or compelling? The titles included in the initial library are readily available on other established VoD and streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video. This raises concerns about whether the service can carve out a distinct identity and attract viewers in a saturated market.

The success of PlayStation Plus Video Pass hinges on its ability to differentiate itself from the competition. In a market flooded with streaming options, simply offering a collection of existing content may not be enough to entice consumers. Sony needs to provide a compelling reason for users to engage with this new service, whether it’s exclusive content, innovative features, or a significantly lower price point compared to its rivals.

Sony’s history in the streaming space is somewhat checkered. The company previously launched Vue, a streaming television service, which was ultimately shut down in January 2020. At the time, Sony directed customers to the PlayStation Store for movie and TV content, but that store is now set to discontinue VoD services on August 31.

Interestingly, PlayStation cited the "tremendous growth from PlayStation fans using subscription-based and ad-based entertainment streaming services on our consoles" as a factor in its decision to shut down Vue. This begs the question: Why use VoD usage as a key performance indicator for testing the new streaming service in Poland if Sony already recognizes the popularity of streaming among PlayStation users?

One possible explanation is that Sony is aiming to create a dedicated platform for its own Sony Pictures-produced content, mirroring the strategies of Paramount+ and Disney+, which have successfully consolidated their respective catalogs. This approach allows Sony to retain greater control over its content and potentially generate additional revenue streams.

However, many argue that Sony’s efforts would be better directed towards improving its cloud gaming service, PlayStation Now (PS Now). While PS Now has been around for several years, it often gets overlooked and has failed to capture the same level of enthusiasm as its competitors. The service has faced criticism for its limited availability, technical shortcomings, and relatively lackluster game library.

PS Now is a separate $10/month service from PS Plus and lacks widespread device support. Currently, it’s only available on PC, excluding Mac, Android, iOS, and Google Chrome. While Sony offers a Remote Play app that allows PS4 and PS5 owners to stream their games to other devices, this requires the PlayStation console to be turned on and connected to the same home network. True cloud gaming through PS Now remains restricted to Windows PC.

Furthermore, PS Now only supports the use of a PS4 controller, even for games like "Detroit: Become Human" that have been ported to PC. Not all games are available on an ongoing basis, the PC app interface is often slow and cumbersome, and the connection quality could use improvement.

However, there is some positive news for PS Now users. Sony recently announced that the service will begin supporting 1080p streaming for capable games. While this is a welcome improvement, it’s surprising that it has taken so long for Sony to enable this feature, considering that PS Now has been available for years.

In contrast, Sony’s competitors, such as Microsoft and Nvidia, have prioritized making cloud gaming accessible on any device with a decent internet connection. Sony has an opportunity to leverage its exclusive game titles to attract new users to PS Now. By making these titles available through PS Now at launch, Sony could create a compelling reason for gamers to subscribe.

Of course, such a move would require careful negotiation with game developers, but the potential benefits are significant. A robust cloud gaming ecosystem, similar to Xbox or GeForce Now, could be a game-changer for PlayStation.

In conclusion, while the introduction of PlayStation Plus Video Pass may seem like a logical step for Sony, its success is far from guaranteed. The streaming market is already overcrowded, and Sony needs to offer something truly unique to stand out. Many argue that Sony should focus its efforts on improving PS Now, its cloud gaming service, which has the potential to be a major differentiator for the PlayStation ecosystem. As Sony continues to test the waters in Poland, it remains to be seen whether PlayStation Plus Video Pass will sink or swim in the ever-competitive streaming landscape.