Cloud gaming is coming to the consoles sooner than expected: Samsung smart TVs will soon be able to stream PlayStation 3 games without a PS3. The catch? You need reliable Internet service to fully appreciate the feature.
Sony gets closer to cloud-based gaming by partnering with Samsung; soon enough, Samsung smart TVs will be compatible to the PlayStation Now service; players can stream PlayStation 3 games without a PS3, with over 200 games available to play.
The news comes sooner than expected, but rumors of Sony's plans for cloud-based gaming have circulated throughout 2014. Now it's confirmed Sony's partnered with Samsung to bring the PlayStation Now service to Internet-connected smart TVs. The tie-up is reportedly available for the first half of 2015, in the US and in Canada.
Players only need the PlayStation Dual Shock controller to play the streamed games, which are available to through the Samsung smart TV app. There are over 200 PlayStation games immediately accessible.
Streamed games aren't downloads, though; PlayStation 3 titles are only playable while subscribed to the service, with saved progress also uploaded to the cloud. This is convenient because games are always available on demand, as long as a Samsung smart TV is accessible.
The option to stream PlayStation 3 games without a PS3 won't be of any use in poor Internet service, though. Game lag can be a serious issue, especially in online multiplayer sessions.
An exact launch date for the service is yet to be announced, and availability outside the US and Canada is also unconfirmed. Sony and Samsung are expected to preview the service 2015 Consumer Electronics Show on January: which should offer the earliest hands-on preview.
Sony is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its PlayStation 1 this year; insiders have already hinted the company is ready to shift to a different platform come the next generation for its console. News of smart TVs able to stream PlayStation 3 games without a PS3 could be a market test of Sony's cloud-gaming plans (cnet.com).
