PS Now public beta opens to PS3 owners in North America


Sony PS3 owners in the US and Canada can now test-drive the PlayStation Now cloud-streaming platform.


The open beta, which features an ever-growing library of around 150 games, begins today on the last-gen console following its release for the PlayStation 4 in August.


The PS Now platform, announced in January at CES 2014, allows users to rent games for periods of four hours, one week, 30 days or 90 days from $2.99 (around £1.80) right up to $50 (around $30).


The cloud-streaming technology allows users to jump right in on the action without downloading the game to their PlayStation first.


However, Sony has taken some criticism for the pricing structure, given that it costs more to rent some games for a week than it does to buy them outright from the PlayStation Store.


The four-hour option, rather than a 24-hour period has also, incurred the ire of some beta testers. Currently there is no Netflix-style subscription option that allows gamers to take their pick from the library.


Sony has reiterated that the service, which is partly geared towards solving the lack of backwards compatibility on the PS4, is still in beta and will continue to develop prior to the official launch.


Currently Brits remain unable to sample the PS Now service, but a launch is expected early next year.



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Via: IGN