Sony plans to launch Gaikai next year in NA

[GameWinner]

Remember that service Sony has been talking about since the reveal of the PS4? Gaikai, the service that Sony has planned to bring older games to PS4, PS Vita and the new Vita TV for sometime next year.

In a roundtable interview at Tokyo Game Show today, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said that Sony plans to launch Gaikai cloud services with a library of PS3 games in North America next year.

A selection of games will be available at launch, which will expand over time - Yoshida mentioned that users will want a good selection of titles to browse through from the beginning, like with Netflix, so the plan is to launch with a decent number of available games.

They will be available to play through PS4, PS Vita and the recently-announced Vita TV.

 

[Veho]

Interesting. But here is the rub. Will those games be only available for purchase, or accessible with PS Plus, and will people who own those titles already be able to play them for free? It's the most common complaint with every virtual console / streaming / DLC situation. "The Gaikai streaming for PS4 was supposed to be a replacement for backwards compatibility, but if you have to rebuy all the games again, it's kind of pointless" is how the argument goes, roughly.

 

[AngryGeek416]

I don't understand will it play physical ps3 discs? if not that's not backwards compatibility that's just buying all your shit again.

 

[Gahars]

Yoshida mentioned that users will want a good selection of titles to browse through from the beginning, like with Netflix

Netflix-like service with the PS3 library? Accessible from the PS4, PS Vita, and PS Vita TV?

Sony-chan, please, my body can't take all this goodness!

 

[Harsky]

I've actually skipped out on the PS3 and there's still a lot of PS3 titles I want to buy and play now that the PS3 console has seen a lot of reduction everywhere. But at the same time, I also want a PS4 and the idea of a Netflix like style of gaming also appeals to me.

Then again, Gaikai isn't going to be launched anytime soon in Europe.

 

[Chiverus]

not sure but the way there putting it (comparing it to netflix) makes me think that there's going to be a monthly fee but unlimited play. Which I could get behind. However just to little information right now to say anything solid. I wish there was more details on this already with the console launching it under 2 months. I know the service isnt launching with the PS4 but the details could help them sell more.

 

[Hop2089]

I read a little about Gaikai and it can work on a standard non-FIOS connection provided you get 3 mbps but 5 mbps+ is recommended, I believe it's more for the Xbox One and the cloud features.

 

[retKHAAAN]

He compared the library to Netflix... Not the service or business model...

 

[Chiejina]

Jesus dont get my hopes up. Thanks for bringing me back to reality wrettcaughn. And I have alot of game i wanna play on the ps3 but only have a vita. I would love to be able to stream them on that. Also plan on getting a PS4 so things are looking pretty good.

 

[Foxi4]

Netflix-like service with the PS3 library? Accessible from the PS4, PS Vita, and PS Vita TV?

Sony-chan, please, my body can't take all this goodness!

Ballin', innit?

Seriously though, this is great news. I hope that the trial grounds of North America will allow Sony to iron the technology out quickly and implement the service world-wide. Fair enough, you have to re-buy the games since the streamed copy and the standard copy are two different cups of tea, but I hope that also entails a smaller, approachable price. If it works well and lets me play all my favorite PS1/2/3 games on the cheap then I have no objections.