PlayStation Now coming to PC

[GoodBytes]

If you are unfamiliar, PlayStation Now is a paid cloud gaming service from Sony, allowing to play older PlayStation games. The service allowed PlayStation 4 users to play PlayStation 3 games.

Basically, the PS4 doesn't have the capability to play PS3 games. So, Sony has PS3's in a server type environment with a huge selection of games (or most likely uses an emulator running on a powerful set of servers), which you remote access to it from the PS4, to play old gen games.

 

The technology is nothing really new. We had OnLive (which Sony acquired them) and NVIDIA Grid service, and probably other that doesn't come to mind. They use a protocol and have a really good connection on the server side to minimize input lag greatly (you still need a good home connection, of course).

 

Now, Sony has revealed that the service is coming to PC.

 

To enjoy the service, you need the following specs as minimum:

Quote

• Windows 7 (SP1), 8.1 or 10
• 3.5 GHz Intel Core i3 or 3.8 GHz AMD A10 or faster
• 300 MB or more; 2 GB or more of RAM
• Sound card; USB port

And of course you need a PS4 controller and a good internet connection for the best visuals and low latency.

 

How to connect a PS3 controller to your PC? Well like Microsoft, Sony reveals a special adapter for it:

 

And it will be available starting next month for $24.99 US.

 

No information revealed on the number of controller this adapter supports. We know that the XBox One wireless adapter supports up to 8 controllers, or up to 4 if you use voice chat feature.

The XBox 360 controller adapter only supported 1, so you needed 1 adapter per controller. So it is possible that Sony does the same. We need to wait to find out.

[Update]: You need 1 adapter per controller! [/Update]

 

 

If you wonder why you need the adapter. Sony uses a modified version Bluetooth. It will connect to Bluetooth, but you'll need a translator, and you have increase input lag over if you connect the controller to the PC (or so is what is claimed... I have no data on this). This is something similar that Nintendo does. If you wonder, in the case of Microsoft, they created a wireless protocol to itself which prevents connection without the adapter (unless you get a XBox One S new wireless controller which features standard bluetooth as well as the XBox One wireless protocol). Also Microsoft is working with OEMs and wireless manufacture in adding their wireless technology to PC wireless card. There was a new item on this).

 

The service cost $19.99 per month and gives you access to 400 games. As these games runs on PS3's or PS3 emulators on servers (most likely, the later), there is no visual boost.

 

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2016/8/23/12608318/playstation-now-streaming-pc

 

Are you interested in playing PS3 games on your PC?

 

[Update 2]

Service is now available in the US. There is a 7-day trial.

Here is where to sign up: https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-us/reward_game/playstationnow-7-day-trial/cid=IP9101-NPIA90010_01-PSNOWSUB1MOTR000

 

 

[iamdarkyoshi]

I just wanna play skate 3

[bgibbz]

could be cool, there is a lot of ps3 exclusives that i enjoyed playing at friends houses, as ive never had a ps3. I hope it will work with an xbox controller though, i hate the ps controllers.

[GreezyJeezy]

can you just use a wired ps3 controller?

[Nineshadow]

God damn it I want Bloodborne on PC.

 

Anyway, I guess that's pretty cool. There's good PS3 games out there. Oh wait, I could play Demon's Souls. All aboard the fun train! Choo choo!

[vanished]

I know someone who will be very excited about this.  Personally I just like that there's now an easy and official way to use a PS3 controller on PC

[ZestyJalapeno]

1 minute ago, GreezyJeezy said:

can you just use a wired ps3 controller?

No official drivers. Motioninjoy was a pain the last time I used it.

[iamdarkyoshi]

1 minute ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

I know someone who will be very excited about this.  Personally I just like that there's now an easy and official way to use a PS3 controller on PC

Easy being SCP Server

 

Official being this thing, a glorified bluetooth dongle

[GreezyJeezy]

1 minute ago, Dogeystyle said:

No official drivers. Motioninjoy was a pain the last time I used it.

before i got my gamepad thats what i used.

[ZestyJalapeno]

I don't see why you need a PS3 controller specifically. I'm sure it's very easy for program to use the ubiquitous X360 drivers that come with Windows out of the box.

[ivan134]

Vanquish is probably the only game I would want to play so not worth for me

[christianled59]

So I'll finally get to play Last of Us?

[BroliviaWilde]

 

32 minutes ago, iamdarkyoshi said:

I just wanna play skate 3

no need for added latency of streaming games, just plug the disc into your old console like I will later today with my 360.

 

I haven't played that game in couple years, thanks for the reminder

[zMeul]

it's a fucking streaming service

and like every other game streaming service before it, it will fail - remember OnLive? many people don't know what that is and for good reason

 

even with STEAM Link that streams the game from the next room to your TV you will notice the input delay, how about when the datacenters are located tens of Km away from you?

[DarkBlade2117]

How long until someone comes up with something to let you use a 360 Controller

[suicidalfranco]

would prefer an emulator on both the PC and PS4 than game streaming

[GoodBytes]

Update!

1 adapter needed per controller.

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/23/12613394/sony-dualshock-4-adapter-pc-mac-announced

 

So if you want to play 2 player games, you need 2 adapters and 2 USB ports.

 

Source: http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/23/12613394/sony-dualshock-4-adapter-pc-mac-announced

 

[r3d3mpt10n]

I don't see a point in this...I prefer console games from a couch, without the latency issues with streaming. I have a ps4 in the living room for a reason. that being said, being able to officially use the controller is nice. However, I will still stick to using the Xbox Elite Controller and Wireless receiver if I really want to use a controller with a game

[7850OC]

yay  i have a A10

[goodtofufriday]

I'm on board for the adapter if I can use it in steam. 

[vanished]

58 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Update!

1 adapter needed per controller.

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/23/12613394/sony-dualshock-4-adapter-pc-mac-announced

 

So if you want to play 2 player games, you need 2 adapters and 2 USB ports.

 

Source: http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/23/12613394/sony-dualshock-4-adapter-pc-mac-announced

 

Ah, so I assume we'll be seeing a lot of this soon  

 

And on that topic, is there any news about whether this new dongle will let people just plug in a controller and have it work with any game, like a 360 controller, or if it will only work with this new service/software?

 

[That Norwegian Guy]

I'd play Journey and The Last of Us then uninstall, but not if I can't use the kontroller I already have.

[r3d3mpt10n]

1 minute ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

Ah, so I assume we'll be seeing a lot of this soon  

 

And on that topic, is there any news about whether this new dingle will let people just plug in a controller and have it work with any game, like a 360 controller, or if it will only work with this new service/software?

 

This is primarily what i'd be concerned about. Games are generally geared towards 360/xbone controllers, as they are official microsoft products. Like when I play witcher 3 with a xbone controller, the prompts that come up are ABXY etc, now if the PS4 controller worked, would I constantly have to remember what the equivalent button is? 

 

[r3d3mpt10n]

also, 1 adapter per controller is just rediculous. the Xbone adapter supports multiple controllers

[GoodBytes]

12 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

And on that topic, is there any news about whether this new dongle will let people just plug in a controller and have it work with any game, like a 360 controller, or if it will only work with this new service/software?

I think you can plug the controller via wire to the PC, but I don't know how you'll get the drivers... all I can think is that it will work with some PlayStation Now software (and probably be the case with the adapter too). I don't know for sure, but I think it works like Nintendo controllers. You can connect them via Bluetooth, but you need some kind of translator to convert controller inputs to Windows standard joystick or XInput to work with games. Buy as r3d3mpt10n said, the game will need to be designed for it, which probably won't and assume the XBox 360/One controller layout, So it will be "Press X to do this", but it is really the Square button to press.