Playstation Now – Sony’s game streaming service goes live today

The subscription service is currently available on PS4 across North America with two subscription plans.

Playstation Now offers over 100 PS3 games (with so many more on the way) with two types of plans that are being offered: one month for $19.99 or a three-month package for $44.99 (about $15 per month).

For now Playstation Plus is available for PS3 and PS4 users with more devices being added later including Playstation Vita and Playstation TV. A free PlayStation Now theme is now available for PS4 users as well If you download the theme before January 31. Doing this gets you automatically entered into a drawing for a chance to win a one-year subscription to PlayStation Now.

Confused?

Don’t be, those that are still slightly confused about so many subscription services should take note that Playstation Now and Playstaion Plus are seperate services entirely.

In addition to monthly subscriptions, remember that there are also a variety of rental options available. The PS Now rental catalog already has 200+ games with games being added weekly. Most games can be rented for about $1 a day for a week, or you can choose from 4-hour, 30 day and 90 rental periods available for most games. Either you choose to rent or subscribe to get instant access to an all-you-can-play catalog of 100+ PS3 games.

Start your 7-day free trial here

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Tearaway for PS Vita is $19.99 on Amazon US

Amazon has announced a reduced price for Media Molecule’s Tearaway.

For those eager to play Media Molecule’s new game Tearaway on the PS Vita but are waiting for a price reduction, well here it is.

Tearaway is $19.99 on Amazon US. You save $16.00, a (44%) savings. You will receive a code for a digital download. The size is 947Mb so make sure you have enough space. If you prefer a physical copy, it is currently $39.99.

If you’re unsure about whether you should pick up the game, check out playstation Lifestyle’s review.

PS4 Sold 1.25 Million Units During November 2013 in the US, Xbox One at 750,000

Wedbush Securities, who is usually very close when it comes to NPD predictions, is estimating (via GI.Biz) that the PlayStation 4 sold 1.25 million consoles during the month of November, while the Xbox One was at 750,000. As well, they believe the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U will be down 44%, 28%, and 65%, respectively, when compared to last year.

Even with the PS4 and Xbox One introduction, Michael Pachter of Wedbush thinks that console and handheld sales were down 13% overall to $1.25 billion.

When it comes to software sales in November 2013, it’s expected they will be down 13% as well, with “far weaker-than-expected debuts” for Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag attributing to this. As well, Pachter believes Call of Duty: Ghosts’ sales were down due to the low reviews and PS4 and Xbox One launches.

The NPD should be releasing their official November 2013 US retail sales report Thursday night.

 

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PS4 is the “leading system of this generation” – DFC

DFC Intelligence notes that Sony’s 2.1m sold is the best first two weeks of any console launch in history

The PlayStation 4 has been off to a fantastic start, selling over 2.1 million consoles across the globe. While Sony has noted that it’s the best start for a PlayStation system in the history of Sony Computer Entertainment, what some people may not be aware of is that it’s also the best start for any game console in history, DFC Intelligence noted today.

The research firm said that the 2.1 million units sold in the system’s first two weeks on sale (first in North America and then in Europe) places it above Nintendo’s Wii, which sold 1.6 million units in its first two weeks (in Japan and North America) and Sony’s own PS2, which sold 1.4 million units in Japan back in March 2000.

Microsoft’s Xbox One sold over 1 million units in its first two weeks, but the red-hot start for the PS4 only reinforces DFC’s forecast that Sony’s new console will be “the leading system of this generation.” DFC agreed with SCE boss Andrew House that PS4 could outsell the PS3, but it’s doubtful PS4 will approach the mighty sales of the PS2.

“The initial success of the PlayStation 4 bodes well for its future. The PlayStation 2 and Wii went on to be the best selling console systems ever. DFC Intelligence does not believe that the PlayStation 4 will surpass those systems but reiterates its forecast that the PS4 will be the number one system of this generation,” the firm said.

DFC also commented that Xbox One may be slightly more supply constrained: “The Xbox One has been difficult to find although from all indications DFC believes Microsoft did not ship as many units as the PlayStation 4.”

 

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PS4 beats Xbox One to become UK’s fastest ever selling console

Sony’s console sold more than a million consoles during its US launch, and has now beaten records in the UK.

Sony has duplicated their successful launch of the PS4 in North America by becoming the UK’s fastest ever selling console.

The PS4’s sales figures have beaten both the PS3’s, the Xbox 360’s, and the previous record holder – Sony’s PSP. This handheld console managed to sell 185,000 units in the same time period during its 2005 release.

Most importantly for Sony though, the PS4 outsold the Xbox One, clearing more than 250,000 units within the first 48 hours of launch and easily beating the Xbox One’s sales of around 150,000 consoles in the same time period.

Industry news-site MCV reported the figures, also noting that this means both Microsoft and Sony’s consoles have sold more in two days than Nintendo’s Wii U has sold in a year since its launch in November 2012.

However, in the US the Xbox One may be taking the lead, becoming the best-selling console during the country’s annual Black Friday sales event. Analysts InfoScout reported that both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One outsold the PS3 and PS4, with Microsoft’s consoles collecting 61% of console sales on the day in comparison with Sony’s 30 per cent.

InfoScout also noted though that this may be due to limited availability for the PS4 in the US, as well as retail giant Walmart’s decision to discount the Xbox 360 to just $99.

In terms of games sold, Call of Duty: Ghosts seems to be convincing audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. InfoScout’s data showed the latest instalment in the CoD franchise easily outpacing the competition (though didn’t give specific numbers) whilst the UK’s all-platform top 10 also put Ghosts in the number one spot.

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