Jim Ryan says Sony will have a response to Game Pass and that there is "news to come"

https://www.destructoid.com/stories/sony-boss-on-a-playstation-response-to-xbox-game-pass-there-is-actually-news-to-come--610799.phtml

Microsoft has absolutely killed it with Game Pass, what was then dubbed the "Netflix of games." Since then it's evolved a bit, offering up games on PC as well, creating an entire ecosystem for Microsoft. It's their golden goose: one of the big things that sets them apart from Sony.

But Sony could, at any time, create their own version of Game Pass and bake it into PlayStation Plus. If they really wanted, they could get coy and call it "PlayStation Plus Ultimate." At the moment, Sony does have PlayStation Now (which offers a limited arrangement of downloadable games), as well as the "PlayStation Plus Collection" on PS5. But that could change.

Speaking to Russian outlet TASS, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan strongly hinted at a direct competitor for Microsoft's Game Pass program. When asked about how Sony will respond to Game Pass, Ryan noted: "There is actually news to come, but just not today. We have PlayStation Now which is our subscription service, and that is available in a number of markets."

"There is news to come" is very nebulous, but it's a far cry from the "we have nothing to announce at this time" executive speak. As we know, Sony is the king of shock. While Microsoft has been slowly improving upon their strategy and infrastructure quietly over the past generation, Sony loves its "hey we have the Final Fantasy VII Remake" panache.

They're absolutely capable of throwing in to eat Microsoft's lunch, but that probably isn't coming anytime soon. For now they have a global console to launch amid a pandemic: a task Ryan notes in this very same interview, is a gargantuan one.

Oh snap, all Sony needs to do is announce a premium service for PS+ and voila! Lems will lose the only counter point they've had the last few weeks lol, even though PS+ has been around for a long time already.

Thoughts, SW? Would you pay a premium subscription fee to have Sony games on Day 1? I mean, we don't really know the details yet, but that seems to be what they would do. Don't you agree?

Why would they need a response to GP? I've Herd here from many that PSNow is better already?

I just can't keep up these dayzzzzz. :P

But I thought PSNow was already better then Game Pass. 😅

Anyway I’d rather just buy my games on physical formats instead but this is just another example of why competition is good.

The final nail in the coffin for Xbox. GG lems.

They are going to flip flop because Sony told them to. I also recall the claim that Sony doesn't need to follow Microsoft. If they offer the same service as MS, it would be a joy to watch them damage control.😂🤣

Doesn't matter for me personally. My plan for this gen is to never play online games, so I don't need Xbox Live Gold. I'm only going to play a couple games for the entire generation so I don't need GamePass. I'm going to buy an Xbox Series X and Diablo 4 and call it a day.

I only have 6 Xbox One games, but luckily 4 out of 6 have already gotten the Series X upgrade, so it looks like I'll keep my Xbox One games around for the backwards compatibility.

If all their big exclusives are available on their service on day one, it will be huge.

It's not rocket science put 1st party in ps now 6 months after release.

That means it would be available on PC via streaming.😮

The real question is if they'll then expand to PC in a real way.

They'd definitely lose access to all Zenimax games if they had a competing platform

intriguing. I can't see myself subscribing to both. GP is already a questionable value for me (although I'm enjoying it). But I'll be interested in what they come up with

I hope not. The quality of Sonys exclusives would drop if they went to a subscription day one service.

Didn't even think of that. If that's the case, then i will be free from my 9,2tflops system that runs Warzone in 14fps.

That would be pretty great. Really want to know what's their plan. Although coming from Jim Ryan it can mean free boiled potatoes.

I hope this is true. GP is a great deal. If every 1st party game was day and date with their service, it would be a day 1 sub for me.

What makes you say that?

They are mostly there except with the streaming limitations, give it local play, as well as cross-platform functionality, they basically have Game Pass. Curious though how they will manage PC distribution if they offer it, like will they do their own thing, or I imagine it would be easier to partner with a third party. They could probably get far negotiating a exclusive digital distribution of Sony games deal to a specific platform.

Long term they need to improve quality, cross-system game saves, but this could be something I might rush to get a PS5 over if the price and selection is right, first party games have to be there day one for me.

@SolidGame_basic: refer to MS game pass

Agreed. Sony 1st party would turn into a trash fire if they pulled this dumb ass move. MS only got GP numbers up by giving the shit away. Playstation would lose money out the ass following MS's desperation moves.

I don't expect them to go big on this; more of a toe-dipping venture. They're in a very comfortable rhythm right now and I sense a reluctance to rock the boat.

I think they'll be more open to third and maybe second party games launching on their Game Pass competitor, but will probably keep their first party games to drive console sales. I don't expect Sony to be as aggressive and ambitious as Microsoft in pushing for a hardware-independent gaming platform yet - but that may come later.

bethesda xbox exclusives confirmed if sony wants to complete with gamepass

I don't think Sony would be able to afford that.

I thought ps now was their answer to game pass?? Was I mistaken? I just heard that its not as good but it does have some decent games, mostly a ton of older games.

Oh nice... lets see it! PC support or bust

If that means expanding where I don't need to buy a Ps5 and can just get an app on my tv, that would be awesome.

Of course Sony would like to copy the superior company.

Unless they plan on including first party games at launch and supporting PC it will still be inferior.

Now that would be a tremendous idea 😁

big m does not care. their getting money off of psn now anyhow.

@SolidGame_basic: Because they'd have to set a lower budget per game if they did a $10/month sub like MS. Look at how much money their exclusives make them in the first month just in digital sales alone.

Still don’t care 🤷‍♂️

It's too bad all the games on gamepass suck.....

Jim "the liar" Ryan is a bigger flip flopper than you are as he said just 2 months ago that Game Pass wasn't sustainable.

Now you cows are celebrating this LOL, cows are the worst flip floppers going.

Jim has not idea what he's doing, he's just farting into the wind atm.

TCHBO.

Jim has made his mission to own cows.

WOW you must not play any games in any genre if you think all these games suck.

Its ok i just know its butthurt from you LOL.

Jim Ryan said at the end of September that Game Pass didn't make sense and wasn't sustainable

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/09/sony_wont_follow_game_pass_model_on_ps5_doesnt_believe_its_sustainable

I thought you don't have Game Pass, mate

I don't as you know, i like to own my games and play them at my leisure which you also know, it has nothing to do with quality of the games on the service. I'm just calling out the BS from cows when i see it and you also know that.

I think Sony will bundle PlayStation Now with PlayStation Plus.

@hardwenzen: that's not going to happen. Unless they go back on what they said previously that game pass isn't a sustainable business model.

Xbox smashing PS5 in sales has Sony shitting their pants. They're starting to realise how far ahead the Xbox is so they are in desperation mode, resorting to copying everything MS does.

Copystation 5 confirmed.

If game pass becomes huge and an obvious system seller, Sony will have no choice.

Don't care, I buy what I want to play.

So after months of cows telling us how terrible game pass is, how the mode isn’t sustainable and that all the games on it sucks. The second Sony even hints at doing something similar in the future, they celebrate it as the second coming...

Cows are truly the laughing stock of SW!

@djoffer123: There's a cow right above you saying otherwise...kinda throws a wrench in your post.

Gamepass is a glorified PS now rip off.

@vfighter: mehh not really

That is why Sony is trying to copy it? 😂🤣

I mean I don't use Gamepass but uh Whats the point of xbox now?

Xbox don't have games, they don't have power anymore games are running better on ps5, they don't have gamepass now if this better than gamepass its a lose loser for xbox if this comes out they don't have crap to stand on anymore.

@ProtossRushX: Your boys are trying to copy Gamepass.🤣

PS Now came before GamePass.