Sony finally unveiled a multitude of PS5 games at its recent PlayStation 5 event, along with a somewhat surprising first look at the next-gen console. The biggest problem with the showcase, however, was that the company will not be releasing a single Ps5 console later this year, but rather two. In addition to the standard PS5, Sony is also releasing a digital edition of the PS5. In the same spirit as Microsoft's Xbox One S Digital Edition, this streamlined console does away with the traditional disc player and focuses solely on digital content. However, while a more affordable offering of the standard (admittedly expensive) PS5 is welcome news, I don't think Sony is ready to enter the digital-only space. Not without big improvements. This is why.
Xbox's push into digital streaming
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(Image credit: TechRadar) When Xbox launched its all-digital Xbox One S console in May 2019, the decision made sense. Microsoft has spent years honing its digital streaming offerings for a console like this thanks to the Xbox Game Pass extension and the progressive rollout of Project xCloud. Although I'm primarily a PlayStation gamer, I have an Xbox One S All-Digital and can use Xbox Game Pass with no problem. I never miss the latest releases, I get to enjoy backwards compatible titles, and when Project xCloud officially launches this year, I look forward to easily switching from these games on my console to a tablet or other mobile device. And I'm not alone, Microsoft reported 10 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers in April 2020. "As it stands, PS Now needs some serious work, and Sony knows it." So it makes sense that a digital-only next-gen Xbox (codenamed Project Lockhart) seems to be on the cards. Xbox is the digital platform right now, and as Game Pass grows, the future looks bright for the company. As a digital console owner, I see a clear path that Xbox has charted that assures me that I'll be taken care of in the future. On the other hand, Sony's digital offering with the PS4 has been lackluster, to say the least. Sony's game streaming service PS Now has just 2.2 million subscribers, compared to 10 million for Xbox Game Pass. As it stands, PS Now needs some serious work, and Sony knows it. The subscription price was too high for what was on offer to begin with (which Sony has since corrected), but the key problem is that there's little chance of new titles hitting the service sooner. months later. PS Now is great for those who want to play older-generation PlayStation games, but while Xbox offers old and new titles on its service, PlayStation floats in the middle. Xbox Game Pass is great value for money, because for less than a tenth a month, you get access to new and old games, without having to pay a hefty amount to play the latest game, making it affordable. Also, Microsoft and even Google are moving into mobile gaming spaces, allowing gamers to seamlessly switch from console to mobile. Meanwhile, Sony has confirmed that while PS5 will continue to support PS Now, there are no plans to bring the service to mobile devices.
I hope there are improvements
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(Image credit: Sony) While PS Now doesn't quite measure up, it should be noted that Sony is probably working behind the scenes. PS Now will likely reach Xbox Game Pass standards at some point, but as it stands, we can't be sure. Microsoft has laid out its digital plans ahead of embarking on the next generation, so we know that the Xbox Series X (and all possible digital versions) will be able to use this foundation that has been built and a digital edition will be viable. While the PS5 Digital Edition will have plenty of space (at least 825GB) for downloaded games, streaming services are essential for digital consoles only. Hopefully, Sony will reveal its next-generation digital plans in the coming months. Because even though the PS5 Digital Edition is probably a bit cheaper than the Standard Edition, we still expect the console to be expensive and I for one want to know that I get my money's worth first.