On the same day that Microsoft unveiled its proposed acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, it also announced that more than 25 million people have signed up for Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft's game subscription service is also expected to attract even more gamers in the near future, with an increase likely in anticipation of the integration of the Activision-Blizzard game catalog once the deal is finalized, as they saw. gamers when Bethesda joined Microsoft last year. .
Given the success of Xbox Game Pass, it's no surprise that Sony is creating a rival version of the service for its own PlayStation platform.
However, as Microsoft continues to improve on its already fantastic offering, can Sony's project really hope to recapture a win in the games subscription space?
Analysis: Can Sony claim a slice of Microsoft's pie?
Supposedly called Spartacus, Sony's gaming subscription service has been reported to launch in spring 2022 (in March, April or May) and offer subscribers access to a host of new and classic titles for one monthly fee. , just like Game Pass.
This copy strategy would probably work just fine on PlayStation consoles; PS5 and PS4 are thought to have far outpaced their respective Xbox rivals, so with a much larger player base to attract, Sony could see subscription numbers soar.
However, it all depends on how exciting the deal can be for the players. While Spartacus is thought to combine PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus into one service, much like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, what else will gamers get for their money?
It's not yet clear if Spartacus will include day-and-date releases for new first-party games, and with Activision-Blizzard soon a part of Microsoft, it's unlikely that many classic PlayStation-associated titles like Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and Call of Duty - would be part of the service for a long time, if ever.
Sony will have to take something big out of the bag if it wants to take a slice of Microsoft's game subscription pie; if you can't offer the same kind of value to players, you could end up alienating them instead of impressing them.
For now, we'll have to wait and see what Sony announces, but with a release slated for the not too distant future, it's only a matter of time before we hear official confirmation of what Spartacus is, and whether or not it is. we will want to take advantage of your services.