Following the announcement of PlayStation Music today, Sony revealed that PlayStation Network will now be the “premium entertainment service brand which encompasses games, TV, video and music services.” This means that Sony’s digital video and music services on the Sony Entertainment Network will be a part of the PlayStation Network, rebranded PlayStation Video and PlayStation Music as part of the shift.
With this move, Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International say they will “aim to further expand the network business by building upon the success of delivering the best all-round digital entertainment, and also extending the ultimate gaming and network entertainment experiences to an arena including movies, TV, and music.”
SCE President Andrew House added:
We are very excited to offer our wide array of network services including games, TV, videos and music, under the PlayStation brand. We look forward to bringing even more compelling experiences, and an unparalleled breadth and quality of digital entertainment services and content to our customers.
Including the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus, here’s a quick look at some of the services Sony is offering under the PlayStation Network:
PlayStation Video (PS Video)
- The video on demand and transactional service, “Video Unlimited,” will be rebranded as PS Video and will continue to offer over 200,000 movies and TV shows across PlayStation platforms, Sony devices and PCs, in 11 countries and regions. With PS Video, users will have immediate access to buy or rent, not only a deep catalog of content, but the latest releases across movies and TV shows, including exclusive content only available on PlayStation, anytime and anywhere on various compatible devices.
PlayStation Music (PS Music)
- PS Music will represent the music listening destination. SCE and SNEI have entered into a global strategic partnership with Spotify, in order to continuously deliver a best-in-class digital music experience with PlayStation Network. Spotify on PS Music will become newly available in 41 countries and regions this spring. The music streaming service “Music Unlimited” will close in all 19 countries on March 29, 2015.
PlayStation Now (PS Now)
- The streaming game service PS Now, allows users in the US and Canada to instantly enjoy a wide range of PS3 games on various network-enabled devices, by leveraging cloud-based technology. Currently, the service is available on PlayStation platforms including PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and also Sony TVs and Blu-ray players, and select Samsung Smart TVs.
PlayStation Vue (PS Vue)
- PS Vue, first announced in November 2014, is a pioneering new cloud-based TV service that reinvents the television experience. The beta preview has begun in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia for select PS4 and PS3 owners, and will launch commercially during the first quarter of 2015. PS Vue leverages the power of the cloud to combine the live, on-demand, and catch-up TV content viewers love with a powerful user interface, that delivers unprecedented personalization and simplicity.
You can expect the names and logo changes to begin this February.
If you’re wondering about the February 2015 PlayStation Plus free games, expect an announcement tomorrow. Judging by a tweet from the developers, it appears Apotheon might be one of the PS4 freebies, but that’s just a guess right now.
