PlayStation Now Coming To PC, DualShock Wireless PC Adapter Announced


Sony’s game streaming service, PlayStation Now, is already available on PlayStation 4, PS3, PS Vita, and select HDTVs. The company is letting Windows PC owners into the family next, per an announcement on Tuesday, and will offer a wireless adaptor for the DualShock 4 controller.

PlayStation Now will be available to play on Windows PC via a downloadable app starting Wednesday, August 24 in the UK, Belgium, and Netherlands, per the European edition of the PlayStation Blog. The service will expand its footprint to other countries, including North America, in the coming weeks.

“This will bring a wide selection of PlayStation exclusive titles to Windows PC for the very first time, including entries in the Uncharted, God of War, and Ratchet & Clank franchises, as well as beloved PS3 games like The Last of Us and Journey,” PlayStation Network Senior Vice President Eric Lempel wrote. “Current subscribers have a new way to access PS Now’s library of over 400 games, and the PC app provides a new way for even more gamers to discover and play the service.”

For those unfamiliar, PlayStation Now is a game streaming service that offers the ability to play games over the internet using different devices. The over 400 available titles touted by Sony is divided between games that can be rented individually for a set amount of time or purchased and those that can be played as part of a Netflix-like subscription. For example, Final Fantasy XIII will need to be rented while BioShock Infinite, God of War III, and Batman: Arkham City are part of the subscription service.

DualShock 4 Wireless Adapter
[Image via PlayStation]

There are currently approximately 200 games available as part of the PlayStation Now subscription service. It costs $19.99 for a single-month subscription and $44.99 for a three-month subscription. There is also a free seven-day trial available.

Those interested in the service will need an internet connection at a speed of at least 5mpbs, the higher the better. Additionally, Windows PCs will need to meet the following recommended requirements.

  • Windows 7 (SP1), 8.1 or 10
  • 5 GHz Intel Core i3 or 3.8 GHz AMD A10 or faster
  • 300 MB or more; 2 GB or more of RAM
  • Sound card; USB port

PlayStation fans will, of course, want a controller to play games streamed via PlayStation Now. Sony is launching the DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adaptor in early September at $24.99. The adapter works with both the PC and Mac and will enable all functions of the controller. This includes all buttons, the touchpad, motion sensors, vibration, headset jack, and even the light bar.

DualShock 4 Wireless Adapter
[Image via PlayStation]

The wireless adaptor will also work the PlayStation Remote Play app, which allows users to stream PS4 games to their Windows PC from the console on the same network. This is the similar functionality available with the PS Vita and PS TV.

Those that are unable to get the DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adaptor still have options to use their PS4 controller on the Windows PC. Third-party applications like DS4Windows are available to install on the PC to use the DualShock 4 with a computer when hooked up with a USB cable. The Xbox One or Xbox 360 controller should work with the PlayStation Now app as well, just not with the full functionality.

It will be interesting to see how PlayStation Now performs on Windows PCs. It performs well enough in the static hardware environment of consoles and TVs. The PC environment is much more varied, with thousands of different hardware combinations that could still affect game streaming.

What do you think of PlayStation Now coming to Windows PCs? Do you want to be able to play PS3, PS Vita, and eventually PS4 titles on your computer via streaming? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via PlayStation]

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