LOS ANGELES — Looks like we don’t need one of those expensive systems to play games.
The PlayStation Now game-streaming service’s open beta test is July 31 on PlayStation 4 home gaming console, Sony announced during its Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference today. PlayStation 3 and Vita versions coming soon after. PlayStation Now will also come to certain Sony televisions, eliminating the need for an actual PlayStation game console — just plug in a controller and play.
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PS Now is Sony’s answer to the PlayStation 4’s lack of backward compatibility, meaning it can’t play disks from older systems. Streaming enables you to play a game while a different computer actually handles all of the processing, like what happens when you watch a movie on Netflix.
Sony also detailed the PlayStation TV, a small device that runs PlayStation Now games, downloads Vita and PlayStation Classics, and stream music and video. The device will retail for $100. A $140 bundle includes a Dual Shock 3 game controller, a memory card, and a voucher for the The Lego Movie video game.