We’re truly living in the future. Sony announced its new PlayStation Now cloud streaming service to much acclaim overnight – but while the pitch sounded intriguing, you may be wondering whether it actually works. The answer appears to be a resounding ‘Yes’, as the below video clip shows someone playing Naughty Dog’s survival horror opus – and our Game of the Year winner – The Last of Us on a Bravia television.
Just to clarify: there are no consoles or set-top boxes attached to this panel’s HDMI port. Instead, the display is simply streaming data from one of Sony’s nifty Gaikai servers, and sending inputs from a connected DualShock 3 controller back to the supercharged box. The low-quality camcorder footage makes it hard to identify any issues, but it still looks like a playable version of Joel and Ellie’s cross-country escapade to us. That alone is magic.
[source youtube.com, via dualshockers.com]
Comments 19
I really hope this doesn't work as advertised. Not because I don't love the idea - I think it's genius! But because if it does work, I'll be able to play Last of Us on Vita. And if that happens, all of my already waning productivity would be gone immediately. The future is scary.
@k_andersen Not only that, if it really achieves what they're aiming for, you'll be able to play three console generations' worth of games on your Vita...
@get2sammyb Oh man. I thought I wanted all of the games to be on Vita, but now I'm not so sure....
How will we ever get any work done?
@k_andersen Knowing the Vita, when its battery runs out!
@get2sammyb Zing!
Wow. Someone remind me to upgrade my broadband...and buy a new Bravia...and a back up charger...and get more than 10gb 4G allowance...
Lovely. Unlimited data tick vita tick bravia yes please. This is stupidly awesome. Ps4 may possibly be the last ever console Sony produces?
@RyoHazuki As the world gets more and better connected, the need for the living room hardware will dwindle I would think.
Perhaps handhelds will dominate the dedicated gaming hardware sector in the future. Imagine a Vita like console, with TV out, and streaming capabilities as your only console. The hardware is already there, but we've a few years of the console market left.
In a way, M$ have the right idea integrating in to the living room, not having a dedicated console as such, but eventually one box for all media.
@KALofKRYPTON I'm surprised neither console featured any sort of freesat/HD digital receiver but I guess TV also moving more towards internet based and there's the problems of each region being different. Too much hassle I imagine.
@RyoHazuki
Totally! Look at the Xbone UK launch, none of the integrated tv/satellite/cable services had been arranged, no idea if this has been sorted yet. But I image M$ requesting access to control boxes from Sky,Virgin, BT and Freeview was and is very much a hassle.
well there goes work going to start to hunt for that closed beta need a spot on it by the end of this month
Here's hoping for some massive NDA breeches! ;-p
@KALofKRYPTON looks like vita TV is already redundant thanks to 'now' irony? Unless of course vita TV will boost/compliment 'now' somehow. If you don't have a bravia then it might be useful?
@RyoHazuki
I'm not so sure it's redundant. It can still be a very nicely priced entry level console, support Vita software and Now. That's got to be pretty attractive to some. Since it's only outputting Vita resolution, there could be an argument made that it could provide a better viewing experience than the video streamed to larger screens at upsampled resolutions- but that's a whole heap of conjecture that Digital Foundry will no doubt tackle.
I would think that only the newest and shiniest Bravias are going to be capable of managing the stream and controller input, for the cost of one of those, you could buy a Vita/VitaTV and a PS4.
My Bravia is a good 7 years old now, and wasn't top of the line then, I dread the day when it needs replacing (not so much the cost, but-y'know, got all my levels just the way I like 'em), so I won't be streaming straight to my TV!
As good intentioned as streaming to phones and tablets is, it's not at all how I'd want to play full games. And if you have screen mirroring, or hdmi, or mhl, you add a bit of latency, add a bluetooth or usb connection for input and there's a little more.
Man I hope this works out like planned there are so many PS3 games that I need to catch up on. I hope it doesn't becoming a disappointment like the Wii VC.
@cruches24 I'll fight you for it
Well, there's absolutely no chance this will come to New Zealand/work with New Zealand internet speeds any time soon.
1 MB/s on average, if you're wondering.
Why did i even buy a ps4?! Haha
@RaymanFan2
I'm Australian and I too, can't see this working in our region, unless they have rendering servers in Sydney or something. That said, I'm from Perth, on the other side of Australia, so I'm screwed either way. This hype makes me sad. My Vita is sad with no Last of Us.
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