Rentals could be coming to PlayStation Network, either through traditional download methods, or the upcoming PlayStation Now streaming service.
The above image, posted to NeoGAF, allegedly shows the rental options for Catherine on the US store, with one day rental or one week rental options available. Given that it’s a 9GB file, we can assume that the rental will start after downloading.
Unless it’s streaming, of course. This could be an early look at the PS Now service, and the reason that it displays as free could be for beta testers.
Still, one way or another it looks as though you’ll be able to rent games through PSN at some point in the future. That alone is quite a big step.
Interestingly, NeoGAF users are also reporting that it is currently only appearing for PlayStation Plus users. Could this rental service, or even PS Now, be a part of your PS+ subscription?
Source: NeoGAF
Kitch
This could be a second level ps+. Part of a premium ps+. As they seem to have done away with demo’s on PSN I’d pay extra for rentals.
Germanos
Well I think it is a better approach than the usual monthly fee method. I’m hoping for a way to play my PS3 disc based games on the PS4, via a cloud emulation service.
hazelam
maybe it’s a variation on the one hour game trials.
if it is done with the PS Now/Gaikai tech, we won’t see it here, in Europe, until next year.
pdannysan13
I don’t really get why people say european internet in bad.Romania’s in the top 10 internet speeds on the globe I think.
WalkingP
So will you still be able to get the trophies involved the game(s)?
XIII_WarMachine
I’m certain you would still be able to get trophies with the games as rentals. The time trials for playing the game for an hour still allows you to get trophies for the game. I got a few when I downloaded Persona Arena 4 a few weeks ago. Played 20 minutes left for work and came back to discover that I should’ve played it earlier because my hour time trial ran out : / It will be much better to have rentals because if you want to check out a game you are on the fence about then play it for 20 minutes before work/going out. By the time you come back pick up where you left off which eliminates the time trial and replaces it with better value in my opinion. More importantly, if this becomes part of PS Plus then it will have even more value but the PS Plus may have to be broken into different hierachies with a basic plus and a premium plan as Kitch stated above.
Klart
They will make sure. It would be stillborn otherwise.