Atlus' critically-acclaimed JRPG Persona 5 headlines November's slate of additions to Sony's PlayStation Now streaming game service, which also includes Middle-Earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight. Originally released in 2016 for the PS3 and PS4, Persona 5 is part of the Megami Tensei series that was inspired by Aya Nishitani's Digital Devil Story book series. Over the years, the games have incorporated a variety of thematic elements, but the common threads have been Persona's quirky mix of JRPG-style storytelling and social interaction systems.
PlayStation Now is Sony's subscription service that gives players access to a slew of different titles. Currently, the service's library is over 800 games large, and spans multiple generations of consoles thanks to the addition of PS2 games. PS Now subscribers can stream the games to their PS4 or PC, and the service currently costs $9.99 USD a month or $59.99 a year. Sony has also announced it has plans to expand the reach of PS Now and make it a key part of the PS5 when that device is made available.
PlayStation Now's Senior Marketing Manager, Brian Dunn revealed the addition of Persona 5 to the service via the PlayStation Blog. Persona 5 and Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor will both be available to stream and download on PlayStation Now until February 4, 2020. Hollow Knight, meanwhile, will be a permanent addition to the service. A revamped and expanded version of the game, Persona 5 Royal, was released in Japan last month and will be coming to the U.S. in 2020, which is likely at least part of the reason Persona 5 will be arriving to the subscription service now.
Although not as warmly received as its predecessor, Monolith's Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, 2017's Shadow of War does expand upon the original in its variety of orc enemies, weapons, abilities and overall scope. For fans of all things J.R.R. Tolkien, it remains a must-play and the game's nemesis system still feels fresh and innovative. Meanwhile, Team Cherry's Hollow Knight -- which hit consoles in 2018 after debuting on PC and mobile platforms -- puts a new spin on a classic genre of gaming and brings with it a vast world, impressive visuals and sound design. Its combination of super-tight, responsive controls and a high degree of difficulty make for hours upon hours of quality gameplay.
Although some gamers would probably have preferred backward compatibility, PlayStation Now's continued evolution as a way to play old favorites has made the streaming service a worthy alternative for players looking to re-experience classic titles. PlayStation Now took a major leap forward last year when the ability to actually download PS2 and PS4 games was added to the service and the addition of cult favorites likes Persona 5 further enhances it.
Source: PlayStation Blog