Rumors regarding the merging of PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus into a new service to match Xbox Game Pass may be true, based on new reports suggesting Sony is requesting stores pull PS Now subscription cards from sale. PS Now is the PlayStation brand's streaming service, which even allows PC users to play compatible PlayStation games on their system.

Sony's PS Now is comparable to Xbox Game Pass, but it arguably outmatched on a number of fronts, the biggest of which is Microsoft's day one support for its service. Xbox Game Pass subscribers are able to play some Xbox Game Studios titles on launch day for no additional cost, including games like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. There are also third-party developers and indie studios that have day one launches on Xbox Game Pass, such as Outriders in 2021. Xbox Game Pass is expected to get a huge boost at the end of 2022 when Starfield arrives on the service.

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As reported by VentureBeatsome UK stores are being asked to pull PS Now cards from sale by the end of the month, with journalist Jason Schreier noting the same thing has been happening in US stores. While no official reason has yet been given by Sony, the move is believed to be related to rumors that the company is developing a competitor to Xbox Game Pass, which will include games from earlier PlayStation systems as part of a premium tier. This service, known internally as PlayStation Spartacus, will reportedly combine PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now into a single subscription, along with an influx of PS4 games.

See the post on Twitter here.

If the PlayStation Spartacus rumors are true, it makes sense that Sony would want to stop selling PS Now subscription cards. One of the big questions regarding PlayStation Spartacus is the cost, especially for existing PS Plus/PS Now subscribers. It's possible that the merging services will extend the current subscriptions, depending on the price. As of the time of writing, PS Now cards are still available via digital storefronts.

With 2022 now underway, it's likely that Sony will soon hold an event to outline game releases for the year. The reports of the PS Now cards being pulled, coupled with recent reports of Sony patenting PS5 backward compatibility methods, are adding credence to the PlayStation Spartacus rumors. If the PS Now cards are being pulled soon, Sony might finally be ready to announce the PlayStation competitor to Xbox Game Pass.

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Source: VentureBeat, Jason Schreier/Twitter