While the new PlayStation Now streaming service has been met with much anticipation and fanfare (with the latest Public Beta recently going live yesterday) the rental pricing has come as somewhat of a shock.
Many have taken note that renting certain titles currently available via the PlayStation Store costs more than actually purchasing the game from used game outlets (like GameStop or Amazon). Here is a quick breakdown comparing many of Sony’s prices (via GameSpot) to that of various alternative retailers:
Game | Lowest Price to Buy | How Much Rental Time Will This Buy? |
---|---|---|
Killzone 3 | $4.99 used at GameStop | 4 hours for $2.99 |
Dead Rising 2 | $7.69 used | 7 days for $5.99 |
Metal Gear Solid 4 | $6.99 used at GameStop | 4 hours for $4.99 |
Catherine | $13.82 used at Amazon | 30 days for $7.99 |
Darksiders II | $15.35 used at Amazon | 30 days for $14.99 |
Zone of the Enders HD Collection | $13.10 used at Amazon | 7 days for $9.99 |
Deus Ex: Human Revolution + DLC | $6.82 used at Walmart | 4 hours for $4.99 |
Guacamelee! + DLC | $14.99 download | 90 days for $14.99 |
F1 2013 | $39.99 new at Amazon | 30 days for $22.99 + 7 days for $11.99 |
Naturally these prices are subject to change, as the PlayStation Now service has yet to officially go live. Also, a flat-rate subscription has been teased by Sony as a possibility for the future.