Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation Pass Video Pass is a trial service, running in Poland for a year, and will offer 21 movies and TV shows at no extra cost to PS Plus subscribers.Speaking to Spider’s Web, Sony’s Nick Maguire explains that the pass comes in the form of a PS4/PS5 app, which initially allows PS Plus subscribers to watch 21 movies and TV, including Venom, Baby Driver, and all 6 seasons of Community (full list below). Maguire says new titles will be added to that list every three months, and no change to PS Plus’ price in Poland will be made.
Maguire didn’t give a set idea of when or if the service would be extended to other regions. The Polish test will allow Sony to see which titles are most-watched, and how often the app’s used by PS Plus subscribers.
PS Plus Video Pass Movies
- Bloodshot
- Jumanji: The Next Level
- Zombieland 2: Double Tap
- Charlie’s Angels (2019)
- Venom (2018)
- The Equalizer 2
- Baby Driver
- Blade Runner 2049
- Underworld: Blood Wars
- Arrival
- Sausage Party
- Inferno (2016)
- American Hustle
- This is the End
- Bad Boys (1995)
PS Plus Video Pass TV Shows
- Future Man (seasons 1-3)
- SuperMansion (seasons 1-3)
- Community (seasons 1-6)
- Deadly Class (seasons 1)
- SWAT (seasons 1-2)
- Lost Girl (seasons 1-5)
Sony has seemingly accidentally released information about an unannounced PlayStation Plus Video Pass, which could add movie and TV content to the existing PS Plus subscription service.
Spotted by VGC, the PlayStation Poland website added – and then quickly removed – a banner that showed off the apparent service, accompanied by text that, when translated, reads:
“A new benefit available for a limited time on PlayStation Plus… PS Plus Video Pass is a trial service active 22.04.21 – 22.04.22. The subscription benefit is available to PS Plus users in Poland.”
Source: VGC
The banner, seen above, includes images of Venom, Zombieland: Double Tap, and Bloodshot – all of which are movies made by Sony Pictures. It’s possible that Sony plans to use its own movie portfolio to add value to its PS Plus subscription benefits.
Given the timing mentioned, it may be that the announcement went live ahead of its official announcement tomorrow. The wording also suggests that this could be a region-specific trial of the new pass in Poland. We’ve contacted Sony for comment.
If the pass works as suggested, it could be seen as a way for Sony to add value to its PS Plus service, especially in the context of Xbox Game Pass’ success. It could even be part of the response to Xbox Game Pass mentioned late last year, when SIE President Jim Ryan asked if Sony had a plan to counter Game Pass by saying, “There is actually news to come, but just not today.”
The Microsoft subscription – which offers unlimited access to a selection of games, as well as subscriptions to other services at higher tiers – has been hugely successful, passing 18 million members early this year.
Earlier this year, Sony announced that it would discontinue sales and rentals of movie and TV content on the PS Store in August. The video pass would be the second major recent addition to PS Plus, after the PlayStation Plus Collection, which made a number of recent games permanently free to download for PS Plus members.
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.Source